Policy Landscape
SAOSO will engage in climate policy solutions that help transition agriculture towards a more sustainable model.
Advance Organic Agriculture
Any policy that addresses the role of climate change in food and agriculture should advance the opportunity for organic to be a climate change solution, allow organic to be successful, and not undermine organic.
Are Science-Based, Data-Driven And Verifiable
Policy solutions should be based on and supported by science and data, with strong verification measures to meaningfully reduce agriculture’s impact on climate change.
Focus On Outcomes And Continuous Improvement
Policies should reward the outcomes of good agricultural practices and enable a system of continuous improvement that achieves specific positive outcomes over time.
Promote Soil Health And Carbon Sequestration
Improving soil health is an important and central component in addressing agriculture’s role in climate change. Policies should include provisions for advancing soil health and carbon sequestration.
Lower The Use Of Fossil-Fuel Based Chemicals
Chemical fertilisers and pesticides are a key source of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Climate policies should minimise the use of and eliminate the dependency on fossil-fuel based inputs, especially synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.
Provide Solutions For Mitigation And Adaptation
Policies should provide the resources to not only mitigate the impacts of climate change but also help the agricultural sector adapt to a changing climate.
Incentivise Farmers And Businesses
Farmers should not have to bear the brunt when making transformational changes. Public and private sector programs should provide tools and resources to achieve outcomes through market-based incentives or financial payments that encourage conservation practices or ecosystem services.
Decarbonise The Economy
Policies that increase greenhouse gas emissions or rollback progress in decarbonising the economy and reducing emissions should be opposed.
Foster Agricultural Diversity And Innovation
Climate policies should foster diversity and innovation in farming systems, and provide incentives for increasing diversity in cropping systems.
Address Equity And Inclusion
Policies should address the environmental and economic inequities caused by climate change, and include ways to support disadvantaged communities in adapting to climate change.
10 POLICY PRINCIPLES TO ADVANCE & SAVE THE PLANET
We will engage in smart climate policy solutions that:
