As the worldwide standard of living increases, the global demand for livestock products is predicted to double by 2050. However, climate change threatens the production of livestock due to the impact on water availability, animal reproduction and biodiversity. Luckily enough, sustainable agriculture prioritises practices that preserve the environment, are effective for farmers and lead to an overall improvement in food production. While the Australian government made a global commitment to “sustainable agriculture” in 2017, there have been limited efforts to reduce biodiversity loss and combat climate change.

Associate Professor Russell Bush joined us to discuss the importance of sustainable farming practices in the threat of climate change. He is a lecturer for livestock production at the University of Sydney and a member of the Sydney Institute of Agriculture.