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Reconsidering the focus of business and natural resources training: Gender issues in Australian farm management
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Reconsidering the focus of business and natural resources training: Gender issues in Australian farm management

Barbara Geno
Agriculture and Human Values, Vol.19(3), pp.189-203
2002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019998812322
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https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019998812322View
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Abstract

agricultural extension Australian agriculture business and natural resource education environmental management systems
Agriculture in Australia is acknowledged as having serious environmental impacts. Since the Brundtland Report in 1987, a National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) has charted a course for an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable agriculture. Numerous extension initiatives, such as catchment management, Landcare, property management plans, and, more recently, environmental management systems, are driving business education programs for farmers in most states in an attempt to address the issues of ESD. Innovative accounting techniques and models exist, particularly developments that recognize and value biodiversity, monitor environmental impacts, and show that renewable resources are indeed ``renewable,'' which could be the focus of integrated extension initiatives supportive of ecologically sustainable development. Empirical research conducted during 1996 that explored environmental concern and actions of farmers indicated that farm women were better educated and more likely to be environmentally concerned. In addition they were more likely to support that concern with actions that indicate that the farm is being managed for sustainable outcomes. This paper explores these issues, concluding that there is a need to reconsider the focus of business and natural resource management education for farmers in Australia.

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