Assessing the role of a four-stage approach for improving the compatibility of Environmental Management Systems and Quality Assurance
E. J. Seymour A C , A. M. Ridley A and J. Noonan BA Department of Primary Industries, Primary Industries Research Victoria, RMB 1145, Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen, Vic. 3685, Australia.
B Muresk Institute, Curtin University of Technology, PO Box U 1987, Perth, WA 6840, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: eloise.seymour@dpi.vic.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(3) 333-345 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA06026
Submitted: 13 January 2006 Accepted: 13 September 2006 Published: 12 February 2007
Abstract
Environmental Management Systems (EMS) have been adapted by different agricultural industries to suit their needs and to align with other requirements such as Quality Assurance (QA). There are stronger drivers for EMS in some industries (e.g. seafood and cotton) than others (e.g. broadacre industries such as grains and livestock). This paper explores the issue of facilitating the wider uptake or adoption and diffusion of EMS in the broadacre industries, particularly through assessing the EMS preparedness of these industries, proposing a staged approach and investigating the compatibility between EMS and QA schemes. We explore these themes, based on the national grains EMS pilot projects conducted from 1999 to 2002 and research within the lamb industry. A four-stage approach for EMS and QA alignment is proposed in response to reviewing an evaluation survey conducted with farmers from EMS groups in the grain and lamb industries and through exploration of the compatibility of EMS and QA schemes. Within the four-stage approach, the ISO 14001 certified EMS is the highest level, with the lowest stage comprising on-farm self-assessment and introduction to the concept of EMS. All stages are compatible with ISO 14001. In exploring the relationship between QA and EMS, we found that EMS and many QA schemes that fully comply with Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point principles such as Safe Quality Food are compatible in their philosophy of continuous improvement. This allows farmers to understand, identify and manage the hazards and risks in their business that might impact on food safety, product consistency and the environment. We conclude, in the absence of market drivers, a low level environmental awareness-raising process through self-assessment is likely to be more realistic for broadacre farmers than more complex systems such as ISO 14001.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the five groups of innovative and inspirational farmers who provided feedback in their piloting of EMS between 1999 and 2005. Thanks to those farmers in the Riverina, Northern NSW, Barwon Basin, Mingenew–Irwin and lamb EMS projects. Thanks also to Richard Bennett (Horticulture Australia Ltd) and Jane Lovell (Tasmanian Quality Assured Inc.) who provided commentary regarding EUREPGAP.
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