Annual Report 2024-25

CANEGROWERS works to strengthen the industry’s reputation for environmental stewardship and social responsibility by fostering community confidence, minimising regulatory pressures, and demonstrating the sustainability of Queensland sugar across domestic and international markets.

In partnership with industry and supply chain stakeholders, CANEGROWERS promotes voluntary, practical, and cost- effective management changes that deliver lasting benefits for farms, the environment, and the wider community - showing that collaborative solutions are more effective than prescriptive regulation.

In 2024–25, CANEGROWERS advanced Smartcane BMP alignment with international sustainability programs.

Module 4 (People & Business) requirements were updated to match the VIVE Sustainable Supply Programme, with new audit-readiness resources developed for growers
and facilitators.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS & CLIMATE CHANGE

Progressing the actions in its climate change policy, CANEGROWERS commissioned a study that showed the relative contributions of different practices to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and measured the impact of changing these practices on emissions.

The report was able to compare results with older studies and found that farm emissions have reduced by at least 30% since 2005, due mainly to changes in nitrogen use, tillage practices and irrigation efficiency. 

CANEGROWERS has now commissioned a study on how much additional reduction in emissions can occur over the next 5 to 10 years through greater adoption of best practice. This project is ongoing. 

Preliminary analysis indicates that for Smartcane BMP compliant farms, further emissions reductions are limited. Options for further reductions through practice change include greater use of nitrification-inhibitor fertilisers, improved irrigation scheduling in the Burdekin, and efficiency improvements in Mackay, Bundaberg and the Tablelands.

CANEGROWERS has worked with Agriculture Innovation Australia to assess and improve the design of a GHG emissions calculator designed specifically for agriculture. CANEGROWERS has also developed its own version of this calculator, which will be integrated with Smartcane BMP.

CANEGROWERS contributed to national processes, including workshops to improve the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory methodology for agriculture (where CANEGROWERS argued against the use of a single state- average fertiliser rate for cane) and engagement with the Cooperative Research Centre for Net Zero in Agriculture to identify cropping-focused research opportunities.
 

AG CHEMICALS

CANEGROWERS promotes the safe and effective use of agricultural chemicals based on science and the advice of the national regulator, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

CANEGROWERS continues to be part of the Executive Committee of the National Working Party for Pesticide Application (NWPPA). The NWPPA deals primarily with issues around spray drift. It includes representatives from spray manufacturers, grower groups, spray applicators and research and development corporations across viticulture, horticulture and broadacre agriculture.

Lack of practical and effective options for aerial control of vine weeds continues to be a concern for growers.
CANEGROWERS has worked with Sugar Research Australia (SRA) to implement studies that will:

• establish residue levels for MCPA from several trial sites, to provide the data required for a permit that allows aerial application; and
• evaluate the efficacy of helicopter application of 2,4-D using Accu-Flo nozzles, which will underpin a case for much reduced downwind buffers.

In July 2024, the APVMA handed down a proposed regulatory decision on paraquat after a 30-year review. This proposed decision would have limited the rate of application of paraquat in cane to well below the minimum effective dose, on the justification of risk to native animals.

In September 2024, CANEGROWERS secured an emergency APVMA permit for aerial application of MCPA to manage vine weeds, using data from collaborative trials. This permit is active until December 2025.
 

BIOSECURITY

Biosecurity awareness and preparedness is critical for the ongoing profitability of the Australian sugar industry.
CANEGROWERS is the industry member of Plant Health Australia (PHA) and the signatory to the Emergency Pest Plant Response Deed (EPPRD).

This deed is administered by PHA and determines the cost-sharing and management of responses to any pest or disease incursion. CANEGROWERS works closely with SRA on these matters.

The updated Sugarcane Industry Biosecurity Plan, prepared by SRA and PHA with support from CANEGROWERS, reviewed the list of priority threats and the actions and investments that will minimise the risk of their entry into Australia while also maximising the chance of an effective response to such an incursion.

Red Witchweed (RWW) is a parasitic plant that attaches to the roots of certain grasses and can impact the cane, grain and grazing industries through trade, market access and risk of further spread. An eradication program for RWW is now in its second stage and is due to finish at the end of 2025.

The industry’s cost-sharing contributions to the RWW eradication program have now been completed. After 10 years of activities, 98% of land has been released from quarantine, soil seed loads reduced by over 99%, and new detections reduced by over 99%. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will continue eradication work and “proof of freedom” surveillance into the next decade.

In April 2025, CANEGROWERS partnered with PHA to deliver a two-day Sugarcane Industry Biosecurity
Preparedness Workshop in Townsville. Attendees included growers, CANEGROWERS district managers, mill farm managers, productivity services staff, SRA and other cane organisations.

The workshop provided training on pest threats, on-farm biosecurity measures, and the structure of a major biosecurity response. Feedback was very positive.

CANEGROWERS has engaged in broader biosecurity initiatives, including contributing to the National Plant Health Committee’s work on sustainable investment in biosecurity, attending Queensland Biosecurity Partners forums, and providing feedback on Biosecurity Queensland’s new On-Farm Biosecurity Basics education module.

CANEGROWERS also supported planning for the Queensland Feral Pig Action Plan and met with the National Feral Pig Action Plan to discuss cane losses and management needs.

REEF WATER QUALITY

CANEGROWERS continues to encourage, initiate and collaborate in voluntary programs and projects that support growers to make cost effective practice changes that reduce the risk to downstream environments.

CANEGROWERS participated in a number of relevant forums including the Reef 2050 Advisory Committee (RAC) which includes a range of stakeholders and attempts to advise government on the design, implementation and evaluation of reef programs, including those related to water quality. 

As part of the RAC, CANEGROWERS argued for greater integration of catchment management and for plans that are dynamic and relevant to growers on the ground.

To help get much needed reform in the arrangements for reef water quality programs, CANEGROWERS continues to advocate for changes consistent with our clear Policy Position on Reef Water Quality. 

The review of the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) may still be an important opportunity to achieve these goals if all parties work in good faith.

In 2025 CANEGROWERS welcomed the draft Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan framework, which for the first time recognised economic co-benefits for regional communities and included a more collaborative, ground-up approach to land management targets. While cautious until full drafts are released, this represents a potential shift in tone. 

In 2024–25, CANEGROWERS was actively engaged in the government’s statutory review of reef regulations. CANEGROWERS advocated strongly for phosphorus to be removed from nitrogen-phosphorus budgets, arguing that phosphorus use is not the major water quality risk it is being regulated as. 

While the Department was unreceptive, CANEGROWERS continues to push for science based reform.

CANEGROWERS raised grower concerns with Eco-Markets Australia regarding the Constructed Wetlands protocol for Reef Credits, warning that it risks reducing cane supply, increasing flood risks, and undermining landscape health. 

We welcomed Eco-Markets’ efforts to discourage problematic projects but remain concerned about the lack of fertiliser based credit projects under the new projector tool.

CANEGROWERS continues to communicate about reef science to members, including reviewing the 2024 Scientific Consensus Statement and briefing growers on findings.

CANEGROWERS challenged the framing of nitrogen as the single dominant issue, instead pushing for balanced recognition of multiple water quality factors.

SMARTCANE BMP

Smartcane BMP is the industry owned and led gold standard to record and verify practices on farm. The program provides a credible and pragmatic means to achieve regulatory compliance and evidence of growers embarking on practice change.

The program has increased the use of farm record keeping and has enabled leading growers to have a seat at the table for constructive discussions with government. Uniquely, Smartcane BMP verifies on-farm best-practice through independent third-party auditing and accreditation processes. 

The core modules in the Smartcane BMP program have been supported by the Queensland Government since its inception. This funding supports the employment of local district facilitators, the auditing process, and administration of the program.

Smartcane BMP accreditation is formally recognised under the current Reef Regulations, providing accredited farming enterprises with an alternative pathway to compliance and ensuring they are not the focus of regulatory activities, including on-farm visits.

Since commencement of Phase 4 in January 2023, an additional 152 enterprises farming 24,294 ha have been accredited. A further 258 enterprises successfully extended their accreditation for another five years maintaining the 96% re-accreditation rate. 

Across Queensland, there are now a total of 801 enterprises farming 173,775 ha. This equates to approximately 45% of the total cane area.

Re-accreditation loads have been significant this year with the Mackay District recording the most reaccreditations (40 reaccreditations; 4762.9 ha) closely followed by Herbert River (19; 4020.1 ha) and Tully (15; 4655.3 ha).

CANEGROWERS acknowledges the efforts of the district facilitators and growers the length of Queensland as all Smartcane BMP involved districts have recorded growth in 2025.

This strong uptake of the industry led program has increased interest from stakeholders. Module 4 – People and Business is now available on the Smartcane BMP website for growers to benchmark their business and identify areas for improvement. Module 4 is the last piece of the puzzle for Smartcane BMP to meet international sustainability credentials requirements.

A major highlight for 2025 was finalisation of the understanding with the VIVE sustainable supply programme. This provides new opportunities for districts where mills seek accreditation to access a global sustainable sugar supply chain.

CANEGROWERS continues work to provide value add opportunities for accredited growers, and both
the sustainable sugar and sustainable finance sectors are engaged in discussions to drive recognition of Smartcane BMP accredited grower efforts.

With such buy-in to the Smartcane BMP program from Queensland cane growers, the viability for the long-term certification of Sustainable Sugar has been secured.