Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the work function associated with developing climate risk management strategies for an agricultural, horticultural or land management enterprise and defines the standard required to: research climate and enterprise data; analyse and interpret climate and enterprise data; prepare risk management strategies; and integrate climate risk and opportunities for management strategies at a business management level.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to those whose job role includes developing climate risk management strategies for an agricultural or production horticultural.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Survey climate and enterprise data

1.1. Historical climate data is obtained and interpreted from a range of sources.

1.2. Weather and climate risk factors are identified.

1.3. Information on normal and significant climate events and their impact on natural and rural systems are collected.

1.4. Current and historical property and enterprise situation is detailed according to enterprise guidelines.

1.5. Short and long term enterprise goals are reviewed.

1.6. Climate and enterprise data is sourced, presented and updated according to enterprise requirements.

2. Climate risks and opportunities are identified and analysed

2.1. Forecasted chances of seasonal climate are analysed.

2.2. Climate risks and opportunities are identified.

2.3. Impact on production of different weather and climate risk factors are determined according to enterprise requirements.

2.4. Qualitative and quantitative risk and opportunity factors are identified and developed.

2.5. Importance of climate variability and significant climate events is evaluated.

2.6. Tactics to address a range of different climate variability risks and opportunities are outlined according to enterprise requirements.

2.7. Contingency options for enterprises and the business are identified.

3. Prepare climate risk management strategies

3.1. Climate variability and seasonal climate forecasts are analysed.

3.2. Insurance and other options are addressed in strategies.

3.3. Major climate risk factors are addressed in strategies.

3.4. Financial outcomes for all strategies are prepared according to enterprise guidelines.

3.5. Impacts on the environment, property value and equity are predicted for the preferred strategies.

3.6. Preferred production, enterprise or alternative strategies are reviewed, and options selected according to enterprise requirements.

3.7. A planned strategy to cope with variable climate and climate risk management is presented in a format according to enterprise guidelines.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• research climate and enterprise data
• analyse and interpret climate and enterprise data
• prepare risk management strategies
• integrate climate risk, and opportunities and management strategies at a business management level
• use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• current forecasting techniques and phenomena, such as El Nino, ENSO, Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and Pacific and Indian Ocean SST patterns
• the impact of weather and climate phenomena on rainfall, plant growth and yields
• causes of general patterns of weather and climate over Australia
• climate variability and climate change
• direct and indirect impacts of climate variability on land management and sustainability
• property and enterprise management decisions affected by the variable climate
• recognition of climate risks and opportunities
• seasonal climate forecasting systems and related indicators
• drought planning and strategies
• flood planning and strategies
• climate and weather issues pertaining to sustainable agriculture
• potential impacts of greenhouse warming on land and natural resource management
• strategic options and planning in response to climate variability for a range of seasons (normal, drier or wetter than normal), and other risks and opportunities
• calculating financial returns for different strategic options
• computer applications and Internet to access, record and analyse data
• principles of decision-making based on the variable climate and seasonal climate forecasts.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• research climate and enterprise data
• analyse and interpret climate and enterprise data
• prepare risk management strategies
• integrate climate risk and opportunities for management strategies at a business management level.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Climate data may include:

• the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorological elements in a given region over long periods of time.

Risk management may include:

• the identification, assessment, and prioritisation of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimise, monitor and control the probability and/or impact of events.

Data may include:

• data from primary and secondary sources, including:

• field work and trials
• research materials
• published books
• academic reports
• industry reports
• colleagues
• computer software
• internet
• newspapers
• photographic data
• journals
• industry publications
• industry specialists and experts.

Unit sector 

Agribusiness

Co-requisite units 

Competency field