Windmill amongst a field of yellow canola with a blue sky in the background.

Sustainable farming

CSIRO is studying management practices such as crop sequence, nitrogen fertiliser application, and tillage and stubble management with the aim of helping farms remain sustainable and profitable into the future.

  • 26 March 2010 | Updated 12 January 2012

CSIRO is addressing a number of sustainability issues that face rural Australia including:

Native vegetation

Declining areas of native vegetation in the rural landscape can lead to salinity, reduced water quality and less biodiversity.

CSIRO is identifying ways to conserve existing native vegetation on farms and establish new areas to help mitigate these problems.

Water-use efficiency

Wiser water use is of increasing importance with growing demands on existing water resources. CSIRO is investigating a variety of ways to enhance water-use efficiency and help to farmers implement water efficient practices on their farms, while still maintaining productivity.

CSIRO is improving water management practices to prevent dryland salinity through more suitable crop, pasture and native vegetation management.

We are also assessing land capability and water resources in irrigated dairy regions. We then provide practical advice to the irrigation industry on the sustainable management of diminishing water resources.

Our aim is to develop ways to determine best land and water use options that ensure maximum economic, environmental and social benefits.

CSIRO aims to help farms remain productive and sustainable into the future. By developing systems for more effective use of existing land and water resources, CSIRO fosters greater productivity while minimising the environmental impact on Australia's agricultural communities.

Dryland salinity

CSIRO is helping to address dryland salinity by:

  • understanding its causes
  • finding ways to minimise it
  • restoring areas affected by it.

In particular, CSIRO is improving water management practices to prevent dryland salinity through more suitable crop, pasture and native vegetation management. We are also developing plants that can cope with higher levels of salinity.

By identifying sustainable grazing options, in particular shrubs, CSIRO also aims to provide out-of-season livestock feed in saline areas. This may improve profitability and biodiversity, and reduce salinity.

CSIRO is also researching:

  • effects of high-salt intakes on feed consumption
  • diet selection
  • foetal development
  • product quality
  • differences between livestock species.

Soil acidity

Soil acidity is a major problem costing over $A1 billion every year. CSIRO is recommending the application of lime and is also developing plants that can tolerate higher levels of acidity.

In the low and medium rainfall regions of southern Australia we are looking at how shrubs can be used to stabilise soil and reduce soil acidification and salinity whilst maintaining livestock production.

More information

Find out more information about CSIRO's research:

Farming: roots and soil

CSIRO is studying plant roots and their association with soil and plant productivity to boost sustainable crop and pasture production.

Farming: decision support for farms

CSIRO tools based on scientific research can help farmers to make decisions about managing their farm.

Farming systems to address salinity

CSIRO is investigating ways to manage farms to address the causes and minimise the impact of dryland salinity.

Farming: crop management

CSIRO research is helping farmers to better manage their crops.

Sustainable Agriculture Flagship: addressing productivity and food security in a carbon constrained world

Achieving another agricultural revolution.

Read more about Sustainable Farming.