James Cook University Australia

ESG on Farm: Are you ready?

The TNQ Hub is developing educational materials to help support Australian producers, farmers and land managers understand the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework and integrate an analysis into their farming business, aiming to enhance sustainability performance and facilitate a transition to a more sustainable food production system.

What is ESG?

ESG is a framework that can help producers to address sustainability issues, enhance sustainability performance, increase resilience, reduce risks and create opportunities. ESG stands for:

  • Environmental

    These are factors related to the way you manage renewable and non-renewable resources such as water, soil, biodiversity, minerals, and animal treatment.

  • Social

    These are factors related to the way you interact with your family, employees, communities, consumers, supply chain and business relationships.

  • Governance

    These are factors related to your business such as leadership, management, systems, processes, products and controls.

Why ESG?

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is no longer a niche concept. ESG standards are now essential for promoting sustainability in agriculture and creating long-term value in agricultural production.

An ESG assessment offers valuable insights into on-farm risks and opportunities, enabling farmers to become leaders in sustainable practices and distinguish themselves as champions of sustainability.

What is ESG?

What is an ESG Analysis?

ESG Toolkit for Sugar Cane Growers

ESG Priority Survey

Help ensure ESG activities reflect real grower priorities and support practical actions that strengthen performance, resilience and access to emerging markets.

A new ESG materiality assessment is underway to update and expand our understanding of the key sustainability issues shaping sugarcane production in Queensland. 

The 2023 to 2024 assessment in the Burdekin and Mackay regions showed environmental issues were the top concern. These insights will guide the future of the hub’s ESG work for Queensland’s sugarcane industry.

Complete the short Survey

"ESG on Farm: Are you Ready?" A workbook for farmers

We have also created a comprehensive workbook to help you learn about ESG and guide you through developing your own detailed ESG analysis.

The “ESG on Farm: Are you Ready?” workbook provides a practical guide to support farmers/primary producers develop their own ESG analysis.

  • Section 1 of the workbook: About ESG and the ESG framework
  • Section 2 of the workbook: How to do an ESG analysis using the framework

This framework will help you establish a sustainability baseline, measure ESG factors, create an ESG strategy and report on sustainability-related risks and opportunities. It also links to the wider international environmental and social goals under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Download the ESG on Farm Workbook

ESG Toolkit for Beef Producers

An ESG On-Farm Workbook is currently being adapted to suit beef producers and their operations. For more information, contact TNQ Drought Hub Senior Research Officer Ana Leite De Almeida ana.leitedealmeida@jcu.edu.au or 0402 693 448.

Disclaimer: All the content was built upon existing international and national guidelines, frameworks, and recommendations (e.g., the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework (AASF). Our effort consisted of adapting those guidelines to make them more “on farm” and easier to be applied by primary producers in Australia.

Contact

If you have any questions about ESG or would like help completing your ESG Assessment, please complete the form below or contact TNQ Drought Hub Senior Research Officer and sustainability advocate, Ana Leite De Almeida directly – ana.leitedealmeida@jcu.edu.au or 0402 693 448.

ESG Research

ESG in Action

Townsville Academic to Present National-Leading ESG Research at Sugar Cane Conference

Townsville Academic to Present National-Leading ESG Research at Sugar Cane Conference A Townsville researcher at the forefront of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) adoption within the Australian agricultural sector is set to unveil her ground-breaking research at today’s Australian Society of Sugarcane Technologist (ASSCT) Conference, which brings together the top innovators in the field. Since joining James Cook University as a Senior Research Officer with the Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (TNQ Drought Hub) in 2022, Ana Leite De Almeida has spearheaded national research on the integration of ESG practices into Australian agriculture. Drawing from

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April 17, 2024 No Comments

Mackay ‘ESG on Farm’ workshop fosters ESG awareness and understanding within the Australian agricultural industry

Mackay ‘ESG on Farm’ workshop fosters ESG awareness and understanding within the Australian agricultural industry ESG on Farm” workshop for Mackay producers ESG on Farm” workshop for Mackay producers ESG on Farm” workshop for Mackay producers ESG on Farm” workshop for Mackay producers In a significant stride towards building drought resilience in the agricultural sector, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework expert and TNQ Drought Hub Senior Research Officer Ana Leite De Almeida delivered an “ESG on Farm” workshop to producers in the Mackay region, on 8th December 2023. In collaboration with hub Node Reef Catchments, the workshop was

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January 8, 2024 No Comments

Mackay Workshop to Unveil Strategies for On-Farm ESG Integration

Mackay Workshop to Unveil Strategies for On-Farm ESG Integration Previous Next Farmers and producers in the Mackay and Whitsunday region will soon be able to learn more about the importance of integrating the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework on-farm, thanks to an upcoming workshop being held next week. Learn more about ESG. Delivered by the Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (TNQ Drought Hub) in partnership with Reef Catchments, the Mackay workshop is the first in a series across the region focused on increasing ESG awareness within the Australian agricultural industry. Senior Research Officer at

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December 4, 2023 No Comments