Agriminders

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. 

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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.

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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.

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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 were 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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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