The document discusses drought mitigation strategies in Australia. It notes that the government has historically taken a short-term view in dealing with drought that focuses on symptoms rather than underlying causes. It recommends adopting a more sustainable ecological economic efficiency approach through strategies like using more drought-resistant crops, improving soil conservation, reducing unsustainable farming, and investing in research and development of drought-resistant technologies and practices. Both short-term and long-term recommendations emphasize creating a more self-reliant agricultural system focused on risk management and sustainability rather than crisis response.

1. Julie Constanze Jiajia Moheth Stephen Drought Mitigation StrategiesGroup 1 – Terra Nova Consultants

2. Scale of the problem Large scale problem in Australia Centuries of drought should have prodded risk mitigation strategies Previous droughts were solved by farmers abandoning the land

3. Nature of the response of the government to date Dealing with the symptoms not the source of the problem Short term view for a long term problem (politics) Subsidies and other financial support are inadequate, ineffective and costly

4. The lack of focus of the government on ecological economic efficiency Government have not limited use of resources and the ecosystem cannot absorb the waste Renewable resources are exploited at too fast a rate that exceed ecosystems ability to regenerate Deplete non-renewable resources at rates that exceed rate of development of renewable substitutes

5. EEE Ratio 1 – Service efficiency Change from non-efficient crops to efficient drought resistant crops Social networking for farmers More efficient use of farm equity Ratio 2 – Throughput efficiency Protection and reduced depletion of soil: direct drilling (no ploughing), R&D genetically modified drought resistant crops, better fertilizers

6. EEE (cont’d) Ratio 3 – Growth Rate Reduce the number of non-efficient fields Crop rotation or selection = better output and greater biodiversity Ratio 4 – Ecosystem Efficiency Use of fields in areas that are more sustainable Raise awareness and fund programs regarding Soil and Water Conservation Raise awareness regarding harmful animal introduction that stress the plant crops on the region

7. Rice paddy in Australia’s arid landscape

8. EEE (cont’d) Ratio 3 – Growth Rate Reduce the number of non-efficient fields Crop rotation or selection = better output and greater biodiversity Ratio 4 – Ecosystem Efficiency Use of fields in areas that are more sustainable Raise awareness and fund programs regarding Soil and Water Conservation Raise awareness regarding harmful animal introduction that stress the plant crops on the region

9. Adapt farming practices to suit the dry Australian landscape

10. EEE (cont’d) Ratio 3 – Growth Rate Reduce the number of non-efficient fields Crop rotation or selection = better output and greater biodiversity Ratio 4 – Ecosystem Efficiency Use of fields in areas that are more sustainable Raise awareness and fund programs regarding Soil and Water Conservation Raise awareness regarding harmful animal introduction that stress the plant crops on the region

11. Short term recommendations Recommend moving away from reactionary or crisis driven approach to one of self-reliance and risk management Create a social and networking community for farmers to share drought risk mitigation strategies Soil and water conservation efforts

12. Long term recommendations Assess who is sustainable (location of farm or crop selection) and if the farm is not sustainable plan to have an exit strategy Reduce funds and subsidies as this is not sustainable and reinvest in R&D Improve collaboration with international farmers that have good drought mitigation experience