Use this checklist to identify what you already know well and what you still need to revise before the SAC.

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Social sustainability

• I can describe social sustainability as it relates to agricultural and horticultural businesses.

• I can give examples of practices that improve worker wellbeing, community health and animal welfare.

• I can explain how businesses contribute to healthy rural and regional communities.

Economic sustainability

• I can describe economic sustainability in agricultural and horticultural businesses.

• I can explain how profitability affects long-term business survival.

• I can discuss how commodity prices can create challenges for primary producers.

• I can explain how value-adding can improve economic sustainability.

Environmental sustainability

• I can describe environmental sustainability in agricultural and horticultural businesses.

• I can explain how producers manage soil, water, biodiversity and pollution.

• I can identify practices that reduce environmental impacts.

Ethical considerations

• I can explain what ethical considerations are in food and fibre production.

• I can discuss ethical issues such as animal welfare, chemical use, environmental stewardship and fair treatment of workers.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Food and Fibre Supply Chain

Food provenance

• I can define food provenance.

• I can explain why consumers want to know where and how food is produced.

• I can identify one challenge and one opportunity associated with food provenance.

Carbon footprint

• I can define carbon footprint.

• I can identify the main agricultural greenhouse gases (methane and nitrous oxide).

• I can explain one strategy for reducing emissions on a farm.

• I can explain how reducing emissions can create both environmental and economic benefits.

Healthy rural and regional communities

• I can explain how agricultural businesses support employment and local services.

• I can identify challenges facing rural communities, such as labour shortages or declining populations.

Food safety standards

• I can explain why food safety standards are important.

• I can identify examples such as temperature control, hygiene procedures, residue limits (think herbicide and pesticide residue) and traceability.

• I can explain how food safety supports consumer confidence and export markets.

Safe work practices

• I can explain why agriculture is a high-risk industry.

• I can identify examples of safe work practices on farms or in processing facilities.

• I can explain how safe work practices improve both social and economic sustainability.

Commodity prices

• I can explain why primary producers often have limited control over commodity prices.

• I can identify factors that cause commodity prices to change.

• I can explain how producers can reduce price risk through value-adding, niche marketing or export diversification.

Strategies for Broadening Markets

Value-adding

• I can define value-adding.

• I can give examples of value-adding in agricultural or horticultural businesses.

• I can explain both advantages and disadvantages of value-adding.

Export markets

• I can explain why businesses may choose to grow for export.

• I can identify challenges associated with exporting, such as quality standards, transport costs and competition.

Niche markets

• I can define niche market.

• I can explain how niche markets can allow producers to charge premium prices.

Marketing and Communications

Marketing tools

• I can identify marketing tools such as social media, websites, packaging, advertising, farmers' markets and product labels.

• I can explain how marketing helps businesses promote Australian food and fibre products.

Communications strategies

• I can analyse the target audience of a marketing campaign.

• I can explain the message being communicated.

• I can evaluate whether a marketing strategy is effective.

Media, Pressure Groups and Consumers

Mainstream media

• I can explain how television, newspapers and online news can influence producer decisions.

Social media

• I can explain how social media can create both opportunities and risks for producers.

• I can give examples of how producers use social media to promote products and communicate with consumers.

Pressure groups

• I can explain how environmental or animal welfare organisations can influence agricultural practices and government policy.

Consumers

• I can explain how changing consumer preferences can influence production methods, packaging, certification and product range.

Quality Assurance and Food Quality

Quality standards

• I can explain what quality standards are.

• I can give examples of standards relating to food safety, residues, grading or labelling.

Quality assurance programs

• I can explain what a quality assurance (QA) program is.

• I can describe how QA programs use record keeping, monitoring, audits and traceability.

Organisations responsible for maintaining quality

• I can identify FSANZ and explain its role.

• I can identify the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and explain its role.

• I can identify APVMA and explain its role.

• I can identify NATA and explain its role.

Note that while it is handy to know one or two of these organisations, particularly if a question asks you for an example, they are not specifically in the study design and you will not need to know all of them.

Government Regulations and Policies

Environment Protection Authority Act 2017

• I can explain the purpose of the Environment Protection Authority Act 2017.

• I can give examples of how it affects decisions about pollution, waste, chemicals and waterways.

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004

• I can explain the purpose of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

• I can give examples of how it affects machinery use, training, PPE and workplace safety.

Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994

• I can explain the purpose of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. (CaLP)

• I can give examples of how it affects weed control, pest management, erosion and land degradation.

Comparing the Acts

• I can identify which Act is most relevant to a particular agricultural scenario.

• I can explain how the three Acts work together to support sustainable production.

SAC Skills

Evaluating sustainability

• I can evaluate a business practice using social, economic and environmental sustainability.

• I can identify trade-offs between different dimensions of sustainability.

Explaining challenges and opportunities

• I can explain both a challenge and an opportunity for a sustainability issue.

• I can support my explanation with a relevant agricultural or horticultural example.

Analysing marketing and communications

• I can identify the target audience, purpose and message of a media advertisement or social media post.

• I can explain how a media advertisement or social media post may influence consumer behaviour or business success.

Explaining quality assurance

• I can clearly explain the difference between quality standards and quality assurance programs.

Evaluating influences on producers

• I can discuss how media, pressure groups, consumers and government regulations influence producer decisions.

Final Check

I can...

• define all key terms without looking at my notes.

• use agricultural or horticultural examples in my answers.

• explain cause-and-effect relationships (for example, consumer demand → producer response → business outcome).

• write a balanced evaluation that includes both advantages and disadvantages.

• refer to social, economic and environmental sustainability in extended responses.

• apply my knowledge to a new case study or stimulus material that I have not seen before.

• complete an 8-mark exam-style question within 6 to 8 minutes.

• explain why a business practice is sustainable, not just what the practice is.

Quick Reminder

The following little formula can be helpful for almost every extended-response question. Remember to do what the question asks you to do, but if there is a lack of clear guidance, this is helpful:

Define → Explain → Example → Link to sustainability

This simple structure works for:

• provenance

• carbon footprint

• value-adding

• food safety

• safe work practices

• quality assurance

• government regulations

• media and consumer influences.