Farming for the future in altered landscapes

3rd August 2007

Farming for the future in altered landscapes, is the title of the keynote address to be delivered at 2007 Murrumbidgee Landcare Annual Forum by Kevin Goss, the CEO of the newly formed Future Farm Industries (FFI) Co-operative Research Centre (CRC). Facing up to the limitations of current salinity policies and programs, and adapting to salinity's impact is the only option for many landholders,” argues Kevin Goss.

The Annual Forum, hosted by the Central Riverina Landcare Network, is to be held in Narrandera on August 16th & 17th. Speakers at the Forum will address many current issues, including carbon sequestration, climate change, sustainable agriculture and endangered species.

The Future Farm Industries (FFI) CRC is a unique co-investment between meat, grains and wool industry research corporations, the Landmark agribusiness company, and the combined research power of CSIRO, six State agencies and four universities. Sustainable agriculture means striving for profitability along with environmental benefits. Working with farmers, says Kevin Goss, we need to ask; is it possible to develop livestock enterprises and cropping rotations, integrated with new woody crops, that are more sustainable, more adapted to climate change, and beneficial to biodiversity and water conservation? The FFI CRC takes the approach that it is important to be quite pragmatic about the roles for commercial services and products, regional and catchment organisations, and industry R&D corporations in achieving sustainable outcomes.

The Annual Forum is a highlight of the landcare year in the Murrumbidgee catchment. Murrumbidgee Landcare is the umbrella organisation which represents community-based landcare throughout the catchment.

Guest speakers at the Forum represent a diverse range of organisations: non-government, including National Parks Association, Narrandera Landcare, Greening Australia; government, including Department of Environment and Climate Change, Department of Primary Industry and catchment management authorities; environment and community researchers from Charles Sturt University and Australian National University; private enterprise carbon traders; regenerative farmers; and CSIRO scientists.

The theme of this year's Forum is Landcare Partnerships. The Forum offers a significant opportunity for some of Australia's top environmental researchers to “return their research to the community, explains Peter Holding, Chair of Murrumbidgee Landcare. We want to share knowledge but also encourage debate. We will be hoping on some new partnerships coming out of this program. It has something for everyone with the common goal of a sustainable future.

Date: 16th & 17th August
Venue: Narrandera Ex-Serviceman's Club

Contact:

Peter Holding
Chair, Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc
ph. m. 0409 049 477
pholding@murrumbidgeelandcare.asn.au

Full program:
http://www.murrumbidgeelandcare.asn.au/AnnualForum/program

Media:
http://www.murrumbidgeelandcare.asn.au/media