The latest news, events and opportunities from the SW WA Hub
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Welcome from the Director
Welcome to the latest edition of the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) newsletter.
The past few weeks have been a dynamic and collaborative period for WA’s agricultural community, with two Future Drought Fund (FDF) grants open to projects that enhance climate resilience. These programs, launched in September 2024, focus on long-term trials of drought-resilient farming practices and resilient landscapes supporting agricultural sustainability across Australia.
At the SW WA Hub, fostering partnerships and delivering practical solutions to strengthen drought resilience is at the heart of our mission. Supporting project proponents during these grant rounds has been a major focus for our team. Through a call for expressions of interest (EOIs), we encouraged collaboration and innovation across the sector. After reaching out to more than 70 organisations and individuals, we received 29 EOIs and supported 12 high-quality project proposals involving 101 project partners. Each proposal aligns closely with WA’s drought resilience priorities.
Our team provided expert guidance throughout the grant process, connecting applicants and fostering collaborations at local and national levels. This approach streamlined submissions and ensured impactful, strategic projects that maximise the FDF’s investment in WA. These initiatives promise to advance innovative farming practices and landscape management, building the region’s preparedness for future climate challenges.
Our partners, through FDF funding, have developed resources that can help producers build drought resilience. For those spending long hours on the header, why not make the most of your time with a webinar or podcast? The Facey Group’s webinar series, End of Year Highlights: Drought Resilience in Action, features valuable sessions on water-use efficiency (28 November) and plant health (12 December). For those interested in natural capital, don’t miss the webinar led by Tom Picton-Warlow on 5 December. This session will delve into the potential of collective natural capital and its investment opportunities. And don’t forget our latest Dry Season Resources podcast episodes, which provide actionable strategies for navigating seasonal variability and rising land prices.
Thank you for continuing to support the Hub’s work. Together, we’re driving WA agriculture toward a more resilient and sustainable future.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to colleagues, friends or clients.
Dr Jo Wisdom | Acting Hub Director
South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
Grant funding
SW WA Hub drives collaboration for Future Drought Fund grants
The SW WA Hub was instrumental in fostering collaboration and innovation during two recent Future Drought Fund (FDF) grant rounds, which closed on 19 November.
Reaching out to more than 70 organisations and individuals, the SW WA Hub received 29 expressions of interest and supported 12 high-quality project proposals aligned with WA’s drought resilience priorities.
SW WA Hub staff provided expert guidance throughout the grant process and connected applicants locally and nationally, resulting in more impactful submissions.
This collaborative approach positions WA to maximise the impact of federal investment in its agricultural regions.
The new FDF programs, focusing on drought-resilient farming practices and resilient landscapes, aim to enhance agricultural sustainability across Australia.
Natural Heritage Trust grants advance climate-smart agriculture in WA
Congratulations to all WA recipients of the Natural Heritage Trust Climate-Smart Agriculture grants. These grants are instrumental in supporting the adoption of innovative practices that enhance the agriculture industry's climate resilience.
The SW WA Hub will collaborate with the Mulloon Institute on their Landscape Function Toolkit project. This five-year initiative aims to equip land managers, farmers, and First Nations peoples with essential skills and tools to monitor and improve their landscapes' health and resilience in the face of climate change.
Additionally, the SW WA Hub, alongside the seven other drought hubs, will support the Ripple Effect project led by the Grower Group Alliance. This project aims to drive the adoption of innovations in water security and quality, biodiversity and emissions reduction. For more details about this project, please refer to the end of this newsletter.
The SW WA Hub team is eager to continue building partnerships and supporting our partners and WA grower groups in future climate and drought-related grant opportunities.
Dry Season Resources
Dry Season Resources podcast
Listen to the SW WA Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast on the Hub website and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Navigating extreme seasonal variability in WA’s Wheatbelt
Coorow farmer Rod Birch and Yuna farmer Jess Grove join us on the Dry Season Resources podcast to share their experiences managing extreme seasonal variability in Western Australia’s northern Wheatbelt.
Land access options amid rising land prices
In recent years, land values have surged, and with increasingly variable seasons, buying land is becoming a tougher choice for many. Carly Veitch (AgAsset) and Ian Donaldson (Rabobank) discuss the factors driving these price hikes, the challenges this poses for farmers, and the various options for expanding land access.
'Dry Season Shorts' video series
In this series of short videos, producers, researchers and other industry professionals provide practical advice to deal with dry conditions on-farm.
Check out these seasonal videos:
- Ground cover and erosion management after a dry season | Justin Laycock, Research scientist, DPIRD
- Herbicide carryover risk after a dry year | Bevan Addison, WA Market Development Manager, Adama
- Confinement feeding of sheep | Sandra Fowler, pastoralist
Hub Projects in Focus
From spuds to stockfeed: tackling agricultural waste
A SW WA Hub transformational project has made great strides in finding innovative ways to turn potato waste into a valuable ingredient for animal feed.
Early trials showed that treated potato waste could replace barley in animal feed without compromising nutrition. However, challenges such as high moisture levels and bacterial content have highlighted the need for practical solutions to make the process more cost-effective for large-scale use.
The project team, led by Nick Stamatiou, CEO of award-winning food tech company Whole Green Foods, successfully developed a process to treat potato waste, and tested methods to reduce harmful bacteria using natural organic acids.
Looking ahead, the team will focus on finding ways to reduce moisture and bacteria in the potato waste to make it easier and cheaper to use. They will also continue working with industry partners to improve logistics and explore opportunities to expand the use of this technology. The project is showing promising progress and a clear plan to address key challenges as it moves forward.
Challenge winners from the Western Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin with teacher Kate Strong (left) and SW WA Hub Knowledge Broker Tanya Kilminster (right).
Western Australian students lead the way in climate-smart agricultural innovation
Three WA Colleges of Agriculture – Denmark, Cunderdin, and Harvey – participated in the 2024 Climate-Smart Innovation Challenge, an initiative led by the SW WA Hub.
The program engaged 70 students who developed innovative solutions to agricultural challenges posed by a hotter, drier and more variable climate.
Winning projects addressed issues such as reversing desertification, improving soil health, and reducing methane emissions.
The SW WA Hub fosters agricultural innovation and collaboration to address the impacts of a changing climate. Through initiatives like this, the SW WA Hub equips future agricultural professionals to research options to enhance resilience and sustainability in agriculture.
Upcoming events
Facey Group presents "End Of Year Highlights: Drought Resilience in Action" webinar series
Facey Group, the South-Eastern Wheatbelt Node of the SW WA Hub, invites you to register for their free webinar series “End of Year Highlights: Drought Resilience in Action”.
28 November: This session will bring together speakers who will share insights into water-use efficiency and desalinisation projects across Western Australia. Register.
12 December: Explore innovative research and strategies focused on enhancing plant health and water efficiency in agriculture. This session will feature experts discussing new applications aimed at boosting resilience in challenging climates. Register.
Natural capital webinar on 5 December
As part of the SW WA Hub's Transformational Program, Tom Picton-Warlow, from MobileGlobal, will lead an informative webinar on natural capital production landscape opportunities on 5 December.
This online session, hosted by ASHEEP & BEEF, will delve into the potential of natural capital production landscapes as an asset class. Tom will share insights from his research into how grower collaboration may develop collective natural capital that attracts at-scale investment.
This natural capital project is supported by the SW WA Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Find out more about the project.
Drought Hub Team Out and About
The "Collaborating for Regional Growth" panel featured (L-R) Anna Dixon (Blue Salt Consulting), Cr Julia Meldrum (Shire of Augusta Margaret River), Tanya Healy (Prepare Produce Provide) and Tanya Kilminster (SW WA Hub).
SW WA Hub showcased at SEGRA conference
Hub Knowledge Broker Tanya Kilminster presented at the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) conference in Busselton on 30-31 October 2024, highlighting the SW WA Hub’s role in fostering regional growth. Her session, "Collaborating for Regional Growth", explored how the SW WA Hub builds partnerships and attracts federal investment to drive value and impact into WA through FDF initiatives and grant opportunities.
“The strength of regional growth lies in collaboration – bringing together diverse perspectives to create lasting economic resilience,” Tanya said.
Following her presentation, Tanya joined a dynamic panel to further discuss effective collaborations, solutions for roadblocks and alternative investment opportunities for regional Australia.
The conference, themed "Beyond Boundaries: Fostering Connection, Partnership, and Collaboration for Regional Growth," brought together local governments and regional leaders to discuss strategies for overcoming challenges and enhancing collaboration. Tanya’s insights showcased the SW WA Hub’s impact in creating partnerships that advance sustainable prosperity for regional WA.
Relevant News, Events and Resources
Grower Group Alliance launches the Ripple Effect project to drive climate-smart agriculture in Australia
The Grower Group Alliance (GGA) has announced its new four-year nationwide project Ripple Effect, designed to improve water security, biodiversity and climate resilience for Australian farmers.
Funded by a $5 million Grant from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust Climate-Smart Agriculture program, the Ripple Effect project will leverage cutting-edge water management practices to boost agricultural productivity, sustainability, and carbon reduction efforts.
The Ripple Effect project represents a collaborative effort led by the GGA, in partnership with key academic and research institutions including the University of Western Australia, University of Adelaide, Australian National University, Blue Carbon Lab at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and University of Southern Queensland. In addition, all eight national Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs will support the project, to engage with grower group networks representing producers to drive the adoption of innovations in water security and quality, biodiversity and emissions reduction.
Shoppers warned to prepare for low WA cherry harvest this festive season
Growers are facing a devastating blow to their cherry season, with hot, dry, and windy weather during summer, compounded by an unusually warm winter with minimal frosts, leading to significantly reduced yields.
This year, local cherries – a cherished Christmas staple – are unlikely to be widely available, with some orchards in Manjimup experiencing crop losses exceeding 90%. The financial toll has been severe, with significant losses and a reduction in seasonal jobs for the region’s cherry farmers.
“Cherries are a high-risk, high-reward crop,” explains Arthur Wilson, Chair of the Southern Forests Food Council. “While farmers are accustomed to some variability, this season’s challenges have been unprecedented.”
The Southern Forests Food Council (SFFC), a regional node of the SW WA Hub, is taking proactive measures to support growers as they navigate these challenges and remains committed to helping its members build resilience and adopt sustainable practices.
World Soil Day WA
World Soil Day is 5 December 2024. To mark the occasion, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are hosting an in-person event on what's happening in soil in Western Australia.
Find out about the Future Drought Fund
The Future Drought Fund (FDF) provides secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives and will help Australian farmers and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.
