AgriFutures On Air: Recent Episodes
AgriFutures Australia
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When big ideas and new opportunities run up against established practices of farming in Australia’s unique environment, there’s tough choices to be made. Join host Michael Thomson as he unearths the farmers, scientists and big characters changing Australian agriculture in this new series from AgriFutures Australia.
If you followed AgriFutures On Air, make sure you search for “Unearthed: The people changing Australian agriculture” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen and hit follow to stay updated with the latest episodes.
The Queensland Government has committed to an ambitious target to boost the State’s primary production output to 30 billion dollars by 2030.
So how can they do it and who is going to be on the ground? Join Jayne Cuddihy in conversation with stakeholders, Grant Statton, Executive Director of AgriBusiness Connect, Kylie Porter, CEO of Greater Whitsunday Alliance and Garnet Radford, Economic Development Officer, Balonne Shire Council with big picture thinking and passionate workforces.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Beef and seafood are not only two of Australia’s favourite foods to serve for dinner- but they are also two of Australian agriculture’s biggest employers. So what are they doing to futureproof their vacancies?
Julie Petty is the General Manager, Policy and Projects of Seafood Industry Australia and is joined by Stephen O’Brien, the CEO of Mort & Co, in conversation with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Australia’s agritech industry is at a critical crossroads- so how can we seize the moment and shift investment and capital structures to keep innovations and profits on home soil?
Join Dr Nancy Schellhorn, the co-founder and CEO of Rapid AIM bio digital crop detection and Mark Gustowski, a Co-Founder at Mandalay Venture Partners with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Australia’s national science agency CSIRO is increasing farm productivity with new ways of thinking and technology and opening doors for innovators around the world. We’ll hear from Dr Rose Roche about some programs available. We also hear from New South Wales farmer and entrepreneur Nick Seymour about his innovation The Water Rat and breaking into the Indian market.
They also give a very candid insight into the accelerator experience and how can entrepreneurs be better supported to scale.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
How do we put women at the forefront of decision making, investment and marketing of the agrifood innovation ecosystem? Kylie and Julia explore the underlying reasons with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy and some of reasoning will surprise you.
This is the first episode in our evokeᴬᴳ⋅ Workforce and Skills Gap mini-series and we’re asking the tough questions of rural entrepreneur Julia Spicer OAM and venture capitalist Kylie Frazer.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Sesame is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, but an industry that is emerging within the Australian agriculture landscape.
The white and black sesame seeds you buy in the supermarket or those sprinkled on top of your hamburger buns and sushi rolls are almost certainly imported from developing countries in Asia and Africa. But with the global sesame market worth more than US $7 billion and demand continuing to escalate, an Australian sesame renaissance is beginning to gain momentum.
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts to listen to all six episodes.
Tackling food waste is one of the World’s great challenges. UK based company LyteGro is taking it one banana at a time with the development of microbial growth enhancers using some of the 1.4 million tropical fruits that are thrown out every day.
LyteGro CEO Dr Andrew Lee was at evokeᴬᴳ⋅ with his fellow countryman Adam Shay from RBT for not only the quintessential evokeᴬᴳ⋅ networking experience, but exploring market growth options in Australia as they told our contributor Jayne Cuddihy.
This is the fifth episode of the third focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeAG is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
This episode in our evokeᴬᴳ⋅ mini series looking at the third key focus: Innovation and Future Technology and we’re heading to New Zealand!
Not content with the status quo when it comes to power and technology on farm, cherry farmer Mike Casey has created the world’s first fully electric farm. Listen as he tells our contributor Jayne Cuddihy about his mission to electrify millions of fossil-fuel machines.
The evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
There’s a big difference between a portobello mushroom and an enoki- just like the robots that pick them. In this episode we hear from Chris Payne, Chief Operating Officer for 4AG Robotics, about the fascinating evolution of specialist robots and Professor Simon Pearson who led the UK government’s review of robotics and automation for the horticulture sector and works in one of the largest Ag-Tech specialist groups in the UK.
This is the third episode of the third focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeAG is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
As the Smart Farm landscape evolves, innovators like BioScout and Fauna Tech are at the forefront, focused on providing sustainable alternatives to traditional farming practices. This is helping Australian farmers adopt smarter, more resilient practices, contributing to the growth and transformation of Smart Farms across the country.
In this episode our contributor Jayne Cuddihy talks to Charles Simons from BioScout and Fauna Tech’s Rajat Pandya.
This is the fourth episode of the third focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Western Queensland’s Luke Chaplain has had many careers including rodeo rider, movie producer and grazier and you could argue that his ‘jack of all trades’ persona has made a perfect fit for his latest foray into technology and innovation.
As the driving force behind SkyKelpie- Luke is now recognised as one of the leading experts in drone mustering and aerial stockmanship. But he still has a few surprises up his sleeve as you’ll hear in this conversation with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy.
This is the second episode of the third focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Australia is leading the way in terms of valuing carbon in our landscape and in our ag systems. In this episode our contributor Jayne Cuddihy explores how measuring and valuing natural capital fits into the ‘farm of the future’ with Hugh Killen- the managing director of Impact Ag Australia and Dr Victoria Hatton, the Chief Executive at FoodHQ Innovation, New Zealand.
This is the second episode of the second focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Can agriculture save our climate? According to a critical debate at the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 event it most certainly can. In this final episode of Environment and Sustainability mini-series, our contributor Jayne Cuddihy joins Michelle Gortan from the Macdoch Foundation, a philanthropic foundation focused on agriculture and food systems, and organic beef producer Carly Baker-Burnham to discuss the nitty gritty on the role ag plays in the climate solution.
This is the sixth episode of the second focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Soil connection is a thing. Whether it be the critters doing magic underneath the surface, or humans interacting with modern science and technology to enhance our understanding- you won’t come across more passionate devotees.
Case in point was when our contributor Jayne Cuddihy joined visual ecologist Aviva Reed and soil scientist Dr Susie Orgill in the studio at evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025.
This is the fifth episode of the second focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Alisa Mihaila and Tom Norman are two exciting young thought leaders in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ Groundbreakers program, proudly sponsored by Coles. They’ve recognised the potential of the unexpected and are making promising advances in addressing climate change. By reimagining how we use existing resources, both Tom and Alisa are breaking new ground in tackling climate change. They joined our contributor Jayne Cuddihy in conversation as part of our Environment and Sustainability mini-series.
This is the fourth episode of the second focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Is the meteoric rise of anti-obesity medications taking a bite out of the food industry and what does that mean for the future of farming? Our contributor Jayne Cuddihy sat down with Jack Bobo- the Executive Director of the UCLA Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies and an honorary professor at the University of Nottingham and Professor Michelle Colgrave- the Deputy Director (Impact) in CSIRO Agriculture and Food.
This is the first episode of the second focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
We hear a lot about regenerative farming practices on the land, but what about in the depths of the ocean? In this episode, we’ll hear from two passionate leaders in sustainable ocean farming who defied global barriers to work together.
Bren Smith is the Co-Executive Director of GreenWave and Owner of Thimble Island Ocean Farm based in the US and Clare Bradley is the Co-Founder and CEO of New Zealand based AgriSea. They joined our contributor Jayne Cuddihy in conversation at the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 event.
This is the third episode of the second focus area in the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series. The series is split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Consumers and regulators globally are calling for more biologicals and less chemicals. In contrast, producers are calling for new crop inputs which meet their mounting pest and disease challenges. So how do they meet in the middle? Dr Adrian Percy and Peter Wren-Hilton have long pondered this quandary and many in between. Luckily for us, they made time to share with our contributor Jayne Cuddihy at the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 event some fascinating insights they’ve made along the way.
This is the second episode of the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series, split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Global food production is facing bold and urgent questions around it’s future and no-one is more aware than Jo Sheppard, the CEO of the Queensland Farmers Federation and Anthony Lee- the CEO and director of Australian Country Choice, one of the world’s largest family-owned, vertically integrated cattle and beef supply chain organisations.
In the episode our contributor Jayne Cuddihy delves into some of the bigger challenges facing the ag sector with this dynamic and big thinking pair.
This is the first episode of the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series, split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 platinum partner Elders has been helping to drive adoption of agritech from a grassroots level for generations.
As the State Rural Products Manager for Queensland and the Northern Territory Nathan Surawski knows what industry needs at every level. Supported by the likes of Olivia Lindley - a rural sales representative from the Central Queensland town of Emerald, they take our contributor Jayne Cuddihy through what drives adoption in the paddock and what producers want next.
This is the second episode of the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series, split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
How can agritech and innovation can empower First Nations land stewardship and foster long-term prosperity for communities?
evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 set the stage for many important conversations around moving away from tokenism for Australia's First Nations people and empowering communities to develop people and industry.
Nini Mills and Trevor Meldrum, joined our contributor Jayne Cuddihy in a conversation around how technology can support traditional land practices while building sustainability and food security.
This is the fourth episode of the evokeᴬᴳ⋅ 2025 mini series, split into four key focus areas: Economics & Trade, Sustainability & Environment, Innovation & Future Technology and Workforce & Skills Gap.
AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅ is Asia Pacific’s premier agrifood innovation event, with the 2025 event bringing together almost 2,000 delegates from across the globe.
This unique, cross-sector, international event brings together thought leaders and change makers in agriculture, food manufacturing, research, innovation, investment, and policy, to build connections for a more resilient, productive, and profitable agricultural sector and value chain.
Find out more about AgriFutures evokeᴬᴳ⋅
Hemp is a plant so versatile that it has the ability to feed, clothe, and house us. The rediscovery of industrial hemp and new investment in research and development is unlocking amazing opportunities as the world grapples with food security, waste and climate change.
In this episode explore the myriad of potential hemp provides and hear from industry leaders who are driving the industry forward.
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts and make sure you don’t miss the final episode, dropping Friday, 4th April.
Australian hazelnut growers, processors and researchers are pulling together to show the world the enormous potential to replace imported products with fresh, nutritious, high-quality Australian nuts. In this episode we put the product to the test and discover how industry pioneers and problem solvers are cracking the code on this exciting emerging industry.
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts and make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday, 21 March.
The average Australian produces more than half a tonne of household waste each year. We recycle what we can and the rest goes to the tip… but what if we could take our food waste and not just recycle it, but transform it into an alternate, high quality protein source that’s packed with health benefits? It’s happening. And there’s a buzz about it. In Australia, a small group of innovators are putting their money where their mouth is to show how insects might be the answer to the world’s increasing demand for protein. What is the palatable and profitable use for these incredible critters?
Seeded is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday 7 March.
It’s an old-world luxury ingredient that the French, Italians and Spanish have included on their menus for hundreds of years. But Australia’s growing black perigord truffle industry is making a name for itself as a global powerhouse of production and is the fourth largest producer globally. Continued success is built upon Australia’s reputation as a supplier of premium quality truffles and access into international markets, including during the off-season to Europe’s truffle growing season.
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.
Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday 21 February.
Australians love their coffee. As a nation we consume about 130 million kilograms each year. But only a tiny amount - less than 1% is actually grown here in Australia.
Why is this the case and what opportunities exist for the industry to expand? What research is being done to increase Australian coffee production and position it as a clean, green premium product that can pass the taste tests of our coffee-obsessed local consumers?
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.
Australia’s agriculture sector has a $100 billion goal. But what role will new and emerging industries play in reaching that target? Can industries like coffee, truffle and insects realise their full potential and help make it happen?
Seeded is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.
Make sure you don’t miss the series, with the first episode dropping Friday, 24 January 2025.
Could Australia’s greatest untapped resource be its own backyard?
In this episode, Matthew Peacock, Head of Agribusiness and Sustainability at Densu PR speaks to Jane Knight, Senior Manager Rural Futures - AgriFutures Australia, Adrian Spencer, CEO at Sampano and Dr. Louise Brown, CEO and Founder of HydGene Renewables as they unveil the untapped potential of regional manufacturing in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.
Together, they explore the incredible opportunities in pulse processing, algae innovation, biomass transformation, green ammonia, and biofuels. Discover how Australia’s 12,000 species of algae could fuel local industries, and learn how green hydrogen from biomass waste is paving the way for sustainable ammonia production.
Listen as our guests discuss the critical role of research, technology adoption, and workforce development in driving rural resilience and transforming regional economies.
Tune in to hear how regional manufacturing can reshape our industries and secure a brighter, greener future!
Further ResourcesManufacturing agriculture’s future: Opportunities and challenges in developing regional manufacturing for the Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectorIn this report, we undertake the crucial task of identifying the on-farm inputs and outputs best suited for regional manufacturing, recognising the potential for substantial impact and the economic, social and environmental impacts on regional communities, accompanied by a high-level supply chain analysis.
In this episode, we explore a pivotal research project that examines the current capacity and future needs of agricultural extension practitioners in Australia.
Hosted by a panel of experts—John James, Jeff Coutts, and Denise Bewsell—this episode shares valuable insights into the critical role of extension in supporting farmers and driving innovation.
Listen to the John, Jeff and Denise discuss the definition and importance of agricultural extension, challenges like fragmentation and resource scarcity and research insights from surveys, interviews, and Bayesian modelling.
This episode highlights the need for a strategic and long-term approach to strengthen Australia's agricultural extension system to enable adoption on farm, in production systems and across communities.
Further ResourcesAustralian extension capacity and capability A map and a gap analysis
Undertaken in partnership with the broader RDC network, this report surveyed 400 current extension people, mapping their capacity (time and resources) alongside their capability (skills, expertise and knowledge).
This work aims to ensure there is adequate extension capacity and capability available to support Australian agriculture into the future.
"We need more people, especially from emerging industries, to attend courses like this, to reshape their view, not just change their view, reshape it towards the right direction."
Dr. Omid Ansari, the founder and CEO of HempGen Tech, recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course as part of his commitment to growing the Australian hemp industry. In this episode, Dr. Ansari shares how the course equipped him with the tools to lead his startup company through its critical early stages.
He explains that as a CEO in an emerging industry, he recognised the need for a deeper understanding of corporate governance, strategic decision-making, and risk management. The AICD course provided him with a systematic approach to building a solid foundation for his business based on best practices.
Dr. Ansari highlights key takeaways from the course, including establishing clear governance structures, making informed financial decisions, and developing strategic planning skills. He emphasises how these learnings have not only benefited his own company, but also enabled him to become a more effective leader and role model for the fragmented hemp industry.
By completing this course, Dr. Ansari has gained the confidence and expertise to guide his startup through the challenges of an evolving market. His insights underscore the value of formal training for industry leaders looking to drive innovation and growth.
Further Resources
Want to gain the skills to drive innovation and growth in your industry? Apply now for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities for the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs including the AICD (applications close Wednesday, 8 January 2025).
In this episode, hear from two inspiring young people, Tess Cook and Ben Peden, who both participated in the 2023 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program.
Tess comes from a cattle and cropping property in central Queensland and is now studying veterinary science, while Ben grew up in Sydney with no agricultural background before discovering a passion for the sector through high school and university.
Both Tess and Ben share how the Horizon Scholarship has been transformative for them, opening their eyes to the incredible diversity of the agricultural sector and providing invaluable networking, professional development and personal growth opportunities.
Listen to them discuss their experience taking part in the Program including overcoming imposter syndrome, getting comfortable being uncomfortable, and finding their voice to share bold ideas.
The program has helped them build confidence, expand their perspectives, and discover new pathways they never would have considered before.
Further Resources
Want to gain the skills to drive innovation and growth in your industry? Apply now for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities for the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs including the Horizon Scholarships (applications close Friday, 15 January 2025).
This podcast was first published by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Supported by the GRDC, the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program fosters the next generation of agricultural leaders who are interested in contributing to the Australian grains industry's success.
Awarded to roughly 20 students each year, the Scholarship provides a bursary of $5000 a year during the final two years of a degree, along with professional development, work placements and networking opportunities.
In this podcast, we hear from Horizon Scholarship recipient, Grace Moloney, on how the experience has opened doors for her professionally here in Australia and abroad.
Further Resources
Applications are now open for the 2025 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship. In partnership with 12 industry sponsors, students enrolled in full time study at an Australian university can apply for:
- A bursary of $5000 per year for the final two years of your degree
- Professional development workshops
- Annual industry work placements aligned with the scholar’s areas of interest and their sponsor’s industry
- Opportunities to network and gain knowledge at a range of industry events.
For more information and how to apply, head to agrifutures.com.au/horizon. Applications close on Friday, 10 January 2025 at 5pm AEDT sharp.
More episodes of the GRDC Podcast are available on their website, or on Spotify.
"Seriously, just do it! You certainly won't regret it.”
In the latest episode of the AgriFutures Capacity Building miniseries, we hear from two agricultural leaders who participated in the transformative Australian Rural Leadership Foundation's TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program - Verity Price, Deputy CEO of the Australian Chicken Meat Federation, and Jacob Birch, Managing Director of Yaamarra & Yarral in the native grains industry.
From the powerful Welcome to Country ceremony that set the tone, to the immersive experiences in nature the program pushed them to step back and reflect on their purpose, behaviours, and relationships in new ways.
Despite working in vastly different agricultural sectors, both Verity and Jacob highlight how taking part in the program allowed them the time for deep reflection, how they have applied their learnings back home, and how they continue to be shaped by the lasting impact of the program that go beyond just teaching technical skills.
Further Resources
Ready to take Verity’s advice and “just do it”?
Apply for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities - the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs - including TRAIL (applications close Wednesday, 8 January 2025).
“It was the furthest thing from a day spa, but it gave me space.”
Jennifer Galloway has a hectic life - a young family and a busy job as Acting General Manager covering three portfolios - Workforce, Communications and Adoption (WCA) at AgriFutures Australia.
Day-to-day, Jen leads a team dedicated to effectively delivering AgriFutures’ research outcomes to the people that need them most. She also ensures the WCA team’s communication efforts extend to attracting a motivated and future-ready agricultural workforce, while helping build their leadership skills.
But for Jen, participating in the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program (AALP) meant suddenly finding herself on the receiving end of her everyday work.
Tune in to the latest episode of #AgriFuturesOnAir’s Capacity Building miniseries to hear Jen discuss what it’s like being forced to be vulnerable, and how the ARLP helped her understand who she is a leader, and the leader she wants to be.
Further Resources
Passionate about rural industries like Jen? Apply for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities - the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs including the AALP (applications close Wednesday, 8 January 2025).
“Leadership in Australian agriculture involves a blend of vision, the resilience, adaptability and commitment to sustainable practices”
In the second episode of the AgriFutures Capacity Building mini-series, we hear from Dakshina Yadav, a passionate horticultural scientist from Nepal now working in the Northern Territory, who was selected to take part in the prestigious Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program.
Dakshina specialises in the production of jackfruit, a tropical fruit that is widely used in Asia and is rapidly gaining popularity in Australia. After attending the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program, Dakshina's approach to her work has been revitalised and, in this episode, she shares how the course helped her develop key skills like vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and leading by example - all crucial for driving innovation in the Australian agriculture sector.
While highlighting her leadership transformation, Dakshina also discusses the unique challenges and opportunities facing agricultural leaders in Australia today and stresses the importance of creating meaningful connections and networks formed through leadership programs like Marcus Oldham.
The AgriFutures Leadership and Development Opportunities are now open. Tune into the mini-series to learn more about these fantastic opportunities on offer and apply at the link below to take your leadership skills to the next level.
Learn more and apply: Learning and Development Opportunities and Resources | AgriFutures Australia
"I think leadership is about having those abilities to public speak and all that kind of stuff, but it's about bringing people together."
Discover the inspiring journey of Sarah Secker, a remarkable leader in Australian agriculture. Sarah completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Foundations of Directorship course, a program designed for new and aspiring directors, senior executives, and managers wanting to gain a foundational knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of boards and directors.
In the first of five episodes of the AgriFutures Capacity Building Program’s Learning and Development Opportunities mini-series, Sarah, a farming business manager in South Australia, discusses her journey from a corporate career in advertising to running a family farm and the need for leadership in community projects and the value of diverse perspectives.
Sarah's participation in the AICD course has had a profound impact on her life and business and her story is a testament to resilience and innovation.
The AgriFutures Leadership and Development Opportunities are now open. Tune into the mini-series to learn more about these fantastic opportunities on offer and apply at the link below to take your leadership skills to the next level.
Learn more and apply: Learning and Development Opportunities and Resources | AgriFutures Australia
Join the Fibre Frontier! In this episode, we join the AgriFutures Australia Goat Fibre Program Extension team, neXtgen Agri as they sit down with Dr. Susan Robertson, a senior lecturer at Charles Sturt University and passionate mohair producer, to get an insider's look at the world of Angora goats. Susan shares her journey of transitioning to farming Angora goats alongside Merino sheep, blending her academic expertise with hands-on experience.
Discover the unique management considerations for Angora goats, from navigating shearing and fencing challenges to tackling health concerns like worm control and photosensitization. Susan offers invaluable insights into the physiological differences between sheep and goats, and how she's optimising her production system to maximise mohair quality and profitability. Hear Susan's perspective on the economics of mohair versus wool, and the importance of strategic marketing to capture the best prices. Whether you're a seasoned goat farmer or just starting to explore the mohair industry, this episode is a must listen.
And don't forget to mark your calendars for the upcoming AgriFutures Goat Fibre Program field day Thursday, 14 November in Shepparton, Victoria. This free event is the perfect opportunity to connect with industry experts, network with fellow producers, and dive deeper into the latest advancements in the mohair and cashmere industries.
Mary Nenke's journey from aspiring pharmacist to renowned "yabby lady" is a captivating tale of serendipity, resilience, and a lifelong passion for agriculture. Growing up in the city, Mary never imagined she'd end up as a pioneering force in Australia's aquaculture industry, but a chance encounter through junior farmers changed the course of her life.
When economic challenges hit in the 1990's, Mary and her husband pivoted from the family's sheep and grain business to yabby farming, turning a hobby into a thriving export operation. However, their success was tested by devastating setbacks that nearly wiped out their business. Through it all, Mary's unwavering advocacy and entrepreneurial spirit shone through.
Recognised as one of the earliest AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award winners, Mary's visibility skyrocketed. She leveraged this platform to champion causes close to her heart - from sustainable agriculture to rural community development. Her Farming Champions initiative has connected city and country, amplifying agriculture's vital role.
Today, Mary reflects on her extraordinary journey with gratitude and in this episode we'll hear what her motivation is, how the Rural Women's Award cemented her determination, and why her circle of influence continues to grow. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and the profound impact one passionate individual can have on an industry.
Meet Nathan Cleasby, Aquaculturist who’s passion for both research and aquaculture is driving innovation and growth throughout the Redclaw crayfish industry.
Nathan’s journey from Sydney to Townsville inspired him to pursue a master's degree in aquaculture, where he discovered a market gap for commercial seed stock and addressed this by developing a state-of-the-art hatchery that incorporates ozone and probiotics. Today, his 5.5-hectare farm supplies Redclaw from Sydney to Townsville.
Nathan’s unique blend of strategic planning and bold risk-taking has not only launched a thriving business but also generated significant advancements within the industry, earning him the 2023 Science and Innovation Award.
Join us as we explore Nathan's innovative approaches, the challenges he has overcome, and how his journey is shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture.
The agricultural landscape is rapidly evolving, with a complex web of forces shaping the industry's future. This episode explores a new report from Agrifutures Australia that explores the "cross-sectional forces" set to impact the sector.
Report author Sarah Nolet joins us to discuss the key findings, which cover everything from the rise of AI and mandatory climate disclosures to global conflict and systemic changes in production systems. Sarah explains how the report aims to guide the R&D community in addressing these interconnected challenges through collaborative, cross-industry efforts.
We also hear from Agrifutures Senior Manager, Rural Futures Jane Knight on why this report is a critical resource for decision-makers, researchers and producers alike as they work to future-proof Australian agriculture.
Tanya Dupagne has dedicated her career to supporting children and communities in need, both in Australia and around the world. As the 2017 AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year, Tanya used her platform to launch a transformative grassroots leadership program for women in regional areas. However, Tanya's inspiring work was derailed when she was finally diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease - a condition that had gone undetected for over a decade.
Seven years later, we catch up with Tanya to hear how she continues to fuel her incredible determination and resilience. In this episode, Tanya shares insights on the importance of support networks, self-care, and her vision for empowering rural communities while managing chronic illness and advocating for better treatment options in Australia.
Jean and Basil Baldwin are pioneers in the Australian hazelnut industry. Both now in their 80s, the duo continue to play an active role in the day-to-day operations of Fourjay Farms on the outskirts of Orange, NSW, an operation they run in partnership with daughter Carolyn and her husband Dave Stansfield.
AgriFutures officially launched the $2 million Australian Hazelnut Program of Research (AUSHAZ) at Jean and Basil's property in Orange on Tuesday, 21 May 2024.
Based on the Australian Hazelnut 2030 Strategic Blueprint, the Program of Research was created through consultation with growers, industry body Hazelnut Growers of Australia, processors, agronomists and researchers.
In this episode, Jean and Basil teach us the ins and outs of hazelnuts, and the amazing potential for the development of a standalone Australian industry.
Further resources:
- AgriFutures invests $2m to crack Australian hazelnut industry
- Hazelnuts in Australia: Productivity and economic analysis for industry expansion
- Industry placemat: Hazelnuts
We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast.
In this episode you'll meet Mandy Walker, the 2024 Western Australian winner who is supporting regional businesses to diversify and flourish, in conversation with Sammie O'Brien.
Mandy Walker co-owns Walkers Diesel Services in Wongan Hills, a town 185 kilometres north-east of Perth in Western Australia. She's a passionate advocate for family business in regional areas and has developed a game-changing business model for other engineering enterprises in the Wheatbelt.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
This podcast was originally published on Graziher's Life on the Land podcast, hosted by Emily Herbert and Sammie O'Brien. Graziher is an Australian women's magazine, issued quarterly. Graziher is targeted towards female readers with a strong focus on rural affairs, regional issues and the social aspects relating to life for women who live and work in remote areas of Australia.
We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast.
In this episode you'll meet Nikki Atkinson, the 2024 Victorian winner who is asking brides across Australia to say ‘Yes to the wool dress’. The AgriFutures award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises the women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
The fashion designer is blazing a new trail in the world of bridal couture with her Horrocks Vale Collections — a stunning wedding collection made in Australia with Australian super fine Merino wool. Nikki lives on a sheep property, southwest of Port Augusta in South Australia, where she runs fine Merino wool sheep with her husband, Dallas. She's in conversation with Em Herbert.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
This podcast was originally published on Graziher's Life on the Land podcast, hosted by Emily Herbert and Sammie O'Brien. Graziher is an Australian women's magazine, issued quarterly. Graziher is targeted towards female readers with a strong focus on rural affairs, regional issues and the social aspects relating to life for women who live and work in remote areas of Australia.
We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast.
In this episode you'll meet Tanya Egerton, the 2024 Northern Territory winner. She's been recognised for her sustainable, ethical, and culturally-focused Indigenous enterprise, the Remote OpShop Project and is in conversation with Sammie O'Brien.
As the CEO of Circulanation and the Remote OpShop Project, Tanya is supporting the establishment of op shops in remote First Nations communities, providing access to affordable items, while generating independent funding that supports culturally-focused projects.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
This podcast was originally published on Graziher's Life on the Land podcast, hosted by Emily Herbert and Sammie O'Brien. Graziher is an Australian women's magazine, issued quarterly. Graziher is targeted towards female readers with a strong focus on rural affairs, regional issues and the social aspects relating to life for women who live and work in remote areas of Australia.
We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast.
In this episode you'll meet Grace Larson, the 2024 Victorian winner, who founded the Sisterhood Project with her with her sister Skye. She’s in conversation with Em Herbert.
With more than 68,000 Australian children hospitalised from accidents every year, first-aid training can be the difference between life and death. Yet the financial barrier can be prohibitive. This is where Grace Larson steps in. Living on a small heritage apple orchard outside Mia Mia in regional Victoria with her husband Steven and three children, Grace has 17 years’ experience working across paediatric intensive care units. This nurse is passionate about improving the lives of children — especially those living in the bush.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
This podcast was originally published on Graziher's Life on the Land podcast, hosted by Emily Herbert and Sammie O'Brien. Graziher is an Australian women's magazine, issued quarterly. Graziher is targeted towards female readers with a strong focus on rural affairs, regional issues and the social aspects relating to life for women who live and work in remote areas of Australia.
We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast.
In this episode you'll meet Belle Binder, the 2024 Tasmanian winner. Belle has established the Farm Work Loop, a first-of-its-kind proactive approach that blends work, travel and community by providing continued employment across diverse farms and is in conversation with Sammie O'Brien.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
This podcast was originally published on Graziher's Life on the Land podcast, hosted by Emily Herbert and Sammie O'Brien. Graziher is an Australian women's magazine, issued quarterly. Graziher is targeted towards female readers with a strong focus on rural affairs, regional issues and the social aspects relating to life for women who live and work in remote areas of Australia.
We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast.
In this episode you'll meet Rebecca Keeley, the 2024 New South Wales winner. Rebecca is fiercely passionate about closing the gap for regional and remote children being able to access speech pathology. Studies show that Aussie kids are on average waiting 20 months for a speech pathology assessment - and a further 20 months before they receive intervention. For example, that means a two-year-old with delayed speech, is nearly six before they’re being seen face to face – the ripple effect of that delayed intervention seen throughout their formative years and beyond. The cost of these services is prohibitive to many regional and remote families who would also need to travel huge distances to access services.
This is not good enough for Rebecca Keeley. The speech pathologist has launched her startup, Yarn, which offers digital speech pathology programs to families while they wait to see a specialist in person.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
This podcast was originally published on Graziher's Life on the Land podcast, hosted by Emily Herbert and Sammie O'Brien. Graziher is an Australian women's magazine, issued quarterly. Graziher is targeted towards female readers with a strong focus on rural affairs, regional issues and the social aspects relating to life for women who live and work in remote areas of Australia.
We celebrate the winners of the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award in this special series of Graziher's Life on the Land podcast.
Did you know as a nation, we consume a staggering 336-million tins of tuna a year – roughly the same weight as the harbour bridge? And that 99 per cent of the 50,000 tonnes of tinned tuna Aussies eat annually is imported? With less than a third of that certified as sustainably fished.
In this episode you'll meet Kate Lamason, the Queensland winner of the AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award.
It's these statistics that blew her mind and reeled her in to start her business, Little Tuna – to get Aussie tuna on Aussie shelves.
The AgriFutures Rural Women's Award shines a spotlight on some of the most inspirational, courageous, innovative and hardworking women in the business, and celebrates all that rural Australia has to offer. This award recognises women having a positive impact in rural industries, businesses and communities and inspires the next generation of female leaders across all aspects of regional, rural and remote Australia.
This podcast was originally published on Graziher's Life on the Land podcast, hosted by Emily Herbert and Sammie O'Brien. Graziher is an Australian women's magazine, issued quarterly. Graziher is targeted towards female readers with a strong focus on rural affairs, regional issues and the social aspects relating to life for women who live and work in remote areas of Australia.
With their long, lumpy body and leathery skin, your first thought upon seeing a sea cucumber probably isn't that it's a delicacy enjoyed by Emperors.
However, the unassuming little creates are the foundation of a $4.4 billion global industry, and you can probably find it tucked away in your local Asian grocery.
Dr. Roger Sie-Maen Chong, a veterinary pathologist working with CSIRO's Aquaculture Research Team, has worked in aquaculture and aquatic animal biosecurity for over 20 years.
In this episode, Dr. Chong talks to Jayne Cuddihy about how the humble sea cucumber can help strengthen the oceans' most important ecosystems, and the work he's doing to boost the industry via educational resources for growers.
Further Resources:
- Read the article: Essential tools and proactive biosecurity measures for sustainable Sea Cucumber industry growth
- Fact sheet: Sea cucumber aquaculture – Maintaining water quality using ecotoxicology tools
- Sea cucumber health and biosecurity for aquaculture development
- Sea Cucumber Health and Biosecurity: Hatchery and Nursery Guide
- Sea Cucumber Health and Biosecurity: Ranching and Grow-Out Guide
In 2018, at a cafe beside a dog park, Shaun Eislers had a brainwave. A reimagining of how we feed our pets, while simultaneously reducing pressure on our food systems as the population grows. The key? Insects.
BuggyBix, Australia’s leading insect-based pet food company, is dedicated to the love we have for our pets, our growing population & the pressures on our food security.
Find out how Shaun creates safe, hypoallergenic, palatable and sustainable pet food from Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSLF), navigates social and cultural challenges, and works on building an industry as well as a business.
Featuring:
- Shaun Eislers, Owner & Founder of BuggyBix
Further Resources:
- Read more about BuggyBix: Bug Bites: Unveiling the Nutritional Benefits of Insects
- Read more about the new Australian Insect Industry RD&E Plan (2023-2028):
It’s not just crickets – new plan guides future of Australian insect industry - Find out more about the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program
"They smell like a cross between asparagus and peanut butter!"
Despite being recognised as a safe and nutritious food source across the world for many years, Moringa (Moringa oleifera) remains classified as a non-traditional and novel food under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which prevents the active development of moringa industry in Australia.
Two determined researchers are on a mission to change that, and bring the highly nutritious leaves, pods and seed oil of the tree into the Australian mainstream. Their research project, funded by an AgriFutures Australia Business Innovation Grant, clearly showed that M. oleifera is a safe and nutritious food source, suitable for human consumption.
In January 2024, a formal application to amend the Code was submitted to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) in January 2024. The outcome is anticipated by September 2024.
Featuring:
- Stephen Newton, CEO, Noosa Organica
- Dr Henry Brockman, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)
Further Resources:
- Final report: Amendment of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code to permit the sale of Moringa oleifera as food
- Read the Australian Moringa Strategic RD&E Plan (2022-2027)
- Find out more about the AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program
For many Aussies, coffee is a much-needed daily ritual. Despite our obsession, we import 99 per cent of our green beans even though we have a long established domestic growing industry.
For our 50 Australian coffee growers, how do we further develop this industry and start growing at scale?
Researchers from Southern Cross University have just completed a project outlining the coffee characteristics which can give Aussie growers a competitive edge.
In doing so they have created a global first - a coffee character wheel.
Featuring:
- Ben Liu, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University
- Simon Williams, Adjunct Fellow, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University
Read more about the coffee project online: Defining terroir of Australian coffee to increase demand and investment | AgriFutures Australia
Check out the Coffee Character Wheel: AGF360-2023-Coffee-Wheel-S3V1 (agrifutures.com.au)
AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources.
It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project!
In this final podcast episode we talk to Richard Rogers, Entomologist, on chemicals for treating varroa - organic or synthetic.
Over the past six weeks, we have released five other interviews featuring global experts along with their accompanying factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management practices from around the world.
Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa.
Featuring:
Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Richard Rogers, Honey bee breeding, genetics and physiology research lab - US Department of Agriculture
AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources.
It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project!
In this podcast episode we talk to Elizabeth Walsh, Honey bee breeding, genetics and physiology research lab - US Department of Agriculture on integrated pest management for varroa.
Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management practices from around the world.
Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa.
Featuring:
Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Elizabeth Walsh, Honey bee breeding, genetics and physiology research lab - US Department of Agriculture
AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources.
It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project!
In this podcast episode we talk to BartJan Fernhout, Chairman of Arista Bee Research about breeding for varroa resistance.
Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management practices from around the world.
Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa.
Featuring:
Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
BartJan Fernhout, Chairman, Arista Bee Research
The AgriFutures Rice Program is aiming to increase water productivity to an average of 1.5 tonnes per megalitre by 2026. It’s an ambitious goal and will rely on whole-of industry collaboration and increased investment to achieve it. Thanks to three cutting-edge research projects, the rice industry is edging closer to this goal.
Featuring:
- John Hornbuckle, Professor (Irrigation and Agricultural Technologies), Deakin University
- Dr Wendy Quayle, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University
- Chris Proud, Senior Rice Breeder, Rice Breeding Australia
AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources.
It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project!
In this podcast episode we discuss the impacts of varroa on pollination in Australia with Emily Noordyke, Varroa Development Officer at the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management practices from around the world.
Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa.
Featuring:
Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Emily Noordyke, Varroa Development Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries
AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources.
It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project!
In this podcast episode we discuss honeybee health and the impacts of varroa with Associate Professor for Honey Bee health, Cameron Jack from the University of Florida.
Each week, we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management practices from around the world.
Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa.
Featuring:
Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
Cameron Jack, Associate Professor for Honey Bee health, University of Florida.
AgriFutures and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) are unveiling a suite of Varroa focused resources.
It’s the first Varroa communication activity that looks at how beekeepers can manage Varroa and remain productive and profitable, and it's all thanks to the AgriFutures Resilient Beekeeping in the Face of Varroa project!
In this podcast episode we speak with Dr Michelle Taylor , New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research on practical ways in which we can slow the spread of varroa.
Each week for the next six weeks we will be releasing another interview featuring global experts along with its accompanying podcast, factsheets and articles each addressing a different topic regarding varroa management practices from around the world.
Hosted on the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) website, they will contribute to the sustainability of honey bee businesses and maintain our industry's reputation for clean, green Australian honey and advance our industry's resilience in the face of Varroa.
Featuring:
- Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
- Dr Michelle Taylor, New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research
Latest research shows that Australian consumers overwhelmingly trust primary producers. But producers are not feeling the love in return. Why is this?
In this episode we speak with the lead researcher of a four-year long project called 'Community Trust in Rural Industries: Year 4 national survey 2023'. Author Dr Kieren Moffat explores the robust data that sets out the ways in which rural industries can meet industry challenges and create a deeper relationship with the Australian community based on trust.
Featuring:
- Georgie Toose, Senior Manager, Collaboration, Rural Futures, AgriFutures Australia
- Dr Kieren Moffat, CEO and Co-founder, VoconiQ
The agricultural industry is crying out for more skilled workers. And for those who live in regional Australia, a career in agriculture takes little convincing. But for our urban cousins, what can we be doing at a school level to attract more students to consider an agricultural career?
To visit the new suite of agricultural career educational resources mentioned in this podcast, please check out the Cultivating futures: Engaging secondary school students in the world of agricultural careers report.
Featuring:
- Dr Jamie Manning, Senior Lecturer, Agriculture, CQ University
- Mitch Arvidson, Careers Advisor, Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus
If you find yourself searching for the most luxurious crocodile skin fashion products in the world, the chances are, it has originated from Australia's northern regions.
While Australia is a small global supplier of crocodile skins, most of what we do supply is considered premium.
The Australian crocodile industry has great potential to expand our crocodile market in a highly sustainable and ethical way.
In this podcast episode we speak with Associate Professor Sally Isberg , Manager of the Center of Crocodile Research and Author of the recently published AgriFutures Australia Australian Crocodile Industry RD&E Plan 2024-2029.
Sally outlines the focusses of the crocodile industry over the next five years and how specific and strategic research will help crocodile producers in Australia reach their goals.
Featuring:
- Associate Professor Sally Isberg, Manager of the Center of Crocodile Research and Author of the recently published AgriFutures Australia Australian Crocodile Industry RD&E Plan 2024-2029.
This is a very special podcast episode from the producers behind the 'Boots Off Log On' podcast.
The episode features our very own John Harvey, Managing Director AgriFutures Australia and first aired in January 2024.
Join show host David Egerton-Warburton as John Harvey navigates the intricate landscape of Australian agriculture, from fostering innovation to addressing the pressing challenges faced by farmers.
Learn about the transformative initiatives spearheaded by AgriFutures Australia and the vision for a sustainable and innovative agrifood future.
For more Boots Off Log On podcast episodes, please visit: Boots Off Log On! Podcast | Agrimaster.
Since being named the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Winner, Nikki Davey has grown both personally and professionally.
The self-confessed introvert has thrown herself into all the opportunities the Award has brought her since September 2023. With the generous Westpac grant, Nikki has expanded her sustainable flower business 'Grown Not Flown' to include other produce. She is also offering masterclasses and expanding her international customer and grower base.
In this episode, discover what Nikki has been working on behind the scenes and what her plans for the next 12 months entail.
Featuring:
- Nikki Davey, 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Winner and Co-Founder, Grown Not Flown.
Jay is a role model for mature-aged students looking to branch into agriculture as a new career opportunity. She is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Science, Animal Science/Animal Health at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia.
With initial interest in becoming a vet, Jay realised there were so many other options in agriculture that she hadn't explored. While her passion still lies in livestock, she has broadened her experience during her studies by participating in a six-week scholarship in Indonesia.
This is Jay's story.
Featuring:
- Jay Elliot, 2023 Agricultural Student of the Year and Animal Science/Animal Health Student at Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia
It's estimated that Australian agriculture produces 9.8 million tonnes of pre-farm gate waste annually. AgriFutures Australia have been working with industry to help address this.
In this episode we introduce the newly published report called 'Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry National Waste and Resource Recovery Roadmap'. We have the author of the report join us to explain just how waste is generated on farm, and how we need to deal with it.
Featuring:
- Dr Anne-Maree Boland, Principal, RMCG
In this episode, we'll hear how two AgriFutures Horizon Scholars literally expanded their horizons. Mitchell Salan and Stephanie Hennings have just been on a tour in Ireland in partnership with their Scholarship sponsor Dairy Australia. We hear about their learnings and experience of the European dairy industry and the new technologies the country has embraced.
Applications for the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship close on 12 January 2024. For more information, visit the AgriFutures Australia agricultural scholarship opportunities webpage.
Featuring:
- Mitchell Salan, 2022 AgriFutures Horizon Scholar
- Stephanie Hennings, 2021 AgriFutures Horizon Scholar
Wading through pre-sale radiographs (or x-rays) of yearlings has long been considered murky territory. But now, thanks to groundbreaking research undertaken by a team at The University of Queensland and supported by the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program, the industry can now be more confident in understanding the impact of a range of lesions on a yearling’s potential racing performance.
In this episode, Dr Argue unpacks the most important takeaways from his research. He explains how it will better inform buyers making purchasing decisions and the agents and sellers involved in a yearling sale. The research will also help vets review pre-sale x-rays and provide advice that could lead to early intervention and improved management for a range of skeletal conditions now understood to impact a thoroughbred’s racing performance and career.
Featuring:
- Dr Brodie Argue, Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Resident, University of Queensland Equine Specialist Hospital
Find out more:
- Project snapshot: Investigation of what radiographic lesions in thoroughbred yearlings are significant in limiting future racing performance | AgriFutures Australia
Indiana Rhind didn't come from a farming background and so she was surprised to be awarded an AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship. She has since described the Australian agricultural scholarship Program as an 'encouraging, exciting and empowering experience'.
In this episode, Indiana talks about the value in connecting with the AgriFutures Horizon Scholar cohort and how, through the Scholarship, she landed her first job in the agricultural industry. Since working with Farmwall, she has realised that agriculture is intricately linked to our urban society.
Applications for the 2024 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship are open now and close on Friday, 12 January 2024.
Featuring:
- Indiana Rhind, Chief Technology Officer, Farmwall
Find out more:
- AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship
- Series of fortunate events leads Horizon Scholar to Farmwall
An unconventional program run by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and supported by AgriFutures Australia, Fast Track helps young people with limited experience take their first steps into the world of thoroughbred breeding. Participants emerge with relevant agriculture skill development, respected credentials, invaluable experiences and industry connections.
Fast Track's impact extends beyond the equine realm - it stands as a model for creating efficient, accelerated learning pathways nationwide. The program is bridging industry gaps while fostering leadership skills in the next generation of thoroughbred breeding professionals, drawing interest from various industries eager to replicate its success.
Featuring:
- Cecelia O'Gorman, Marketing and Communications Manager, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia
- James Loder, 2022 Fast Track Graduate
- Tess O'Connor, 2020 Fast Track Graduate
One of the greatest parts of being involved in science is surprise discoveries. For a team working on measuring the carbon footprint of Australian irrigation dams, the results were truly astonishing.
Not only are irrigation dams producing a lot less carbon emissions than what has previously been thought, they are actually performing a critical nitrogen cycling role.
In this podcast episode we speak with Jackie Webb, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University on her recent carbon farming project for AgriFutures Australia.
Featuring:
- Jackie Webb, Research Fellow, Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University
AgHealth Australia has been leading research into deaths and injuries on farm since 2004, providing the most comprehensive evidence on which to build prevention approaches to enhance the safety and wellbeing of people in Australian agriculture.
The data for January-June 2023 is in, and numbers of non-intentional on-farm deaths remain stubbornly high. In this podcast episode, AgriFutures On Air podcast host and producer Jayne Cuddihy speaks with Pauline Brightling from the Rural Safety Health Alliance on how we can buck the trend.
We also hear a first-hand account of how a Queensland farmer lost his leg in a farming accident, and how a generational change in relation to farm safety and shifting attitude towards WH&S in agriculture is changing for the better.
Featuring:
- Pauline Brightling, RSHA Secretariat, Rural Safety Health Alliance
- Shawn Kleinschmidt, Queensland-based cane and cattle producer
Since June 2022, the Australian honey bee industry has been grappling with outbreaks of varroa mite. As of September 2023, the national management group shifted its response from eradication to management.
Bianca Giggins, the Varroa Coordinator at the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) recently toured New Zealand where she learnt how they control and manage the varroa pests. This podcast features some of these learnings and insights.
Featuring:
- Bianca Giggins, Varroa Coordinator, Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC)
Oli Madgett is on a mission to make baselining soil carbon measurements cheaper for farmers. When considering entering into carbon farming in Australia, cost is one of the biggest barriers primary producers face.
Using the latest agricultural innovations and technologies, Oli is working to address the prohibitively high costs of soil sampling.
His findings form one of 15 projects from the AgriFutures Carbon Initiative Program.
Featuring:
- Oli Madgett, Managing Director, Perennial
To meet the objective of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming by 2 °C, it is clear that at-scale carbon removal will need to emerge in the decades ahead.
Scaled offshore marine permaculture to grow seaweeds is widely recognised as an emerging sector with large potential to meet a range of agricultural sustainability objectives.
In this podcast, AgriFutures On Air podcast host Jayne Cuddihy speaks with Dr Brian von Herzen, Founder and Executive Director of the Climate Foundation about his unique deep water approach to carbon faming in Australia.
As part of the AgriFutures Carbon Initiative Program, this project investigated construction of a marine permaculture platform, seaweed growing, carbon
sequestration rate measurements and optimal conditions for carbon sinking.
With increasing ocean temperatures and a reduction in available nutrients, there were plenty of hurdles to overcome to develop this sustainable farming practice and successfully grow seaweeds from the tip of Tasmania through to the tropics.
Featuring:
- Dr Brian von Herzen, Founder and Executive Director of the Climate Foundation
There are more than one million widows across Australia. After two extremely personal losses, Michelle Moriarty decided that there were benefits to connecting the shared experiences of grief between women. The Western-Australian based social worker went about creating a platform called 'Grief Connect' to ensure no one across Australia grieves alone.
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor Westpac for helping to further develop Michelle's initiative.
Featuring:
- Michelle Moriarty, Founder of Grief Connect and 2023 WA AgriFutures Rural Womens Award Finalist
Ali Paulett wanted to create a place that would educate school children and the wider community about how First Nations people were nourished by the environment. This led her to establish the 'Bush DeVine' Indigenous native bush food garden which now features 40 different types of native plants. In addition to being a popular attraction, the garden also supplies their winery restaurant, which opened in 2015.
Ali plans to use the generous Westpac grant to add educational components to the Bush DeVine garden including interactive signage, videography to enhance the sensory experience and a cooking vicinity for the community to utilise.
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor Westpac for helping to further develop Ali's initiative.
Featuring:
- Ali Paulett, Founder, of Bush DeVine, Managing Director at Paulett Wines and 2023 SA AgriFutures Rural Womens Award Finalist
Melissa was in a pretty dark place after a nasty buggy accident but was told something would come out of it ... and it did.
Melissa is the Founder of Leading Rein, based in Sisters Creek, and is an advocate for life-long learning and is sharing her knowledge of working alongside horses in a leadership development program. Melissa was named the 2023 TAS AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Finalist for her work in equine-assisted learning and her creative ability to apply both human and horse herd dynamics to empower people and work teams.
"You can't put a price on your emotional wellbeing" says Melissa Duniam.
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor Westpac for helping to further develop Melissa's initiative.
Featuring:
- Melissa Duniam, Founder, Leading Rein and 2023 TAS AgriFutures Rural Womens Award Finalist
More and more pets these days are being treated like family - and rightly so! Businesses across the world are capitalising on this trend with ideas aimed at meeting the new needs of our furry, scaly or feathered companions.
Queenslander Emma-Louise Gibbons is unleashing the potential on pet treats using Australian-farmed insect protein to sustainably produce a line of dog snacks.
Her dedication to sustainability and innovation has earned her global recognition, including a recent partnership with Krispy Kreme to offer dog-friendly doughnuts in their UK and US stores.
She is our 2023 QLD AgriFutures Rural Womens Award Finalist and this is her story.
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor Westpac for helping to further develop Emma's business ideas.
Featuring:
- Emma-Louise Gibbons, Founder, Huds and Toke and 2023 QLD AgriFutures Rural Womens Award Finalist
Off the back of a new report titled: "Listen up: Young people’s perspective on the future of Australian agriculture and rural industries" we delve further into the insights gathered from some of the voices behind the research.In this podcast we unearth the insights and perspectives of young people on how to transform the agricultural industry for a more prosperous tomorrow.
Featuring:
- Bryce Ives, Chief Facilitator of the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Workshops and Author of the 'Listen up: Young people’s perspective on the future of Australian agriculture and rural industries' report
- Jenna Wright, AgriFutures Australia Horizon Scholar (Bachelor
of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Agriculture) at The University of Sydney - Bill Lee, AgriFutures Australia Horizon Scholar (Bachelor of Agriculture at The University of Melbourne)
The AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award annually recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of women hailing from rural communities and industries. Its purpose is to identify, empower, and celebrate their forward-thinking initiatives.
Michelle Leonard OAM is the founder, artistic director, and conductor of Moorambilla Voices, a nationally awarded program that aims to provide country children and young adults with a transformative experience, offering a chance to sing, dance, drum, record, tour, and create incredible performances alongside renowned artists. In recognition of her remarkable contributions to regional communities through music and creativity Michelle has received the prestigious 2023 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women's Award.
Just like her fellow winners from other states and territories, Michelle has received a $15,000 grant from Westpac. This support will help Michelle to further amplify the positive impact of Moorambilla Voices. This recognition also provides her with the opportunity to undertake a professional development course of her choosing, enhancing her skills and expertise to continue driving positive change in the industry and community.
Featuring:
- 2023 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women's Award, Michelle Leonard OAM
Related content:
- Visionary Choir Founder Takes Home Top Honour: 2023 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Winner announced | AgriFutures Australia
- 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Finalists Revealed | AgriFutures Australia
Australia’s top peak food industry bodies have calculated the food supply chain is short at least 172,000 workers, from paddock to plate.
High school teacher Scott Graham is passionate about filling the skills shortage in Australian agriculture and believes that increasing the number of high school students choosing the subject is an important step.
He’s been awarded a Prime Minister’s Science Prize for his work reviving agriculture studies at Barker College in Sydney’s North Shore and his PhD, which he is studying through Charles Sturt University, is focused on the way agriculture is taught at high schools.
Reporter Emily Malone sat down with Scott to find out more.
AgriFutures has just launched a report titled “Listen up: Young people’s perspective on the future of Australian agriculture and rural industries” which shines a spotlight on young people’s untapped potential to revolutionise Australian agriculture with fresh perspectives and innovative thinking.
Featuring:
- Scott Graham, Head of Agriculture, Barker College
Related content:
- Cultivating a future-ready generation of innovators | AgriFutures Australia
- Listen up: Young people’s perspective on the future of Australian agriculture and rural industries | AgriFutures Australia
The AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award annually recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of women hailing from rural communities and industries. Its purpose is to identify, empower, and celebrate their forward-thinking initiatives.
Nikki Davey waved goodbye to her corporate life and plunged headfirst into a thrilling new adventure: her very own digital platform grown-not-flown. Her concept breathes life into the slow flower movement, connecting passionate flower enthusiasts with local and sustainable growers. Nikki's trailblazing spirit and commitment to sustainable farming practices in the floral industry earned her the 2023 VIC AgriFutures Rural Women's Award. Nikki sat down with AgriFutures On Air host, Jayne Cuddihy, to chat about the transformative power of the slow flower movement. Listen as Nikki spills the petals on her platform's mission—to reduce flower miles, empower consumers to support local small-scale producers, and foster a blooming future for Victoria's vibrant flower industry.
Just like her fellow winners from other states and territories, Nikki has been granted $15,000 from Westpac, the Platinum sponsor of the award. This financial support is accompanied by access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.
Throughout this episode, Nikki takes us on a journey through the world of sustainable farming and the impact of her platform, grown-not-flown.
Featuring:
- 2023 VIC AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, Nikki Davey
Related content:
- Sustainable Flower Farmer Takes Home Top Honour: 2023 VIC AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Winner announced | AgriFutures Australia
- 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Finalists Revealed | AgriFutures Australia
AgriFutures Rice Program is focused on ensuring the industry is a global leader for improved water use efficiency. Under the AgriFutures Rice Program Strategic RD&E Plan 2021-2026, they outline an ambitious goal of increasing water productivity to an average of 1.5 t/ML by 2026. To do this AgriFutures Australia is focusing on four key objectives, one of which is improving the industry’s agronomy and farming systems.
In this episode of AgriFutures on Air, our host Jayne Cuddihy caught up with two of the rice industry’s leading researchers. They are managing research projects funded through the AgriFutures Rice Program and discussed how their projects aim to improve crop management decisions and maximise water productivity through using remote sensing technology.
Featured:
- Brian Dunn, Research Agronomist at the Department of Primary Industries
- James Brinkhoff, Associate Professor at the University of New England
Related content:
- Agronomy and remote sensing to maximise rice water productivity - Research project - growAG
- Real-time remote-sensing based monitoring for the rice industry | AgriFutures Australia
- AgriFutures Australia, Manager, Research tasked to drive new research projects for the rice industry | AgriFutures Australia
The AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award annually recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of women hailing from rural communities and industries. Its purpose is to identify, empower, and celebrate their forward-thinking initiatives.
Eileen Breen, a serial entrepreneur, has been named the recipient of the Northern Territory Award. Despite jokingly referring to her husband Jerry as the most destructive man in Darwin due to their ownership of a demolition company, Eileen's dedication to sustainability has transformed their business into a shining example of a circular economy. Recycling and reusing have become the core focus of their operations. In addition, Eileen has launched SustainAbility, a project that supports rural, regional, and remote businesses and organizations, helping them develop similar sustainable initiatives and circular economy strategies.
Just like her fellow winners from other states and territories, Eileen has been granted $15,000 from Westpac, the Platinum sponsor of the award. This financial support is accompanied by access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.
Throughout this episode, you will discover that Eileen juggles multiple roles. However, her unwavering commitment to family, sustainability, the environment, and ethical business practices lies at the heart of all her endeavours.
Featuring;
- 2023 Northern Territory award winner, Eileen Breen.
Related content:
- A boost for regional economies: NT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Winner announced | AgriFutures Australia
- 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Finalists Revealed | AgriFutures Australia
In this episode of AgriFutures On Air, we unpack the three-year-long, $2.5 million investment that is the Industrial Hemp Variety Trials (IHVT), and chat to a country music star who has joined a new wave of farmers embracing the potential of industrial hemp as a multi-purpose super crop.
IHVT National Coordinator Mark Skewes explains how growers involved in the IHVT have made huge inroads into our understanding of the crops' growing conditions, while Australian country singer James Blundell tells of his success with the trials and his plans to expand.
The need for the IHVT was identified in the Australian Industrial Hemp Strategic RD&E Plan (2022-2027) developed by AgriFutures Australia, which sets out a clear pathway to grow the industry. The plan has five major objectives covering seed and varieties; growing the crop; products produced from the crop; the sustainability of hemp; and the regulatory environment.
Featured in this episode:
- James Blundell, Australian country music singer, South East Queensland farmer, and AgriFutures Industrial Hemp Variety Trial participant
- Mark Skewes, Irrigation Research Scientist, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), and National Coordinator for the AgriFutures Industrial Hemp Variety Trials
Related content:
- Country music superstar opens gates to South East QLD farm for industrial hemp field day: https://agrifutures.com.au/news/country-music-superstar-opens-gates-to-south-east-qld-farm-for-industrial-hemp-field-day/
- Industrial Hemp Variety Trials now with national footprint: https://agrifutures.com.au/news/industrial-hemp-variety-trials-now-with-national-footprint/
Cressida and Michael Cains are award-winning cheesemakers in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, who have set up a peer-to-peer energy trading scheme that allows them to trade surplus energy from their solar panel and battery system.
In this episode we will learn how they set their system up and the dramatic changes it meant for their business, including the goal of being energy positive on farm.
The Cains are always looking for ways to innovate and are well on their way to becoming carbon neutral. In 2020 Cressida was the AgriFutures National Rural Women’s Award National Runner Up, and in 2021 she launched Dairy Cocoon, a not-for-profit digital platform and support hub which provides a pathway for willing dairy farmers to begin their journey up the value chain.
The National Winner and Runner Up of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award will be announced at a Gala Dinner and National Announcement on Tuesday, 12 September 2023 at the Great Hall, Parliament House in Canberra. Tickets are now on sale, to read more visit: https://agrifutures.com.au/news/tickets-on-sale-rwa-gala-dinner-and-national-announcement/
Featuring:
- Cressida Cains, Pecora Dairy farm owner and operator, 2022 Rural Women’s Award Runner Up.
- Judy Kennedy, AgriFutures onAIR contributor at Judy Kennedy Media.
Related content:
- Future looks positive for NSW dairy’s energy trading system: https://agrifutures.com.au/news/future-looks-positive-for-nsw-dairys-energy-trading-system/
- Eight-part alternative energy series spurring Australian rural industries efforts to switch to renewables: https://agrifutures.com.au/news/eight-part-alternative-energy-series-spurring-australian-rural-industries-efforts-to-switch-to-renewables/
- AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award National Winner and Runner Up announced: https://agrifutures.com.au/news/agrifutures-rural-womens-award-national-winner-and-runner-up-announced/
Meet Marieke Hoelscher, an inspiring Horizon Scholar who turned a gap year running camel tours into a career in Australia's emerging industries.
She has completed placements in insect, industrial hemp, and native bee industries and is now pursuing a career in extension to work with emerging industry producers.
Featuring:
- Marieke Hoelscher, AgriFutures Horizon Scholar
Related content:
- 2022 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship winners announced: https://agrifutures.com.au/news/2022-agrifutures-horizon-scholarship-winners-announced/
- University student keen on camels, not cropping, bucks trend of her cohort: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2022-12-27/camels-over-cropping-for-csu-student-studying-agriculture/101726498
Bluegreen aphids (Acyrthosiphon kondoi) are a major pest of lucerne and other legume crops. These tiny pests feed directly on the foliage, damaging the plant and spreading harmful viruses through crops. What’s more concerning is that the tiny insect has developed resistance to chemicals they’ve never been exposed to before, making the pest more difficult to control.
Growers' concerns for bluegreen aphids launched a bottom-up research approach investigating chemical application failure in relation to the insect.
To support the research project, Cesar Australia is calling on growers to send in samples of bluegreen aphids found in pasture seed paddocks.
The research project is led by Cesar Australia and funded by AgriFutures Australia in partnership with Lucerne Australia.
Featuring:
- Emma Rodham, AgriFutures Pasture Seeds Program Manager
- Dr Evatt Chirgwin, project lead
- Katrina Copping, Executive Officer, Lucerne Australia
Related content:
- From paddock to the lab: send in your bluegreen aphid samples this Autumn - https://agrifutures.com.au/news/from-paddock-to-the-lab-send-in-your-bluegreen-aphid-samples-this-autumn/
- Growers asked to send in samples to tackle bluegreen aphid resistance - https://agrifutures.com.au/news/growers-help-tackle-bluegreen-aphids-insecticide-resistance/
- Grower concerns trigger research into bluegreen aphid resistance to insecticides - https://agrifutures.com.au/news/bluegreen-aphid-resistance-to-insecticides/
In this episode of AgriFutures OnAir we bring you an interview from the ANZ Bloodstock News podcast, the Business of Bloodstock.
In this podcast Dr Ben Ahearn discusses the fascinating research funded by AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horse Program Australia on endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract at Australian Thoroughbred yearling sales and an investigation of what radiographic lesions in thoroughbred yearlings are significant in limiting future racing performance project.
Featuring:
· Ben Ahearn, lead researcher and professor, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland.
Murray cod is an iconic Australian fish species, prized by recreational anglers, Indigenous communities, and increasingly, seafood consumers. With the global and domestic unmet demand for premium white flesh fish increasing, the industry has thrown down the gauntlet setting an ambitious target of being a $100 million industry by 2050.
To kick off season 3 of AgriFutures OnAir, this episode explores how the Murray Cod industry has evolved and how the industry plans on achieving its targets.
Featuring:
- Ian Lyall Program, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries, Leader Aquaculture
- Matthew Ryan, Founder of Murray Cod Australia / Aquna.
This month we are highlighting a number of podcasts from evokeAG. the region’s premier agrifood tech event, attracting the entire ecosystem – farmers, innovators, researchers, corporates, government and investors – to one location to connect and collaborate.
Our global food system has a long history of evolution – responding to the changing needs of the global population. But "are we evolving fast enough?"
In this evokeAG. podcast internationally recognised thought leader and AgriFutures evokeAG. 2023 speaker, Mary Shelman, speaks with contributor Casey Dunn about how we can accelerate our transformation, and achieve a more sustainable global food system.
Mary will also join a panel discussion on Day two at evokeAG. 2023 to explore the global forces driving world trade in a discussion about climate, COVID-19, conflict and cost.
We hope you enjoy their conversation.
Hear more from Mary Shelman and her insights on achieving a sustainable global food system at the AgriFutures evokeAG. 2023 Down to Earth event on 21-22 February 2023 in Adelaide, South Australia.
View the full two-day program, including all speakers and partners making evokeAG. 2023 possible.
AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant recipient, Samantha Sutherland, is researching the potential for the local manufacture of amphoras, or clay based vessels traditionally associated with the ancient Mediterranean world, to store and transport wine, grapes, olives and olive oil, grain fish and other goods, The research has inspired her in rethinking her own wine label and wrapping up her Bachelor of Wine Science degree.
Featuring:
- Samantha Sutherland - AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant recipient
- Judy Kennedy - Journalist
AgriFutures Horizon Scholar Luke Austin has always felt the pull towards a career in aquaculture. Growing up on the coast of Coffs Harbour he was afforded a curiosity into the development of a sustainable and robust industry from a young age. He’s excited about cultivating the development of innovative emerging aquatic industries to grow capacity and deliver new products and services that not only Australia will benefit from, but the world.
Featuring
- Luke Austin - AgriFutures Horizon Scholar
- Judy Kennedy - Journalist
For decades there has been some incredible ground broken in agricultural science in Australia, but sometimes the extension side of it lets the team down.
In this podcast we delve into how some women have been involved in a shift that means women’s roles in extension are not only more visible but more recognised and valued. Times are changing, and some of the Alumni of AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award are at the forefront.
Featuring
- Jeanette Gellard - 2001 SA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Winner
- Danielle England - 2013 WA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Winner
- Sally Martin - 2011 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Finalist
- Emily Malone - Journalist
James Easter is not only an aspiring agricultural science professional, but also a passionate advocate for the agricultural industry and the 2022 Ag Student of the Year, sponsored by AgriFutures Australia.
The enthusiasm he has for his industry and the promotion of it is infectious.
Featuring:
- James Easter
AgriFutures Australia presented the inaugural Bee Tech Challenge this year seeking to identify ready-for-market products that addressed key industry areas of hive health, biosecurity, hive safety, bush fire protection and preparedness.
The three winners were announced at the 4th Australian Bee Congress in Sydney. Our podcast host Jayne Cuddihy spoke with the winners on their new technology and how beekeepers are using innovative products to transform their industry and stay ahead of the game.
Featuring:
- Simon Burt, LB Agtech (BeeSTAR)
- Simon Mildren, HiveKeepers
- Omar Anwar, CRC for Honey Bee Products
Motherland Village is a simple and easily accessible mothers group service that every rural mum in Australia can access, regardless of where she lives, or how old her children are.
In September this year, the Tassie local behind the platform, Stephanie Trethewey, was announced the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Winner. Stephanie talks about the Award and how it has helped her further enhance her mission to eliminate the crippling isolation faced by many mothers in rural, regional and remote communities.
Featuring:2022 AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Winner Stephanie Trethewey
Rebecca is passionate about access to health services – no matter the postcode.
Specialising in child health from 0 to 5 years, Rebecca launched her online telehealth platform, Rural Child Health at the beginning of 2021 – designed to give rural and remote parents the support and education they need to raise their families.
Featuring:2022 QLD AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner Rebecca Bradshaw
Stephanie is on a mission to eliminate the crippling isolation that can accompany rural motherhood.
The Motherland podcast was born out of Steph’s move from Melbourne to a small farming community in Tasmania’s northwest, which saw her confront firsthand the isolation that rural mums can feel. Sharing authentic stories of mums on the land, Motherland struck a nerve with women for its raw, unfiltered representation of motherhood.
Featuring:2022 TAS AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner Stephanie Trethewey
Louise is the Founder of Farm Life Fitness – an online community that’s transforming the physical and mental health of people in rural Australia.
Farm Life Fitness runs 30-minute live, online group fitness classes, offering a quick, safe and effective way for people of all fitness levels to exercise from the comfort of their own home.
Hear the story about how the program came to life.
Featuring:2022 WA AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner Louise O'Neill
In this episode we hear from Victorian-based Kimberley Furness, journalist and Founder of Oak Magazine who is passionate about telling the stories of women living in regional and rural Australia.
Using the Westpac grant for the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award, Kimberley hopes to create an audio component of her inspirational magazine.
Featuring:2022 VIC AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner Kimberley Furness
Kylie loved school from the moment she started. Naturally, she became a teacher and at the age of 21, moved from Tassie to Alice Springs to launch her career.
She spent some time as a governess and despite her teaching background, she learned there was a real need for more support for other remote families trying to teach their children from home.
In 2020 Kylie launched RAISEducation – a not-for-profit organisation with the goal of building a community that supports remote educators to feel connected, empowered and confident about the lessons they deliver.
Featuring:2022 NT AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner Kylie Jones
As a single mum, money was tight. For Robyn Verrall, back then, food insecurity meant skipping a meal or spag bol for 10 nights in a row. The Keith-based beef and lamb producer is now helping tackle food insecurity, working in partnership with Kere to Country providing mentoring and logistics support to the group’s CEO, Jessica Wishart.
Featuring:2022 SA AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner Robyn Verrall
Vanilla is an emerging rural industry in Australia with huge potential. There is one major roadblock which is preventing the spice from really taking off. The orchid relies on hand-pollination and it’s labour intensive. Julie Sosso is on a mission to change this process.
Julie is one of seven recipients of the inaugural AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant, which provides grants of $7,000 for professional development to help bring an idea, cause or vision to life. Listen to her story.
Featuring:
Julie Sosso, The University of Queensland
Jade King wanted to grow something native and a little bit different on her Queensland-based plot of land. She put the question to her high school class and one student had the suggestion of growing finger limes. 300 trees later, Jade is a commercial finger lime grower.
Aided with the help of a Nuffield Scholarship, sponsored by the AgriFutures Australia Emerging Industries Program, Jade is on a mission to grow Australia's finger lime industry and establish an industry body to expand on research knowledge and skills.
Featuring:
Jade King, Finger lime producer, Green Valley Fingerlimes
AgriFutures growAG. has been created to make it easy to explore, find and connect with relevant Australian agrifood innovation expertise and research and commercialisation opportunities. It's the gateway to Australia's agrifood innovation system in one easy to use location.
Since launching in April 2021, the growAG. platform has listed more than 2,500 research projects and 130 commercial opportunities. One of the businesses to take advantage of the platform is Toowoomba-based, DataFarming. Learn about Tim Neale's experience with the growAG. platform as well as his insights into collaboration with the agtech industry.
Featuring:
Tim Neale, Managing Director, DataFarming
This week we bring you a podcast episode from our AgriFutures growAG. podcast channel. We learn about Western Australia's famed marron crayfish and how it could become the next global food sensation. The innovative agritech startup Aquatic AI has developed a vertical farming system to ensure a more consistent supply of the crustacean for export markets.
Featuring:
Michael Storey and Andrew Walker, Co-Founders, Aquatic AI
How do young people from non-farming backgrounds pursue a career on the land? And an even harder challenge, how can the same people eventually buy a farm?
Inaugural AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant recipient, Fiona Taylor is a woman on a mission. She wants young people to feel they have a future on the land. With the average age of Australian farmers currently hitting 61, her scheme is set to attract more young people on the land and keep the ones who are already here.
Featuring:
Fiona Taylor , Rural Financial Counsellor, Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW
Adrian Spencer sees a lot in seaweed. His recent research revealed that Australia has over 12,000 native species of seaweed and algae, and they contain bioactive health ingredients such as Omega-3 and collagen. Both are in demand globally but with minimal local production, the potential of opening new markets within Australia is extremely attractive.
Featuring:
Adrian Spencer, CEO, Sampano
For Bill Hyem, one of the most rewarding opportunities of the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program are the industry placements. It was during one of these placements where Bill worked alongside the Founders of Ceres Tag, a direct to satellite animal monitoring information platform. Here he learnt the workings behind a leading and innovative start-up agtech business.
Featuring:
Bill Hyem, AgriFutures Horizon Scholar, student at Australian
Melita and David Smith, Founders of Ceres Tag
In a bad year, Kylie Templeton's family can lose up to 30% of their ginger crop to Fusarium.
Fusarium is a nasty fungus and is a key threat to seed ginger stock, as it can be spread through soil from infected plant material. Identification and removal of diseased seed stock is an expensive. labour intensive process.
This podcast explores a project called Ginger Ninja which piloted the development of an automated system that aimed to identify and sort Fusarium infected seed ginger stock.
Featuring:
Kylie Templeton, Ginger Grower, Templeton Ginger
Professor Matthew Dunbabin, Faculty of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering & Robotics, Queensland University of Technology
Interviews by Megan Woodward.
Hailing from the Philippines, Jhoana Opena is concentrating on how to supress the growth of one of the world's most prolific weeds, barnyard grass, with pasture legumes.
Featuring:
Dr Jhoana Opena, Research Academic, The University of Queensland (formerly a PhD student at The Graham Centre)
How has leadership changed over the years? What will the future of agriculture look like and what opportunities and challenges will arise?
In this panel interview, AgriFutures Australia Managing Director John Harvey speaks with two emerging leaders in the agriculture sector. Their differences in age, experience in the sector and personal perspectives uncovers fascinating insights.
Featuring:
John Harvey, Managing Director, AgriFutures Australia
Bill Hyem, AgriFutures Horizon Scholar and student, Australian National University
Matilda Meppem, AgriFutures Horizon Scholar and student, The University of Queensland
Does where you live have an impact on whether you "trust" our rural industries? Why is it so important that Australian consumers trust rural industries?
The Community Trust in Rural Industries Program is an analysis of the full spectrum of underlying values driving community attitudes and trust towards food and fibre production. In this first episode of Season III, we showcase some of the findings from this fascinating body of work and how they have been applied to the Australian egg industry.
Featuring:
Kieran Moffatt, Lead Researcher, Community Trust in Rural Industries Program
Jennifer Medway, Senior Manager Rural Futures, AgriFutures Australia
Rowan McMonnies, Managing Director, Australian Eggs
This week we bring you an interview with the 2020 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award National Winner, Cara Peek.
Cara is a Broome-based lawyer, entrepreneur and social innovator who is passionate about driving opportunities for rural and remote people to empower the Indigenous community.
The Award was announced in a special satellite event, which was streamed live around the country, with the Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia , the Hon. David Littleproud announcing our National Winner.
Cara sat down with Skye Manson, host of the Graziher Life on the Land podcast , to talk about the Award and her work and dedication to her winning project.
We hope you enjoy this conversation.
Just imagine that you've stumbled across a product or service that the world has been crying out for but just didn't know it. Everyone's dream right? Well that describes perfectly Australia's seaweed industry. An industry in its infancy but with help from AgriFutures Australia, and the Australian Seaweed Institute, it's ready to leap onto the world stage.
This interview first aired in October 2020 and has been one of our most popular episodes to date.
This podcast first aired in December but we are sharing it again with you now in the lead-up to our AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Announcement this month. Our podcast guest is the 2020 SA RWA Finalist, Stephanie Schmidt.
Steph shares her story and her plans to develop a resilience program made specifically for farming couples, families and individuals, with the aim of seeing psychological flexibility grow throughout the rural sector.
This podcast first aired in December but we are sharing it again with you now in the lead-up to our AgriFutures Rural Women's Award National Announcement this month. Our podcast guest is the 2020 WA RWA Finalist, Cara Peek .
Cara is a Yawuru Bunuba woman who is the founder of Saltwater County Ltd and co-founder of The Cultural Intelligence Project Pty Ltd.
A native title lawyer by profession, Cara has travelled the world to work closely with other Indigenous nations such as the San Carlos Apache Nation.
Now back home in the Kimberley, this born advocate is re-engaging at-risk Indigenous youth and connecting them back to country by using practical, hands-on skills such as bull riding, rodeos, camp drafting and country music. Listen to Cara’s powerful story.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award in acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural and emerging business, industries and communities.
Due to COVID-19 this year our National Winner and Runner Up will be announced via a live virtual National Announcement event on Wednesday, 20 October 2021 at 12:30pm (AEDT). The event is open to the public and it is free to register.
There are seven inspiring 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award State and Territory Winners vying for the National title and over the next seven weeks and we are going to hear their stories.
This week’s podcast first aired in December last year with 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award QLD Finalist, Elisha Parker.
The website, cattlesales.com.au is Australia's only advertising custom designed site solely for cattle where producers and livestock agents can go to view pre-marketing saleyard cattle, online auction cattle and advertising paddock cattle.
Elisha and her business partner have plans to expand the site further.
Elisha Parker lives in Clermont, around five hours west of Rockhampton where living remotely has tested her resilience and creativity long before the pandemic.
Here is her fascinating story.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award in acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural and emerging business, industries and communities.
Due to COVID-19 this year our National Winner and Runner Up will be announced via a live virtual National Announcement event on Wednesday, 20 October 2021 at 12:30pm (AEDT). The event is open to the public and it is free to register.
There are seven inspiring 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award State and Territory Winners vying for the National title and over the next seven weeks and we are going to hear their stories.
This week’s podcast first aired in December last year with 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award NT, Amy Kirke.
Amy is a marine biologist who is sharing her knowledge and passion about science with young people in the Northern Territory.
Amy is speaking with AgriFutures podcaster Chris Brown about her work in promoting science as a career and the endless possibilities it offers.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award in acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural and emerging business, industries and communities.
Due to COVID-19 this year our National Winner and Runner Up will be announced via a live virtual National Announcement event on Wednesday, 20 October 2021 at 12:30pm (AEDT).
The event is open to the public and it is free to register. There are seven inspiring 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award State and Territory Winners vying for the National title and over the next seven weeks and we are going to hear their stories.
This week’s podcast first aired in December last year with 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award NSW/ACT Winner, Cressida Cains.
Cressida is an award-winning artisan cheese maker who swapped her corporate life in Sydney’s wine industry for greener pastures.
Cressida is speaking with AgriFutures podcaster Chris Brown about her work in promoting a profitable and secure future for Australian dairy farmers.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award in acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural and emerging business, industries and communities.
Due to COVID-19 this year our National Winner and Runner Up will be announced via a live virtual National Announcement event on Wednesday, 20 October 2021 at 12:30pm (AEDT).
The event is open to the public and it is free to register. There are seven inspiring 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award State and Territory Winners vying for the National title and over the next seven weeks and we are going to hear their stories.
This week’s podcast first aired in December last year with 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award TAS Winner, Karen Brock.
Karen grows and supplies commercial fruit trees, and she is also a specialist in plant tissue culture.
Karen is speaking with AgriFutures podcaster Chris Brown.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award in acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural and emerging business, industries and communities.
Due to COVID-19 this year our National Winner and Runner Up will be announced via a live virtual National Announcement event on Wednesday, 20 October 2021 at 12:30pm (AEDT). The event is open to the public and it is free to register.
There are seven inspiring 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award State and Territory Winners vying for the National title and over the next seven weeks we are going to hear their stories.
This week’s podcast first aired in January this year with 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award VIC Winner, Kelly Barnes.
Kelly is passionate about her dogs and believes working dogs have so much more potential than we realise.
Kelly is speaking with AgriFutures On Air podcaster Chris Brown about the untapped potential of our working dogs.
This week we take a close look at Ceres Tag – the world’s first direct to satellite animal tracking and data platform.
The tag, which is the size of a matchbox, equips farmers with sophisticated data to better manage their livestock, reduce risk and confidently finance agriculture.
CEO & Co-Founder David Smith speaks with us about its potential, advice for startups, and the benefits farmers can expect with the tags, often referred to as fitbits for cows but David refers to it more broadly as “Apple for animals”.
The uses don’t stop there with upcoming trials on pets and even wild animals.
This week we take a close look at a fruitful partnership between farmer and agritech founder.
Dan Winson, Founder and CEO of Zetifi a wireless networking startup and Andrew Dumaresq, a broadacre cropping farmer, both based at Wagga Wagga, NSW have formed a unique partnership.
Dan has been able to test and trial his products on Andrew’s farm, learning along the way and Andrew has been able to solve his initial on-farm connectivity issues, along with adopting new technologies, as a result of reliable connectivity.
Here they discuss their journey in working together, the importance of connectivity on-farm and how it's helping piece together the puzzle, to support agritech adoption.
Sustainability is more than a buzz word.
In today’s podcast we hear about a new utopia that is unfolding on the edge of the desert in South Australia’s Port Augusta.
Sundrop Farms is a leading horticultural player in Australia producing high-value fruit using renewable resources.
As you will hear, Australia’s largest solar-powered tomato greenhouse is reducing the use of fossil fuels by using technology that tracks the sun.
To reduce their reliance on fresh water, the business pumps sea water from the Spencer Gulf and desalinates it to make fresh water and to generate electricity.
Sundrop Farms CEO Steve Marafiote explains more about the workings of concentrated solar power technology.
In our tech-savvy world, it is hard to believe the beehive has stayed almost the same for more than 150 years. But that's about to change.
In extensive test-bed sites in both the United States and Israel, the beehive has been replaced with a device that is solar powered and driven by artificial intelligence and advanced robotics to monitor every single bee.
In this podcast we hear from Israeli-based serial entrepreneur Saar Safra, CEO of BeeWise who says his world-leading innovation, an autonomous beehive, will change beekeeping around the globe including Australia.
Did you know Kakadu plum has the highest Vitamin C content of any food on Earth? Yet only 10% of Kakadu plum is currently being harvested.
This super food is an Australian native bush food of which there are more than 6,000 edible plant species. The Acacia “wattle” species is another example of native bush foods which are found across Australia. Of the 1,146 species identified, at least 150 species have been used by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years as food, medicine or materials for tools and weapons.
For more on native bush foods and its growing popularity go to the AgriFutures Australia’s Emerging Industries Program: https://www.agrifutures.com.au/rural-industries/emerging-industries/
In this week’s podcast we meet Hayley Blieden, founder of The Australian Superfood Co who is helping cultivate a growing appetite for Australian native foods.
According to Hayley, Australians once thought of native foods as lamingtons and vegemite, but the national appetite has come to understand and appreciate that native bush foods are so much more.
The popular television program Masterchef showcased some of Hayley’s products in 2020 and the rest, as they say is history.
This week we mark National Farm Safety Week to raise awareness of farm safety issues in rural communities across Australia.
In 2021 the focus is on safety issues as they span the life of a farmer, from child safety right through to ageing on farm, including young workers, physical & mental health issues. For more go to: https://farmsafe.org.au/national-farm-safety-week
It is an opportunity and a reminder to shine a spotlight on the risks and hazards that face our Australian Farmers every day of their lives - while they produce the food and fibre for Australia and the rest of the world.
This week’s podcast first aired in March 2021 with then Rural Safety Health Alliance (RSHA) Executive Officer, Andrew Barrett. Joining Andrew is Paul Daniel, a grain grower from the mid-north of South Australia.
Both guests are passionate about farm safety.
We all know someone affected by the bushfires which two years ago devastated so many parts of Australia. Apple grower Ian Cathels was one of those who suffered huge losses but with determination he and has family have been able to rebuild their business.
In this podcast, we hear from Ian about never giving up and why apples from Batlow, NSW taste so good. Thanks to a better season in 2021, Ian is also finding better ways to improve his business thanks to technology.
Guest podcaster, Steve Honner travelled to the Snowy Mountains to speak with Ian in person about the trials and tribulations of being on the land and why looking to the future is so important.
Australia’s rural industries have already faced two significant cyber attacks in the past 12 months – is agriculture becoming a top cyber target, and are we prepared?
That’s a question a new AgriFutures Australia report by BDO explores, commissioned to identify rural industries’ cyber security vulnerabilities and to provide information on appropriate responses for producers, industry and agribusinesses of all sizes.
In this podcast we hear from John Borchi, Partner, Cyber Security at BDO Australia and author of the report.
John says rural businesses are now in a similar position to where the health system was five years ago, where the digitisation of patient records resulted in them becoming a prime target for cyber criminals.
He discusses the steps farmers, producers and agribusiness can do to better protect themselves from malicious cyber activity.
Want to be inspired about the future of Australian agriculture? Meet Amy Munro a young person who is passionate about Australian agriculture.
Amy recently was awarded the Kondinin Group and ABC Rural 2020-21 Agricultural Student of the Year, sponsored by AgriFutures Australia.
She is also a role model, a farmer and a former AgriFutures Horizon Scholar winner who has just completed started working as a veterinarian.
In this podcast, Amy talks about her Australian-first research into gender experiences for young people working in the industry and how the AgriFutures Horizon Scholar Program helped propel her into the industry.
Curious to know what happens to our food as it makes it way around our supply-chain?
What if we were able to track the avocado or the lamb cutlet we buy in the supermarket by following its location, and temperature; tracking its journey using smart technologies so it can be seen and heard in real time?
In this week’s podcast, we hear from Luke Wood CEO and co-founder of Escavox, an Australian agtech startup that is doing exactly that.
In an Australian-first, Escavox has developed an innovative monitoring technology called a “Blue Box tracker’ which travels through the supply-chain capturing data on dwell time, temperature and location. It has even been described as CCTV for food.
More information can be found here on how the technology works and Escavox’s involvement with Meat Livestock Organisation (MLA).
The technology will amaze you.
AgriFutures Australia has been a sponsor of the 2021 National Renewables in Agriculture Conference, a bi-annual event that examines the very latest in this rapidly changing sector.
Over the coming weeks we will feature some of the key speakers from this event, which this year was held in Dubbo, NSW.
In this week’s podcast we speak with two winemakers, Justin Jarratt from See Saw wines in Orange, NSW and Paul Squires from Squires Winery near Yarrawonga on the NSW, Victorian border.
Both have moved their wineries to sustainable models, and both share practical tips for farmers and producers thinking about using solar but are not sure where to begin.
Learning from their mistakes, they say the first step is access to information by talking to people who already use solar, carefully considering your options and then implementing your strategic plan so that it is line with the needs of your business.
They discuss their cost savings, grazing and growing underneath their panels, the location of their panels, their specific power requirements, and their solar story for consumers.
Although they both have different approaches to using solar, they share a common vision that solar is an important part of agriculture.
AgriFutures Australia has been a major sponsor of the Northern Australia Food Futures Conference, with a particular focus showcasing industry partnerships in the north in Emerging Industries.
Last month we spoke with Laura Skipworth, Manager of Emerging Industries for AgriFutures Australia and Paul Burke, CEO of the Northern Territory Farmers Association; Mic Jakobi, the Operations Director for Northern Territory Hay Seed & Grain (NTHS&G); and Matt Hall, the Director of Plant Industries with the Northern Territory Government. Matt is also a member of the AgriFutures Australia Emerging Industries Advisory Panel.
Following the conference, we wanted to hear from young people about the opportunities now emerging in this region. In this conversation, we hear from two next gen leaders who are part of the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program and who attended the Northern Australia Food Futures Conference.
Both Horizon Scholars are sponsored by Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA).
Rebekah Ash has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) at University of Queensland and Paris Capell is studying a Bachelor of Science/Master of Science at Australian National University.
Rebekah and Paris provide their insights into the emerging opportunities in the north for young people, their hopes and dreams and why studying agriculture is a degree that can change the world.
The Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP) is a dynamic experiential learning program focused on the development of leaders who are contributing to the future prosperity of rural, remote and regional Australia.
In this week’s podcast we hear from Sally Leigo who has just completed Course 26 of the ARLP Program. Sponsored by AgriFutures Australia, Sally’s leadership journey has had many twists and turns, crossed two states and taken longer than expected due to Covid-19.
We caught up with Sally at the recent Renewables in Ag Conference in Dubbo, NSW, which you will hear happening in the background.
Like all great stories, it begins with a single step.
Space has traditionally been the realm of sectors like mining and defence and we are only on the cusp of unlocking opportunities for the rural sector.
An AgriFutures Australia funded report, Space-based technologies – opportunities for the rural sector, highlights that space technologies are already making their mark in Australian agriculture.
Producers are routinely using satellite imaging, low bandwidth sensors, GPS tracking, autosteer, paddock level imagery and weather forecasting to drive better decision making. For most producers, many of these turn-key technologies rely on space and we don’t even realise it.
We encourage you to read the report, explore the industry specific fact sheets and be part of discussions with space companies and tech developers to explore how technology can be applied to solve your agricultural challenges.
In this podcast we hear from:
- Martin Amidy, Senior Fellow Agri-Technology Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology, The Australian National University and is one of eight authors of the AgriFutures Australia report
- Tom Rayner is from Myriota, a company that facilitates satellite communications
- Philip Tickle, Managing Director Cibo Labs Pty Ltd, an agricultural data analytics company.
During the month of May, we are looking at the future of food through the lens of the Northern Australia Food Futures Conference, in Darwin 17-20 May.
AgriFutures Australia is a major sponsor with a particular focus showcasing industry partnerships in the north in emerging industries.
Joining us for today’s conversation is Mic Jakobi,the Operations Director for Northern Territory Hay Seed & Grain (NTHS&G), who has carved out a career in farming in the NT.
Initially starting with grass hay production, Mic has since transitioned into grain and seed crop production with an emphasis on commercialising new tropical grass varieties.
He was recently awarded the first commercial Hemp licence in the NT and is now also experimenting with protected cropping of ginger. He is passionate about developing profitable farming systems which compliment mainstream crop rotations and enhance soil health for the long term.
This conversation looks at some of those possibilities in the Top End, with a focus on industrial hemp, an emerging industry with an exciting future.
Here is Mic’s story.
During the month of May, we are looking at the future of food through the lens of the Northern Australia Food Futures Conference, which takes place in Darwin 17-20 May.
AgriFutures Australia is a major sponsor with a particular focus showcasing industry partnerships in the north in Emerging Industries as diverse as native foods, pomegranate, jackfruit, hemp, dates and camel, just to name a few.
Joining us for today's conversation is Matt Hall, the Director of Plant Industries with the Northern Territory Government. Matt is also a member of the AgriFutures Australia Emerging Industries Advisory Panel.
This conversation looks at some of the possibilities in horticulture in Northern Australia, with a focus on jackfruit, an emerging industry with an exciting future.
During the month of May, we are looking at the future of food production through the lens of the Northern Australia Food Futures Conference which takes place in Darwin from the 17th to 20th of May.
The biannual event is Australia’s leading conference on agricultural development in the north.
AgriFutures Australia is a major sponsor with a particular focus showcasing industry partnerships in the north in Emerging Industries as diverse as native foods, pomegranate, jackfruit, hemp, dates and camel, just to name a few.
Joining us for this conversation is Laura Skipworth, Manager of Emerging Industries for AgriFutures Australia and Paul Burke, CEO of the Northern Territory Farmers Association.
This conversation is a fascinating insight into the farming opportunities now available in the Top End and AgriFutures Australia’s role in supporting industry development through RD&E.
In this podcast we sit down with Professor Chris Whitton, Head of the Equine Centre at the University of Melbourne to hear more about his recent work. Funded by AgriFutures Australia, the project aimed to develop knowledge about how racetrack surface selection can improve safety for racehorses and jockeys.
Professor Whitton is joined by Dr Craig Suann, AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel member and former chief regulatory veterinarian for the NSW thoroughbred racing industry for 33 years.
This conversation is about the importance of this research for the industry while touching on Professor Whitton and Dr Suann’s lifelong commitment to the thoroughbred horse industry.
Interested in agrifood innovation and what that looks like at a global level?
growAG. is a gateway that connects the world to agrifood innovation opportunities in Australia. Just launched this month, growag.com allows you to ‘go, search and find’ Australian’s world leading agricultural research, unique technologies, success stories and commercialisation opportunities in one, easy to use location.
It has been developed by the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment and Australia’s 15 Research & Development Corporations, often referred to as the RDC’s with AgriFutures Australia managing the platform on their behalf.
In part 2 of our series, we examine the global appeal of growag.com
Featured in this episode:
· Arianna Sippel, Senior Manager growAG. AgriFutures Australia
· Sarah Nolet, Co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, Australia’s first dedicated agrifood tech venture capital firm.
From google maps to wifi, the winged keel, ultrasound, and the black box recorder, Australia is a country of innovators. Our isolation has propelled us to find new ways of doing things, and this is especially so in agriculture with some of our world-class inventions like water efficient crop varieties, the Header Harvester and no till farming practices, through to producing world leaders in digital farm management, satellite technology, blockchain and biosecurity. Now we can add another, digital innovation to the list.
growAG. is a gateway that connects the world to agrifood innovation opportunities in Australia.
In an Australian first, growAG.com allows you to ‘go, search and find’ Australian’s world leading agricultural research, unique technologies, success stories and commercialisation opportunities in one, easy to use location.
It has been developed by the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment and Australia’s 15 Research & Development Corporations, often referred to as the RDC’s with AgriFutures Australia managing the platform on their behalf.
This podcast reveals why growAG. is a game changer for Australian agriculture.
Featured in this episode:
· John Harvey, Managing Director, AgriFutures Australia
· Jason Strong, Managing Director, Meat and Livestock Corporation (MLA)
· Arianna Sippel, Senior Manager growAG. AgriFutures Australia
· Sarah Nolet, Co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, Australia’s first dedicated agrifood tech venture capital firm.
AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey calls this story, a conversation starter. John is referring to the future of Australian agriculture and how agriculture should be funded in the future: do we want it to be corporate farms or family farms, or do we want it to be family corporates or something else?
That conversation has begun following the release of the AgriFutures Australia’s funded report, Capital requirements of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector report. Written by Natural Capital Economics, the report identified an additional $7.5 billion in net capital investment per year is needed if the Australian agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector is to achieve the National Farmers’ Federation $100 billion vision by 2030.
Currently a lot of investment that goes into ag is through debt funding and borrowing against equity in the farm. While that model has been successful to-date, to achieve the NFF’s $100 billion vision, there will need to be a more significant increase in investment. The report warns that without a significant increase in private sector and government investment, agriculture would fall well short of its potential economic value.
So what are the options and what are the consequences?
In one of our most thought-provoking podcasts to-date, we explore some of these issues with Jim Binney, Director of Natural Capital Economics and an author of the report. Jim is joined by AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey.
AgriFutures Australia is growing the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries and Catalysing a $10 million Australian Insect Industry.
One of the projects AgriFutures has invested in, is the Nutritional quality of edible insects and development of pet foods.
This project is the first of its kind in Australia, processing insects as pet food. Watch our video here.
The Australian pet food industry is estimated to be worth $2.4 billion.
In this podcast we hear from some of the people involved in processing insects as pet food project and why there is so much excitement about its potential.
We hear frominsect producer, Mick Thornett, Insect Protein Association of Australia chair, Olympia Yarger and pet food manufacturer, Shaun Eislers.
First-up though, AgriFutures Australia’s Senior Manager, Emerging Industries Tom McCue sets the scene for what is happening in this Emerging Industry.
What are the critical safety risks on your farm?
It is an important question and one that could save your life, the lives of your family or anyone coming onto your farm.
Farm safety is in the spotlight following the release of the 2020 report Non-intentional Farm Related Incidents in Australia which highlights the total on-farm deaths, causes of injury, fatalities by age and gender, as well as the estimated economic impact of fatal injuries.
The report shows while progress is being made, deaths from quad bikes and side by sides continue to take lives, in fact 58 lives were lost last year. See more here
This is a challenge not lost on the rural Research Development Corporations (RDC) which fund research through the Rural Safety Health Alliance (RSHA) to review the data and use an evidence-based approach to improve safety across our agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries. AgriFutures Australia is a partner member of RSHA.
RSHA Executive Officer, Andrew Barrett says the figures are a sobering reminder that the cost of human life incurred in the production of our food and fibre is still too high and he wants to see urgent commitment and vision from our leaders to make any kind of meaningful change in the sector.
In this podcast, Andrew is joined by Paul Daniel, a grain grower from the mid-north of South Australia.
Both guests are passionate about farm safety and saving lives.
For the week of International Women’s Day, we are showcasing what inspirational leadership looks like.
Our next guest is a leader in Australian agriculture who wears many hats. Jess Fealy is an avocado and mango grower in Far North Queensland, who runs a family business.
Jess is also just about to complete the National Farmers’ Federation Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program.
Jess is also a member of the AgriFutures Ignite Advisory Panel, where our thought leaders gather to share their opinions on emerging issues in Australian agriculture.
Whatever the day/week means to you, we hope Jess’s story inspires you to get involved in creating a more equal future. Choose to challenge here: #womenlead #choosetochallenge
During February we’ve been sharing some of our success stories in the evokeAG. startup community.
This week we return to the last in our series of profiles on the 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award state winners.
Our next guest is the 2020 WA RWA Finalist, Cara Peek.
Cara is a Yawuru Bunuba woman who is the founder of Saltwater County Ltd and co-founder of the Cultural Intelligence Project.
A native title lawyer by profession, Cara has travelled the world to work closely with other Indigenous nations such as the San Carlos Apache Nation.
Now back home in the Kimberley, this born “advocate” is re-engaging at-risk Indigenous youth and connecting them back to country by using practical, hands-on skills such as bull riding, rodeos, camp drafting and country music.
Here is Cara’s powerful story.
Australian robotics company LYRO Robotics has designed a world-leading pattern-packing robot for general fresh produce.
The LYRO Machine Intelligence can pick and pack any fruit and vegetable, at any time, and pack them into any pattern or box.
Co-founder Dr Juxi Leitner estimates the machine has packed more than 100,000 items, from avocados to chillies, from passionfruit to punnets of tomatoes.
During the month of February, AgriFutures on Air has been showcasing amazing innovators making a difference in Australian agriculture.
And the one thing they all have in common is their involvement in evokeAG., either in Startup Alley or the Startup Showcase.
Check out the new evokeAG. website and our two-part Startup Program in 2021 which is taking place completely online.
Here is the story of Lyro, the brains, eyes and hands of a robot.
During February, AgriFutures on Air is showcasing amazing innovators making a difference in Australian agriculture.
The one thing they have in common is their involvement in evokeAG., either in Startup Alley or the Startup Showcase.
Check out the new evokeAG. website and watch out for our two-part Startup Program in 2021 which is taking place completely online.
This week we are profiling Safe Ag systems. As the name implies, Safe Ag Systems is about safety in agriculture, but this home-grown Aussie business has grown to become so much more.
Its product road map now includes tackling a broad range of compliance issues using an online digital tool for farmers.
Co-founder and CEO Katy Landt says she is on a mission to remove the paperwork associated with compliance for agribusiness globally without compromising their productivity.
Here’s how Katy is making a difference.
During the month of February, AgriFutures on Air is showcasing amazing innovators making a difference in Australian agriculture.
The one thing they have in common is their involvement in evokeAG., either in Startup Alley or the Startup Showcase.
Check out the new evokeAG. website and watch out for our two-part Startup Program in 2021 which is taking place completely online.
GoMicro is a company helping Aussie farmers identify and detect pests, leaf disease and food quality in their paddocks by using their smart phones and artificial intelligence.
Co-founder, Krishnapillai Anandasivam says GoMicro is putting the power of AI into the hands of every farmer.
Anything that can be detected by the eye can now be detected by AI in ways never imagined.
Bee Innovative is an Australian agrifood tech company that is using artificial intelligence to track bees to boost crop yields and quality, with amazing results.
Bees don’t always pollinate every part of every crop and pollination rates can be patchy.
So instead of leaving it to chance, Bee Innovative Co-Founders, David and Kate Lyall are arming farmers with critical information showing rates of pollination and ways to boost it.
And in crops like blueberries and sunflowers they’ve had great success, boosting farmers profits and reducing waste.
During the month of February, AgriFutures on Air is showcasing four amazing innovators making a difference in Australian agriculture.
And the one thing they all have in common is their involvement in evokeAG., either in Startup Alley or the Startup Showcase.
Check out the new evokeAG. website and watch out for our two-part Startup Program in 2021 which is taking place completely online.
Here is the story of Bee Innovative which like all great stories begins over a cup of tea.
2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award QLD Winner, Elisha Parker is a woman who wears many hats, juggling motherhood with a career as well as a business in a remote part of Australia.
A lawyer by profession, she’s also an entrepreneur who along with her business partner, co-founded a website which is connecting the Australian cattle industry like never before.
Like all good ideas, it came from personal experience.
The website, cattlesales.com.au is Australia's only advertising custom designed site solely for cattle where producers and livestock agents can go to view pre-marketing saleyard cattle, online auction cattle and advertising paddock cattle.
And Elisha and her business partner have plans to expand the site further.
Elisha Parker lives in Clermont, around five hours west of Rockhampton where living remotely has tested her resilience and creativity long before the pandemic.
Here is her fascinating story.
The contribution working dogs make to Australian farms is well documented but how well do you really understand your working dog?
2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award VIC Winner, Kelly Barnes is passionate about her dogs and believes working dogs have so much more potential than we realise.
Kelly has developed a Mates Working Dog School – a working dog school to build low stress stock handling skills and to create a strong bond between dogs and their owners. Improving dog performance is only part of the story with Kelly keen to investigate the social connections and networks with like-minded producers.
Kelly has channelled her own personal experience with chronic pain and mental health into the concept and she is hoping it could run in multiple locations in regional Australia.
This is Kelly’s moving story with her loyal kelpie, Dugald by her side.
Farming systems are increasingly becoming more complex. In this podcast we explore the role of education and programs like the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program in ensuring that the workforce of the future is equipped with the skills, capabilities and perspectives to meet these complexities.
This week we are joined by April Browne from Dairy Australia and Julia Payne, who joined the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program in 2020 and is sponsored by Dairy Australia.
Applications for the 2021 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship are still open, so if you're looking to kickstart your career like Julia make sure to get your application in before Friday, 15 January 2021.
You don’t have to be studying an agriculture degree to apply for the Scholarship. You can also apply if you’re studying degrees like Veterinary Science, Agribusiness, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses with a focus on agriculture.
For more information and to apply, visit our website at www.agrifutures.com.au/horizon.
Ever thought about what life is like on a remote cattle station?
In this podcast, we hear from university student Emma Moss who is doing exactly that. Her dream to “go north” became a reality when she drove more than 5,000 kilometres to start work on Nerrima Station in the Kimberley region of WA.
She documented the experience and, in the process has 20,000 devoted followers.
Emma is passionate about Australian agriculture and is an AgriFutures Horizon Scholar, sponsored by Meat and Livestock Australia.
You don’t have to be studying an agriculture degree to apply for the Scholarship. You can also apply if you’re studying degrees like Veterinary Science, Agribusiness, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses with a focus on agriculture.
Applications for the 2021 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship are open until midnight January 15, 2021 so hurry, apply now.
Emma’s story begins when she went ‘up north’.
Amy Kirke is the 2020 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award NT Winner and a marine biologist who is keen to take her knowledge and passion about science to the next level.
Amy wants girls and women in the NT to consider science as a career and she has developed an interactive outreach program called "Let's go fishing" which has a focus on education about sustainable fishing.
Based in Darwin, she is taking her passion for Science, Technology, Math and Engineering, otherwise known as STEM on a science roadshow to capture the hearts and minds of a younger generation, who may not have had the opportunities to explore this new world.
Amy describes her program as the first step in a series of conversations about creating a pathway for girls and women that shows science is within their reach.
Here is Amy’s inspirational story.
Have you heard of Country to Canberra? It’s an organisation empowering young women living in rural, regional and remote Australia to reach their leadership potential.
One of its key programs is a prestigious annual competition where the national winners receive a Power Trip to Canberra so they can be heard and mentored through leadership and public speaking training. But the program is so much more than this.
AgriFutures is the proud diamond sponsor of this competition supporting ten rural women to change their own lives as well as the communities in which they live.
In today’s podcast we meet Country to Canberra’s new Chief Executive Officer, Han Worsley whose own story has many twists and turns.
Dairy farmer Cressida Cains has been awarded the 2020 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for her work in promoting a profitable and secure future for Australian dairy farmers.
Cressida’s family dairy is a bit different to what you might expect.
Named after the Italian word for sheep, Pecora Dairy boasts Australia’s only working, pure East Friesian ewes, the most productive breed of dairy sheep in the world.
Sheep milk is one of the most nutrient dense and rich milks, which makes it incredibly suitable for cheese making.
Cressida is an award-winning artisan cheese maker who swapped her corporate life in Sydney’s wine industry for greener pastures.
Here is her amazing story
It’s been a big year for Karen Brock who has been named the 2020 Tasmanian winner of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.
Karen grows and supplies commercial fruit trees so it’s no surprise she’s a specialist in plant tissue culture.
And it’s in her work with plant tissue where magic is happening. Plant tissue culture is often grown in a gel-like substance, but Karen is changing the face of tissue culture techniques by growing plant tissue in water.
Here is her amazing story which starts like all great stories with Karen being in the right place at the right time.
The Australian ginger industry is hoping robotics will help solve one of its biggest challenges: the removal of weeds that compete with ginger plants for water, space and nutrients.
Manual spraying and removing of weeds is costly and in this podcast we hear from Kylie Templeton, from Templeton Ginger, Australia's largest ginger grower about the impact of weeds on the ginger industry and opportunities for improving safety and efficiencies. Kylie is also an AgriFutures Ginger Advisory Panel member.
We also speak with Guy Coleman, a dedicated precision weed control scientist at the University of Sydney who is teaching Ginny the ginger robot how to identify weeds and then eradicate them.
It's a lot more complex than you think.
Rich in proteins and essential amino acids, quinoa is well deserving of its reputation as a “superfood”, and even offers a gluten free substitute for other cereals. Its wide availability and the varied uses of the seeds for consumption has led to an increase in demand for quinoa worldwide.
In this episode, we speak with Dr Harmohinder Dhammu who's a research scientist with DPIRD, the Department of Primary Industries, Research and Development in Western Australia.
He's the principal investigator of a project looking at a new quinoa variety, called Kruso White in WA, which is set to change the way farmers grow this popular food.
Just imagine that you've stumbled across a product or service that the world has been crying out for but just didn't know it. Everyone's dream right? Well that describes perfectly Australia's seaweed industry. An industry in its infancy but with help from AgriFutures Australia, and the Australian Seaweed Institute, it's ready to leap onto the world stage.
It's ironic that a woman from a property called "Worlds End" is dedicated to helping farmers and all rural people better manage those mental health issues that all of us face to varying degrees.
Steph Schmidt is the 2020 South Australian AgriFutures Rural Women's Award Winner and she shares her story and her plans to develop a resilience program made specifically for farming couples, families and individuals, with the aim of seeing psychological flexibility grow throughout the rural sector.
Years ago, Australian agriculture was like the dinner meal we sat down to most nights; fairly straight forward, meat and three veg. But now, Australian agriculture is like a massive smorgasbord of choice. It's that consumer choice, and how today's consumer makes their choice that we are going to talk about in this episode.
We have launched a new resource which will help food producers tell their story right along the food chain up to, and including the end consumer. We'll also hear from the people who created this resource to delve deep into what is driving this desire by consumers to know more about the products they buy. And finally, how does telling your story work in practical terms? We ask a venison producer who has put this all into practice.
Featured in this episode:
- Jennifer Medway, Senior Manager, Business Development, AgriFutures Australia
- Helen Johnston, Creative Services Director and Co-Founder, Honey & Fox Pty Ltd
- Sophie Hansen, Deer Farmer and Founder and Manager, My Open Kitchen