Farmers Put Regenerative Agriculture to the Test - CSIRO
CSIRO explores how regenerative agriculture can help farmers adapt to a drier, less predictable climate future through a five-year project.
A Farmer-Led Approach
A farmer-led initiative, Stress Testing Regenerative Agriculture Practices (STRAP), is testing various regenerative practices across South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales.
Dr. Mark Farrell, a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, leads the project, highlighting its significance:
“We have trials running in very different environments... offering a rare opportunity to rethink farming systems in Southern Australia.”
Addressing Local Needs
The project arises from grower concerns, as coordinated by Ag Excellence Alliance, focusing on practices relevant to local regions.
Dr. Jade Rose, Project Manager at Ag Excellence Alliance, emphasizes the collaborative nature:
“Each farming systems group knows its own district... they can answer questions that matter to the whole region.”
Exploring Regenerative Practices
The trials investigate:
- Intercropping
- Legumes as nitrogen sources
- Alternative fertilizers
- Integrating pasture into cropping systems
With an emphasis on soil health, resilience, environmental, and economic sustainability, the project utilizes small plot experiments and four larger demo trials.
Localized Evidence
Dr. Farrell stresses the importance of local evidence, as practices successful in other regions may not suit Australian conditions:
“Assuming a practice from Europe’s fertile, humid farming systems will work in Australia’s dryland systems is just flat out wrong.”
CSIRO is developing data systems integrating AI and geospatial platforms to analyze complex results efficiently, covering greenhouse gas emissions, input use, and economic risk.
Supporting Local Growers
Dr. Penny Roberts, Research Manager at Mallee Sustainable Farming, highlights the project's relevance to her region's needs:
“Our growers want to know how to best manage soils... in environments with limited moisture to work with. This project gives us answers... alongside results from right across the southern region.”
The STRAP project is funded by almost $8 million from the Aust... (rest of the text not provided in the prompt is not included)