National Rural Network Strategic Issues Working Group – Climate Change and Agriculture

Terms of Reference and Guidelines September 2011

This document contains two specific elements:

• General guidelines on the functioning of Strategic Issues Working Groups; and
• Specific terms of reference for the Climate Change and Agriculture Strategic Issues Working Group.

General Guidelines

• The broad theme will be identified by the NRN and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. The members of the Strategic Issues Working Group can suggest minor refinements to the topic within the broad theme if considered worthwhile and necessary (subject to approval of the NRN and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine). It is important that the specific issue for research is capable of being undertaken in the time period available.
• The overall purpose of each Strategic Issues Working Group is to explore, debate and develop proposals for action on a specific issue.
• The Strategic Issues Working Group will: collate and consider available research, policy documents and reports; and commission position papers, research reports where considered appropriate and necessary.
• The Strategic Issues Working Group is expected to make recommendations on policy measures which can be addressed within the RDP and/or other policies/programmes.
• The Strategic Issues Working Group report will include an exploration of how the specific recommendations can be implemented.
• The draft report will be circulated to the NRN Coordinating Committee for comment and review (for discussion at NRN Coordinating Committee meeting where possible). Members of the NRN Coordinating Committee are also welcome to suggest themes for consideration for future research issues.
• The NRN Information Coordinator (Dr Pat Bogue) will manage, organise and coordinate the activities of the Strategic Issues Working Group and will act as the main point of contact for all queries and undertake the administration of the group.
• The timeframe for each Strategic Issues Working Group will be approximately 4 months.
• The Strategic Issues Working Group will consist of a Chairperson and in the region of 5-7 other members.
• Strategic Issues Working Group Members will be invited to participate based on their relevant experience and expertise on the particular issue in question (may or may not be members or member organisations of the NRN Coordinating Committee). Additional members may be requested to join the Strategic Issues Working Group during the process where they are considered as adding particular expertise.
• The role of the individual members includes:
  • Attendance at Strategic Issues Working Group meetings (3);
  • Sharing of experience and expertise on the issue;
  • Providing guidance on the relevant issues to be pursued; &
  • Establishing relevant contacts/links within their organisations and/or other organisations.
  • The role of the Chairperson includes:
    • Chairing the meetings of the Strategic Issues Working Group;
    • Critically analysing and guiding the work; and
    • Liaise/work closely with the Information Coordinator.

Specific Terms of Reference

• The purpose of this Strategic Issues Working Group is to address the:

‘farm level climate change implications of achieving the Food Harvest 2020 production targets’.

• The research will address actions which can be undertaken at farm level to minimise and reduce where possible, the climate change implications envisaged as a result of increased production in line with the targets in Food Harvest 2020. The recommendations will focus on actions at farm level and policies/measures which could support/encourage actions/changes at farm level.
• The Strategic Issues Working Group will commence in September and will aim to complete the work by the end of December 2011 (3 meetings).

• The intended outputs are recommendations which are focused on: addressing the climate change implications of achieving increased production/output; suggestions for how practices/management methods can be altered/adapted to minimise negative impacts; gaps in knowledge, understanding, awareness; and policy implications/changes.
• The groundwork on this project will be undertaken by Dr Pat Bogue.
• The members of the Strategic Issues Working Group will be expected to advise on the focus of the research, suggest sources of information (reports, policies etc.) and identify relevant contacts.