SIZA Environmental Standard

Four Cornerstones

The SIZA Environmental Assurance model has been designed to assist growers in evaluating their current compliance and environmental risks, both at a farm and regional/catchment level. This process is accomplished through the completion of a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), the results of which feed into a risk profile report, which can be used to address market requirements, whilst also informing the drafting of site-specific improvement plans and farm environmental management plans and monitoring system.

The questions included in the self-assessment questionnaire runs from minimum legal requirements to leading practice across four main topics such as:

Water

Energy, materials & waste

Ecosystems & biodiversity

Soil

The Cornerstones of the SIZA Environmental Standard

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

  • Develop and document an environmental policy with management commitment to sustainable practices.
  • Aim to minimise negative environmental impacts and focus on efficient resource use to sustain the natural ecosystem.
  • The business must appoint, in writing, a senior management representative responsible for upholding the business's environmental management policy.
  • The business must communicate its environmental management policy to relevant staff and ensure relevant awareness of environmental practices
1

SOIL MANAGEMENT

  • Implement a soil management plan to prevent compaction and erosion.
  • Regularly measure soil health and integrate improvements to ensure the longevity of soil.
  • Consider crop rotation, mulching, and other strategies that can be implemented by management and employees to maintain soil health.
2

WATER MANAGEMENT

  • Test water quality and adopt improved irrigation methods.
  • Prevent leaks and monitor water use using technology such as soil moisture probes to identify the effectiveness of the irrigation system.
  • Establish buffer zones around water sources to prevent chemical runoff and erosion.
3

BIODIVERSITY & ECOSYSTEMS

  • Conduct biodiversity assessments to support ecological health and ensure no negative impact on the ecosystem caused by the business.
  • Ensure the environmental impact is assessed and overseen where livestock is farmed for production purposes and receives healthy and ethical treatment.
  • Develop a plan to manage and remove invasive alien species on the site.
  • Avoid disturbing pristine natural areas and comply with legal authorisations; restore impacted land and monitor the effectiveness of restoration efforts.
4

Where can I find the SIZA Environmental Standard?

The SIZA Environmental Standard can be downloaded from your homepage on the MySIZA platform. →

Acceptance of the SIZA Standard

If you would like to view the SIZA Standard for benchmarking purposes, please refer to our guidelines on the benchmarking process.

See the guidelines
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