Background
The AASF Framework
The Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework (AASF) is a joint initiative led by the National Farmers’ Federation and supported by the Australian Government. The framework was developed in response to increasing pressures on the agricultural sector to demonstrate sustainability performance, both domestically and internationally. Global shifts towards environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, combined with increasing consumer awareness and regulatory expectations, has put pressure on Australian agriculture to demonstrate its sustainability performance.
By developing a common set of sustainability principles for the agricultural sector that can be used over time to align sectoral and supply chain language towards a common understanding of sustainability deliverables, the AASF communicates the overall status of Australian agricultural sustainability. This two-way lens helps stakeholders in supply chains, finance and the community to understand the priorities of Australian producers, and helps producers identify where their sustainability focus can be directed.
Principles
The AASF consists of 17 principles that represent fundamental aspects of sustainable agriculture, under the themes of environmental stewardship, people, animals and community, and economic resilience. These overarching principles range from resource efficiency and biodiversity conservation to social responsibility and economic viability. They serve as the foundational values guiding the agricultural sector’s sustainable transition, and reflect priorities identified through collaboration with stakeholders; including farmers, industry bodies, environmental groups, and government agencies. Each principle outlines broad, essential goals, setting a high-level vision for what sustainable agriculture should strive to achieve in Australia.
Criteria
To operationalise these principles, the framework introduces 43 specific criteria that further detail the conditions necessary for sustainability. The criteria within the framework translate the high-level principles into clear, actionable areas that define sustainable practice across the agricultural sector. Each criterium represents a specific condition or requirement that must be met to align with the principles, providing structure and clarity for implementation.
Together, the framework’s principles and criteria describe the Australian agricultural industry’s sustainability status and goals, offering a robust, transparent continuum that enables the agricultural industry to document and report on sustainability outcomes in a way that is consistent, credible, and adaptable to future challenges. The AASF will provide verified information about agricultural sustainability, drawing on national data sets and collaboration with industry-specific initiatives. To understand how the AASF principles align with many of the existing Australian and international sustainability frameworks, schemes and programs, click the framework to find out more.
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