News & Opinion

7 global megatrends every farmer should prepare for

Mega trends

7 global megatrends every farmer should prepare for

21st May 2015 | By Merran White, AgInnovators

They’re big, unstoppable and game-changing, for agriculture and the world: They’re megatrends – and they’re coming to a farm near you, says CSIRO scientist Dr Stefan Hajkowicz. Get ready...
Australian Government pledges $51.3m for ag counsellors to speed access to key export markets

Exports

Australian Government pledges $51.3m for ag counsellors to speed access to key export markets

17th May 2018 | By AgInnovators

The Australian Government has announced more than $50m in funding for agricultural counsellors to help pave the way for Aussie food and beverage exporters in key markets from the EU to Latin America and emerging Asian nations.
World’s largest food transporter to support agrifood-tech start-ups combating food loss

Funding

World’s largest food transporter to support agrifood-tech start-ups combating food loss

17th May 2018 | By Merran White, AgInnovators

Transport-logistics giant Maersk and accelerator Rockstart urge ag-food-tech start-ups to apply for their month-long support program in Denmark this June, part of the companies' FoodTrack initiative, aimed at combating food loss across the perishables supply chain. Act fast: applications close 20 May.
Australian Government backs manuka honey throwdown: is ours better than New Zealand’s?

New markets

Australian Government backs manuka honey throwdown: is ours better than New Zealand’s?

10th Mar 2018 | By Merran White, AgInnovators

The Australian Government has pledged AU$165,000 in funds to get new markets abuzz about what the Australian Manuka Honey Association claims is the original and arguably, the best medicinal honey on Earth.

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Projects

Reducing Energy Costs in Dairy

Reducing Energy Costs in Dairy

The Reducing Energy Cost in Dairy project was funded by Australian Dairy Farmers to assist farmers in increasing their dollar return on energy investment.  The project built on previous work by NSW Farmers and Dairy Australia. Activities...
Water & Energy Nexus Initiative

Water & Energy Nexus Initiative

In 2014, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage funded NSW Farmers to conduct a study into the connection between energy costs and usage, and water-efficient irrigation practices.

The project involved desk top research coupled...
Farm Energy Innovation Program (EEIG)

Farm Energy Innovation Program (EEIG)

The NSW Farmers' "Farm Energy Innovation Program" was delivered with the help of the Australian Federal Government between 2012 and 2015 under the Energy Efficiency Information Grants program (EEIG).
Next Gen Compost

Next Gen Compost

Next Gen Compost is a two-year project commenced in 2016 aimed at increasing the use of compost made from recycled organic waste in commercial vegetable production. The project is funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority under its Waste Less Recycle More Organics Market Development Grant Program.
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Case Studies

Farm trials show next-gen compost benefits for vegie growers

Recycled organics

Farm trials show next-gen compost benefits for vegie growers

Trials at the Greater Sydney Demonstration Farm show that adding high-grade recycled-organics composts to soils prior to planting has a number of potential benefits for vegetable growers.
Bathurst farmer grows sweet corn using 'next gen' compost

Recycled organics

Bathurst farmer grows sweet corn using 'next gen' compost

Bathurst mixed-farming operator Jeff McSpedden, who grows corn commercially for Simplot, turned to next-gen compost to replace biosolids, deemed a health risk.
Sydney vegie growers improve soil and yields using 'next gen' compost

Recycled organics

Sydney vegie growers improve soil and yields using 'next gen' compost

Second-generation vegetable farmers Sam and Val Micallef switched to recycled organics compost augmented with slow-release nitrogen to produce more and better vegies for Sydney Markets.
Rejigged tariffs and equipment fixes to boost Riverina dairy farm's bottom line

Energy

Rejigged tariffs and equipment fixes to boost Riverina dairy farm's bottom line

An energy audit of Carramar dairy farm in Womboota found significant savings could be made by renegotiating the electricity tariff for the property’s water pump, optimising the performance of its power-hungry plate cooler, recovering waste heat from the chiller and installing LEDs. Simple.
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