A discussion in addressing he nitrogen problem in sugarcane production

keep farming along the QLD coast without jeopardising the future of the Great
Barrier Reef?

Representative presented:
- Conservationists
- Sugarcane Industry representatives
- Fertiliser Industry
- Scientists
- Government

15/10/2014
The meeting synthesis:

As government regulators, we place very high attention on the situation
of our iconic world heritage areas. Great Barrier Reef is important by itself as
an Australia icon, and we are getting lots of concern worldwide in regard to N
pollution from sugarcane farm and management issue.
On one hand, we understand that GBR are extremely valuable in terms
of supporting livelihood of a large population who live along coastline,
providing different types of ecosystem service in which some generate huge
economic benefit and preserving biodiversity.
On the other hand, we need to ensure that sugarcane industry is not
worst off as many famers rely their life on this industry, and it is also the base
of sugar industry. Therefore, our prospective is to seek for long-term technical
solutions rather than simply apply new legislation to restrict the fertilizer
application in sugarcane farm.
After todays discussion, we realized that many of the stakeholder
groups seem to carry a similar idea of seeking direct assistants or funding
from the government. Although we are happy to assist and fund great ideas,
only taken is not sustainable in a long term and instead we should seek for a
give and take relationship. Base of the special characteristic of government,
we may be able to engage and connect different interest group to allow
communication and information flowing. In addition, we prefer to encourage
actions by gentle measure such as subsidy instead highly restricted legislation.
At this stage when information is still very scattered, we favors solution
base on solid evidence. For example, encourage changing into multi crop
management practice (crop rotation, companion cropping etc) instead of
sugarcane monoculture. As monoculture practice had result in significant
reduction of yield previously.

In summary, a few motions by other representatives were raised in the
discussion:
1. Develop workshop and education program for sugarcane famers.
2. Encourage fertiliser industry to provide fertiliser consultant services for
famers.
3. Increase regulation connection between terrestrial and marine system.
4. Increase funding for new research project, in addition, as alternative to
direct fund by government, some research can be fund by the fertiliser
industry (base on the concept of due diligence).
5. Develop of multi-step program to achieve certain target on improving
crops, water qualities or management Practices.

These opinions are very valuable for us and we will analysis the
feasibility of each of this in detail.