zne-ag CRC |
The Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC) is a national, industry-led research partnership funded by the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Programme together with industry and research partners. Its mission is to deliver practical, scalable solutions to achieve net-zero emissions in Australian agriculture while maintaining productivity and profitability. ZNE-Ag CRC operates through 4 integrated research programs, spanning low-emissions plant solutions and anti-methanogenic plant traits; technologies for methane-free cattle and sheep; whole-farm systems and GHG accounting; and enabling systems such as renewable energy (including agrivoltaics), circular economy approaches, and low-emissions supply-chain management. A central feature is its network of 25 Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) across Australia, designed to test and de-risk innovations “in the paddock” under real farming conditions. Within this broader framework, ZNE-Ag CRC is developing Farm Greenhouse Accounting Framework (GAF) tools, a suite of sector-specific farm-level emissions calculators covering industries such as dairy, sheep and beef, cropping, feedlots, sugar, cotton, horticulture, pork, poultry, rice, buffalo, and deer. These tools are being released in phases through an online portal, with stakeholder feedback informing refinement. In parallel, the CRC supports high-impact innovation projects—including methane-reduction technologies for livestock and agrivoltaics trials—and dedicated programs for Indigenous engagement and workforce education to support long-term adoption of low-emissions agriculture.
