P.PSH.1226 | Supporting The Leucaena Network- national research and the regional adoption outcomes for a highly productive beef industry

Summary

The Leucaena Network is an industry body of producers and advisors that supports leucaena research and facilitates extension throughout northern Australia.

The network provides information and training to red meat producers interested in the opportunities to use Leucaena within their grazing systems. This includes practical resources and information on establishment, management and use in a livestock operation. The network is also involved in driving R&D and adoption activities to support the expansion of Leucaena in the industry.

The network helps to maintain social license to use Leucaena in Australian grazing systems through the use and management of regional Codes of Practice and engagement with relevant local and state governments.

Continuing on from project P.PSH.1015, this project supported the ongoing operations of the Leucaena Network, with an aim to increase the awareness and uptake of the forage legume in northern grazing systems.

Objectives

The objectives of this project were to:

• Address the ongoing lack of specialist and relevant extension services across northern Australia for Leucaena-based grazing systems.
• Continue the sourcing and provision of research into Leucaena through the 'Leucaena Research Hub'.
• Maintain one-on-one connections with regional rural councils.
• Expand the Code of Practice to support the use of leucaena in other regions.
• Expand the industry presence of the Leucaena Network.
• Reinvigorate the biennial Leucaena Network Conference.

Key findings

• Emerging areas of Leucaena development require establishment and management methods that deviate from the traditionally-accepted methods used in more established areas.
• Key barriers to increased adoption are the initial investment required, the transition from a grazing enterprise to a ‘farming’ activity and associated lack of skills and equipment, and the limited information regarding successful establishment strategies, productivity, and environmental benefits in emerging areas.
• There is great opportunity for Leucaena to assist northern Australian graziers to fulfil the CN30 commitment with the reduction of enteric methane emissions by up to 28% and increased soil carbon sequestration.
• There remains ongoing concern regarding the environmental impacts of unmanaged Leucaena grazing systems by government and the community, and a lack of understanding of the history and use of common and grazing Leucaena.

Benefits to industry

• A northern Australian beef industry that has access to current information and advice about successful and responsible Leucaena establishment.
• Improved potential for improved productivity, profitability, and environmental benefits for northern Australian beef producers through the establishment of Leucaena grazing systems.
• Ongoing social licence for the Leucaena grazing industry by addressing concerns of government and community, and the development of tools to meet the needs of both industry and government.

Future research

1. Subsequent extension and adoption to:
- promote the environmental benefits of Leucaena
- promote the capacity for Leucaena to assist producers to attain carbon neutral status
- continue to assist emerging Leucaena regions to successfully establish responsibly planted Leucaena grazing systems.

2. Further development of the Leucaena Code of Practice to increase quantifiable adoption.