The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) requested that the government announce it would not ratify the 2026 Global Methane Commitment Ministers' Declaration. The Federation stated that Australian agriculture has developed solutions through new technologies that improve genetics, low-methane pastures, feed additives and emissions reductions. According to the organisation, during Australia's accession to the pledge in 2022, livestock was assured that there would be no obligation to reduce animal numbers through a methane tax, new regulation, or reduced agricultural production.
The new declaration recognises the sources of efficiency, food security and livelihoods, while also calling for national commitments to be transformed into policy, regulation and investment plans. The NFF argued that this approach poses unnecessary risk to Australian agriculture, and that governments should focus on ensuring food affordability, food safety, efficiency and access to food. The Federation has requested that emission-reducing technologies and innovations be allowed to be implemented.
