The guidelines are the first attempt to establish a national industry-wide approach for recognising sound environmental and natural resource management in the horticulture sector.
The document includes 8 key management chapters and a self assessment checklist for environmental assurance management on-farm.
The guidelines aim to provide growers with a voluntary guide to common practices and expectations for environmental management. They are not about introducing compulsory standards or adding to the range of systems and programs already available.
They aim to be practical, flexible and user-friendly, to suit growers at various stages of implementing environmental management practices and assurance processes.
The guidelines were drafted by a technical steering committee involving experienced hands-on advisers and program managers who have worked with horticultural industries across Australia, and are well aware of the challenges and potential pitfalls involved.
During 2005, 196 growers from a wide range of enterprises across Australia were involved in reviewing and trialing the guidelines, together with some 40 industry representatives and technical experts. The final version was developed based on their valuable input, with the help of a team of facilitators, led by Jane Lovell who is also managing director of Tasmanian Quality Assured.
A business can demonstrate management of environmental issues through self assessment, or by seeking assessment from its customers or an independent (third) party, typically an auditor.
Why would you need the EA Guidelines?
Are you thinking about implementing an environmental management system or assurance process but don’t know where to begin?
Have you already started and want to assess your progress?
Are you looking for a practical approach, with minimal paperwork?
Do you want something that is flexible and integrates well with existing record keeping and quality assurance systems?
The EA Guidelines are targeted at horticultural enterprises with a basic understanding of production and environmental issues. Businesses further down the formal EMS path may need to seek more site and crop-specific information.
Benefits of the EA Guidelines
The guidelines will help you:
Link production targets to your care for the environment as an integral part of daily business management.
Learn more about how to manage the natural resources on your property.
Demonstrate sustainable production practices to your customers.
Implement environmental assurance at your own pace and in a way best suited to your enterprise.
Gain recognition for current sound practices.
Find out how good environmental practices are likely to save you money.
Online version of the EA Guidelines
Click on the links in the table below to access the EA Guidelines.
CHAPTERS
PDF Download (all chapters include review checklist)
Management Chapters The 8 key management chapters are – soil, nutrients, water, chemicals, biodiversity, waste, air and energy. Within each chapter growers are asked to assess their enterprise against key risk areas.
An example of a chapter and its contents is provided below.
Snapshot – Chapter on Land and Soil Management within Horticulture EA Guidelines
The key points of the Land and Soil Chapter are:
1 a Soil erosion caused by water
1 b Soil erosion caused by wind
1 c Soil structure
1 d Salinity
1 e Soil acidity and akalinity
1 f Sodicity
In 1a the first question is: “Is the property: exposed to heavy rainfall at periods during the year OR subject to regular flooding from a watercourse?” from this the grower will receive a “High Risk” or a “Low Risk” – depending on the result he should look at prioritising an action for this area.
Suggested practices to minimise high risk areas are then provided and there is also an additional section with further resources (for those that like to read up on an issue).
Review Checklist This review checklist identifies the range of environmental issues that should be addressed on-farm in horticulture. It covers 20 topics divided into eight sections which match the coloured tabs of this folder and it can be used to supplement existing audit checklists used by certification bodies or for internal audits carried out by individual businesses.
While the practices are self-assessed (i.e. not audited as part of a certified program) they are equivalent to GlobalGAP standards.
Code of Practice
Do you want to find out about third party certification of environmental management? Then you need a copy of the Environmental Code of Practice.
Code of Practice
