Agriminders

Chris Russell explores the critical issues affecting the next 50 years in Australian agriculture. In each episode Agricultural Scientist Chris speaks with the key intellects, custodians or ‘Agriminds’ tasked with securing the future of our food and fibre production in Australia and discusses how Australian agricultural issues can also have a larger worldwide impact.

What will the future of farming look like? Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell explores which technologies are transformational and which are merely distractive gadgets as we try to keep up with the information revolution. Our Agriminders in this episode are leading futurist and innovator, Mark Pesce and Associate Professor in Precision Agriculture, Brett Whelan.

With 4 jobs available to every agriculture graduate, Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell asks why Australia’s oldest agriculture faculty has merged into obscurity by academic bureaucrats? Our Agriminder in this episode is the last Dean of Agriculture at Sydney University, now the current Director of the Sydney Institute of Agriculture, Professor Alex McBratney.

How do we entice the youth towards a future in Agriculture? Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell finds out how Barker College in the North Shore of Sydney has been using different teaching methods and digital media to successfully change the perception of studying agriculture amongst its' students. Our Agriminders in this episode are Head of School at Barker College, Phillip Heath AM, and his Head of Agriculture, Scott Graham.

Farm animals aren’t pets…..or are they? Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell explores whether or not the lines have become blurred between the expectations of people for their urban pets and the welfare needs of farm and production animals? Our Agriminder in this episode is RSPCA Senior Policy Officer Dr Jed Goodfellow.

Are perception and emotion over-riding fact when it comes to the realistic comfort, needs and rights of animals that are in our care for agricultural production? Australian animal production is at risk and Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell seeks to explore whether this industry would be an unnecessary loss or if it is in fact animal husbandry that is unacceptable. Our Agriminder in this episode is Executive Director of The Australian Farm Institute Michael Keogh OAM.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, John Anderson AO, explains to Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell why he believes the we can “have our cake and heat it too” when it comes to energy in Australia.

Energy miners Vs farmers Vs the environment. Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell explores the fears around mining and asks if coal and gas are really necessary to secure our agricultural future. Our Agriminders in this episode are leading global authority on Renewable Energy, Dr Sven Teske and the grazier leading the charge against coal seam gas mining in central NSW, David Chadwick.

It took 95 years for the states to agree on a national water plan, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell explores whether or not it has been successful. Our Agriminder in this episode is the Chair of The Murray-Darling Basin Authority, the Hon Neil Andrew MP.

The tension between water used for agriculture, the water demands of the environment and the water needs of communities, has been the source of much debate and conflict going right back to Federation. Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell finds out who have been the winners and losers in our water policies of the last decade – or if it been actually been a “win-win”? The Agriminders in this episode are CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Steve Whan and former CEO of Coleambally water, John Culleton.

The trigger for 21st Century conflict may well be fresh water. Agricultural Scientist Chris Russell finds out what lessons we can learn from rivers shared between countries at war and how we can apply that to water management in Australia. This episode’s Agriminder is Dr David Michel from the Transboundary Water Management Department of the Stockholm International Water Institute.

The red meat industry in Australia is facing an uncertain future due to Animal Welfare issues, cheaper meat alternatives and the rise of vegetarianism and veganism. Yet, the middle class in developing countries like China & Indonesia are developing a growing taste and high demand for red meat pushing up both meat and live exports. Host Chris Russell speaks to Chief Executive of Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Richard Norton, about how the industry is changing to meet the new place of red meat in global food demand.

Wool - Is there still a future for natural fibres like wool? Host Chris Russell speaks to Stuart McCullough, the Chief Executive of Australia’s peak wool marketing and research body, Australian Wool Innovation, about what the wool industry is doing to counter the cheaper synthetic materials and how it has responded to the demands of a very vocal and aggressive animal rights movements.

Cotton production is a much maligned industry in Australia due to its perceived high water usage but should we be telling farmers what to grow with their purchased irrigation water? Host Chris Russell discusses the water usage in cotton production with, Dave Anthony, CEO/Chair of Auscott (Australias largest cotton producer) and why cotton is so popular amongst irrigation farmers and the importance of cotton to the Australian economy.

Exploring our fears around Genetic Modification in fibre. Host Chris Russell speaks to Chief Research Scientist with CSIRO, Dr Danny Llewellyn, about why perceptions around Mendel's Genetics breeding differ to perceptions of gene editing and the impact that this has had on cotton

Exploring the fears around Genetic Modification (GM) in our food and the agricultural industry. Host Chris Russell speaks to Director of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and member of the federal “Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee,” Prof Robert Henry, about the reality of the GM processes and what it means for our future food production.

Climate Change - What is our plan B? Host Chris Russell speaks to member of the Nobel Peace Prize winning IPCC team, Professor Mark Howden, about what happens if we don’t reach our carbon emissions target.

Climate Change - Will we successfully adapt to a changing climatic environment or alternatively what are the chances we will we be successful in adapting the climate to change to suit us? Host Chris Russell speaks to leading global environmental scientist Prof Will Stephans and Young Farmer of the Year and co-founder of the think-tank – “Climate Wise Agriculture,” Anika Molesworth, on the reality of climate change and the optimism of the next generation .

Glyphosate has facilitated major productivity increases and reduced environmental stress due to over-cultivation over the last 50 years. However, it has been classified as “probably cancer causing agent” by the International Agency for research on Cancer (IARC). How was this classification decided and what does it mean? Agricultural Scientist, Chris Russell, speaks to Cancer Epidemiologist and member of (IARC), Professor Lin Fritschi, who explains how and why glyphosate was classified as a “probably cancer causing agent” by this sub-group of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and what this means for farmers.

Are the fears around glyphosate legitimate? Glyphosate has arguably been one of the most transformational agricultural innovations of the last 50 years. However, following a recent court case in the USA, may now be under threat as a readily available tool in the hands of farmers due to cancer fears. Host Chris Russell speaks to Managing Director of Monsanto Australasia, Mr Tony May, about his company’s position on glyphosate and where he sees the current court actions leading. Chris also speaks to the Chair of Grain Producers Australia, Andrew Weidemann, about his feelings around this issue as he is arguably both the beneficiary and potential victim of this technology as a grain producer himself.

Are our farming methods impacting climate change? The Western Australian “Bunny Fence Project” suggests that farming itself may be an over-riding reason why droughts will increase. Host, Chris Russell, speaks to soil scientist & Founder of Environmental Earth Sciences International, Philip Mulvey, about how rehabilitating Australia’s soil may be the key to managing the climate above it.

Should we farm on Mars? Will humans need to expand to other planets to keep up with demand for agriculture? American aerospace engineer and President of the Mars Society, Robert Zubrin, is researching the possibilities. Robert joins host Chris Russell to discuss how humans might grow food on Mars, attempts to simulate Mars-like conditions on Earth and how accurate the film The Martian really is.

Should we be eating more kangaroo meat? We cull and often ignore kangaroos as a source of food, yet our iconic animal could be the answer to a more sustainable source of meat given a more managed approach to their integration with farming and food production. Host Chris Russell speaks with principal of Australian Wildlife Services George Wilson and long-time surveyor of kangaroo populations about the potential welfare benefits as well as food & fibre resources we are ignoring by not harvesting kangaroos.

Are our horticultural industries over-reliant on overseas workers? The Australian fruit and vegetable industries arguably couldn’t exist without young backpackers and Pacific Islanders working on temporary visas, but is there a more sustainable solution to harvesting fruit and vegetables in Australia? Host Chris Russell speaks to CEO of Fresh Select, John Said about the pressure on producers to find labour and to Associate Professor in the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School, Diane Van den Broek about the often challenging experiences that these migrant workers, who are dependent on this work for various visas, experience.

How is the fruit and vegetable industry responding to the claims of exploitation of backpackers and Pacific Islander workers? Host Chris Russell speaks to the CEO of Aus Veg, James Whiteside about the industry’s dependency on exploited labour and the potential for attracting more long-term Australian staff.

Can blockchain solve agricultural producers’ provenance problems? Tracking the conditions of production animals and paying suppliers for goods could all be covered by blockchain in the future if there is uptake of the AgriDigital program. Host Chris Russell speaks to Bridie Ohlsson, CEO of Geora, a blockchain protocol designed for agriculture, about the potential solutions it could offer farmers around the world, at every level of their production.

Is organic food more nutritious for you? Organic food is popular among urban consumers and perceived by many to be tastier and better for you. But is it really healthier or tastier? Host Chris Russell speaks to accredited dietitian and career nutrition scientist, Dr Tim Crowe about whether claims about the benefits of organic food stack up.

What makes a farm ‘organic’? Organic farming has assumed a reputation of purity based on the use of 'organic' inputs and sustainable practices. However, this excludes the use of many fertilisers and disease prevention systems that are safe and even 'near natural'. The cost can be productivity, efficiency and food wastage due to shorter shelf life. Host Chris Russell speaks to Head of Standards and Regulation at Australian Organic Limited, Owen Gwilliam about what's permitted in organic farming and what’s excluded.

What is the future of the Australian dairy industry? As the cost of dairy production increases and the price of supermarket milk decreases to less than that of bottled water, the future is uncertain for many farmers. Host Chris Russell speaks to former President of Dairy Australia and dairy farmer, Max Roberts about ensuring a fair return for farmers and the best ways to keep young farmers in the dairy industry.

What is behind the rise in value-added milk products? With over 11% of the milk consumed in Australia & New Zealand now being A2 milk, the A2 Milk Company is experiencing rapid growth within a struggling dairy industry. Host Chris Russell speaks to CEO of the A2 Milk Company, Jayne Hrdlicka, about the growth of their value-added products and the data supporting its popularity.

Should we be using Australia’s native grasses more in our food production? Aboriginal populations harvested native grains and grasses for bread for 40,000 years prior to European settlement, yet we have largely ignored these naturally evolved crops in modern food production. Host Chris Russell speaks to Principal Consultant at Ag & Environment Consulting, Dr Peter Ampt, about the potential use of these grasses in the future of food & pasture production in Australia.

Should we have predicted the severity 2020 bushfires? Our Agriminder, Former NSW Fire and Rescue Fire Commissioner, Greg Mullins says that they did predict it. Greg explains to host Chris Russell why the 2020 fires different from the bushfires of previous years, the cause and effect of these types bushfires and what can we learn from that to help us plan for future bushfire events. 

Fire looks random but there is a scientific dedication to understanding how it behaves. Host Chris Russell speaks with leading Fire Scientist and former forest fire-fighter, Dr Thomas Duff, about his studies into how bushfires behave in hot, dry climates. Our agriminder  Dr Duff explains how we can use this information to predict where and when areas might be affected and what the best way is to limit loss of life and property.

What can we learn about bushfires and the management of our land from our Indigenous  people, who have managed bushfire with bespoke methodology for 40,000 years? Our agriminder Soil Scientist Phillip Mulvey returns to discuss the use of fire as a land management technique in Australia with host Chris Russell, what effect the 2020 bushfires have had on our soil and  the opportunity we have to start again, collaboratively, as the soils have effectively been sterilised by fire.

Our animals and wildlife have been devastated by the fires, and for those that have survived, the aftermath of having dead and injured animals on our lands also poses a significant risk. Host Chris Russell speaks with former Commonwealth Inspector General of Biosecurity and NSW Chief Vet, Dr Helen Scott Orr, about how we can manage this effectively and sensitively. 

The response to a natural disaster, as planned by state and federal governments, have been implemented, tried and tested during the 2020 bushfires...but how did they go? Our agriminder is the appointed Scientist responsible for the Dairy industry Response in NSW is Dr Neil Moss and he speaks to host Chris Russell about how farmers have been aided by these plans in the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2020 bushfires, as well as the lessons learned  along the way to help improve the government's response in the future. 

How do farmers in remote communities socialise when their closest neighbour might be hundreds of kilometres away? In the eyes of most Aussies - living in the bush and mateship seem to go together – but is it the reality in modern farming? Active Farmers is a non-profit organisation using group fitness classes to build stronger, fitter and more resilient rural communities. Host Chris Russell speaks to Acting CEO of Active Farmers Marliese Heffernan about the mental and social benefits of staying active and why farmers need group fitness classes when their work is already physically demanding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can farmers make informed production decisions based on food trends? For farmers looking to expand their production to include value-added products, it can be hard to distinguish between legitimate trends and marketing spin. Host Chris Russell speaks to Founder and CEO of New Nutrition Business Julian Mellentin about how they predict food trends and how Australian farmers can take advantage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Australia a major player in global food production? Or has it, or should it, take advantage of its unique provenance story and become a specialist supplier of niche products to a growing global and affluent middle class? Host Chris Russell speaks to former President of the Australian Lotfeeders Association Kevin Roberts about the growing popularity of Australian grain fed-beef overseas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are plant-based "milks" better for you than dairy milk? A 2020 study from the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council found that the nutrients in plant-based milks aren’t an adequate substitute for dairy milk, in spite of popular perceptions. Host Chris Russell speaks to Nutritionist and General Manager of the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council Sarah Grafenauer about the perceived health benefits of plant-based milks compared to the reality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is the second most urbanised country in the world after Singapore and the distances to bring food from the regions to the cities are huge. How can we bridge the increasing geographical and psychological gap between Australian producers and the urban consumers who buy their produce? One solution is peri-urban agriculture and the practice of growing food on the fringes of capital cities. Host Chris Russell speaks to CEO of Urban Ecological Systems Andrew Bodlovich about the feasibility of large scale food production close to the supermarkets that distribute it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can Australia make better use of its vast underground water storage? The practice of water banking injects excess surface water into underground aquifers during wet times, to be used during dry times. Host Chris Russell speaks to postdoctoral research fellow in groundwater management at the US-based Environmental Defence Fund Andrew Ross about the feasibility of water banking in Australia and what would need to happen to make it a reality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the plan for ensuring reliable connectivity in regional and remote Australia? Connectivity in regional and remote Australia has always lagged behind the cities, yet the growth in digital and robotic agriculture demands the same access and speeds as urban business and industry. Host Chris Russell speaks to Federal Minister for Communications, Minister Paul Fletcher, about his government's plans to meet the connectivity needs of the bush. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With virtually unlimited water and a warm predictable climate, the Ord River Scheme in far north-west Western Australia has the potential to be one of the most exciting opportunities for food and fibre production in Australia today. Many crops have tried to make use of the abundant water but just as many have failed due to the remoteness from highly competitive markets or insect pests. But will investment from Shanghai-based company Kimberly Agricultural Investment be the key to realising the full potential of the area? Host Chris Russell speaks with General Manager of Kimberly Agricultural Investment, Jim Engelke, about the crops that have been tested (and failed) in the Ord before and what KAI are doing differently. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remote agriculture is not for the faint-hearted. The farmers who take on the challenge must deal with unpredictable climates, heat tolerant animals and managing properties larger than small countries. So how successful have Australian graziers been at overcoming these challenges? And what is the potential contribution of remote agriculture to the supply of meat locally and overseas? Host Chris Russell speaks with Annabelle Coppin, the owner and operator of Yarrie Station in far north-west Western Australia, about how they're overcoming the challenges of remote agriculture to meet the demands of their local and international consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.