A NSW Farm Writers' lunch heard that rehydrating and rehabilitating farm land was a challenge all farmers should embrace to preserve the future of the nation's agricultural production.
The Mulloon Institute was the headline act as Farm Writers' gathered for only the second time in person in a year due to coronavirus restrictions.
The lunch had a special edge with the Institute's farm near Bungendore providing the eggs that went into making the pavlova for dessert at the Friday gathering.
The luncheon was held at the Grace Hotel in Sydney's CBD. The guest speakers were Gary Nairn, the Institute's chairman, and former Eden-Monaro federal MP, and the Institute's chief executive Carolyn Hall.
The lunch heard from the floor that governments should be more involved in supporting regenerative agriculture through more financial incentives.
Mr Nairn said it was important agriculture was not carved away from the 2050 net emissions target process as this could ruin many innovative practices on farm.
The Institute was set up after Bungendore farmer Tony Coote bequeathed some of his land as a regen ag research centre, with the support of other district landholders, to follow in the rehydration and conservation practices of Upper Hunter farmer Peter Andrews.
The not-for-profit organisation's aim is to rehabilitate up to 2.5 million hectares of Australian farm land. It is one of only five such regen ag groups in the world recognised by the United Nations.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
