Biodiversity Metrics in Agricultural Supply Chains: Lessons Learned from the Australian Grain-Growing Industry

This research aimed to determine the readiness of agricultural producers toward evolving industry expectations and requirements for biodiversity and natural capital accounting.  The main objectives were to 1) establish biodiversity baseline information, 2) assess growers’ knowledge and motivations to enhance biodiversity, 3) understand internationally recognised metrics and how they relate to agricultural producers (Australian grain growers), and 4) evaluate the suitability of available natural capital accounting tools.  Interviews with grain growers and supply chain stakeholders were completed along with a systematic evaluation of biodiversity metrics and natural capital accounting tools. 

A key finding is that linking producer knowledge to globally available datasets is key. Global stakeholders routinely use Earth observations data to assess biodiversity and other environmental risks of producers, which in many cases do not align with local or regional information. However, several data sources are readily available for growers to access, at a scale that allows farm-level assessment for key metrics like Ecosystem Extent, Mean Species Abundance (“MSA”), and whether a farm is located in a Key Biodiversity Area (“KBA”).  Many growers use sophisticated, GPS-based farm management apps, but the data collected to inform management operations is not typically informative about biodiversity.

On-farm interventions that are most effective in enhancing biodiversity include several practices that Australian grains growers already commonly integrate into their operations, including crop rotation with legumes, soil health monitoring, and maintaining native vegetation strips for refuge habitat. 

Growers were most informed on carbon-related or emissions standards, due to impending supply chain requirements, and less so on biodiversity measurement or how the supply chain monitors biodiversity practices. No particular biodiversity accounting or natural capital accounting tool could currently be considered fully fit for purpose.

This talk will detail the spectrum of data sources for monitoring biodiversity that are considered by supply chain and ESG advisory stakeholders, data collected and reported by producers, and identified solutions for bridging the data gaps, including advances in the use of Earth Observations data along the value chain. The presentation will include findings and recommendations to increase biodiversity best practice and measurement against a backdrop of shifting industry and regulatory expectations.