Environmental Management System

What is EMS?

An environmental management system (EMS) is a system created to assist farmers to evaluate and improve their natural resource management strategies. Benefits exist for the natural resource base, in financial returns through more efficient production practices, and in consumer perceptions of sustainable production standards.

Why is EMS important?

Agricultural markets are becoming more sensitive to the environmental impacts of production. Access to markets is sometimes restricted to those who are meeting international and market requirements on environmental management. The EMS is focused on the environmental impacts of production. It offers farmers a structured method leading to the reduction of direct and indirect on- and off-site impacts. Specific impacts targeted within EMS are leakage of water and nutrients, wind and water erosion, persistent toxicities, pests, diseases, weeds and the loss of biodiversity in surrounding areas.

How does EMS work?

An environmental management system (EMS) is a systematic approach to assist any enterprise to identify and manage its impacts on the environment, while providing opportunites for improved business performance. As an integrated business management tool, an EMS can effectively complement and build on other existing activities such as property management planning, best management practices, codes of practice and quality assurance schemes.

EMS provides a management framework based on a simple 'plan, do, check, act' cycle that achieves continuous improvement. A manager uses the system to identify their environmental impacts and legal responsibilities, then implements and reviews changes and improvements in a structured way. To provide credibility for external stakeholders, managers may decide to have their EMS externally audited and may become certified to the international standard, ISO 14001. 

What is BCG's involvement?

In 2003 an EMS national pilot program began. The program consists of 15 projects, each designed to assess the ability of EMS to improve natural resource management in a primary producer industry. The North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) is carrying out a component of one of the projects through three pilot groups of which the BCG is one. The project is titled "Linking on-farm EMS with catchment targets, a farmer-catchment-government partnership in Victoria" and has the following objectives:

• to test EMS in broadacre industries
• to implement EMS on 100 farms
• to link EMS actions with catchment targets
• to develop and enhance practical on-farm environmental monitoring tools

Twelve BCG members are participating in the project over a three-year time frame. The project is due for completion in March 2006.

For further information

Please contact:

Malory Weston
Catchment Manager: Avoca/ Avon-Richardson
North Central Catchment Management Authority
PO Box 18 / Midland Highway
Huntly Victoria 3551

t: 03 5448 7124 (switch); 03 5440 1848 (direct)
f:03 5448 7148
m: 0418 534 043
e: Malory.Weston@nccma.vic.gov.au

or for more information log on to: www.dpi.vic.gov.au/rutherglen