The Noongar Land Enterprise Group (NLE) is one of three Indigenous organisations partnering in the Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC), a landmark national initiative to transition Australian agriculture to net zero emissions by 2040 and below zero by 2050.
The ZNE-Ag CRC is the largest Cooperative Research Centre ever established in Australia, with $300 million in committed funding, including $87 million from the Australian Government.
Over the next decade, it will bring together 73 partners spanning industry groups, state and territory governments, universities, grower organisations, SMEs and Indigenous enterprises.
NLE chief executive officer Alan Beattie said it was important that Indigenous voices were part of such a significant national effort.
“This CRC is about shaping the future of agriculture in Australia, and it’s vital that Noongar people and other First Nations groups are part of that journey,” Mr Beattie said. “Our role ensures we share in the opportunities created as new low-emissions technologies are developed and adopted.”
Agriculture currently contributes almost 17 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions - the majority from livestock methane, with further contributions from fertiliser use, crop residue burning and lime application.
While many farmers are already adopting more sustainable practices, the scale of the challenge requires a coordinated and outcome-focused approach across the entire supply chain.
Mr Beattie said the CRC’s strength lay in its collaborative model.
“Seventy-three partners coming together sends a clear message: this is not a challenge that can be solved by one sector or one community alone,” he said. “By working together, we can reduce emissions while creating stronger, more resilient farming systems for the future.”
Through large-scale, industry-led research projects, the CRC will trial a diverse range of emissions-reduction technologies directly on farms.
Outcomes are expected to shape national strategies, guide future policy and provide practical pathways for producers of all scales to participate in the transition to low-emissions agriculture.
For NLE, involvement in the ZNE-Ag CRC builds on its commitment to lead in sustainable, culturally grounded land management while ensuring Noongar people have a seat at the table as Australian agriculture takes this critical step forward.
