Podcast Highlights

In this episode of the Feed Central Hay Matters Podcast, host Jon Paul Driver welcomes Dr. Sabrina Greenwood from CSIRO to discuss the AG2050 initiative.

From farms equipped with digital farming and precision agriculture technologies to systems that provide real-time data optimising everything from soil health to water use, AG2050 envisions a sustainable and technologically advanced future for Australian agriculture by 2050.

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency known for significant contributions like the invention of Wi-Fi and advanced polymer banknotes, is spearheading this strategic initiative. Dr. Greenwood provides an in-depth overview of AG2050's ambitious goals, designed to reshape farming practices across the nation through innovation and strategic foresight, hand-in-hand with industry partnerships.

• AG2050, a strategic initiative within CSIRO’s Agriculture and Food research unit, envisions what Australian agriculture could and should look like by 2050, aiming for sustainability and resilience.
• In AG2050, hay and other forage-based commodities, influenced by climate factors and groundwater availability, are essential for enhancing productivity across diverse regions.
• Over 100 community partners were involved in initial AG2050 workshops to discuss major stressors and drivers in their industries, aiding the development of four future scenarios for Australian agriculture.
• These four scenarios - Regional Ag Capitals, Landscape Stewardship, Climate Survival, and Systems Decline - each provide a different vision of what could happen based on current trends and potential interventions.
• The ongoing need for community engagement is crucial for refining and implementing strategies that will drive Australian agriculture towards the desired futures outlined in AG2050.

If you'd like to get involved, you can visit the AG2050 website.