UWA Future Farm 2050

The UWA Institute of Agriculture

Professor Graeme Martin BSc(Agric) PhDDeputy Director, UWA Institute of AgricultureProgram Leader, Animal Production Systems

Why “2050”?

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BillionsBillions

Year ADYear AD

22446688101012121414161618182020

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2050Now

VisionBest-practice farm for 2050. Do it now.Feed the world, don’t destroy the planet.

MissionFacilitate state, national and international research into future farming systems

– Multidisciplinary inputs, projects– Test-bed for innovative design and practice– Links for UWA (rural, scientific, national, international)– Leadership (best in Australia; #34 in the world)

The Project: UWA Future Farm 2050

“Ridgefield”, Pingelly

BoyaginReserveBoyaginReserve

1,588 ha3,924 acres

425 mm rainfall$5.3 m

Second Open Day

1) Animal ProductionClean, Green and Ethical Management

Low-cost, precision management (technology)Production animals as ‘ecological agents’

1) Animal2) Cropping3) Ecology4) Human

The Enterprises

2) ‘No-Till’ Crop ProductionMake every raindrop count

Drier, hotter climateIntegration: cropping, livestock, native ecologySoil carbon

1) Animal2) Cropping3) Ecology4) Human

The Enterprises

3) Ecosystem RestorationPlant and animal biodiversity

1) Animal2) Cropping3) Ecology4) Human

The Enterprises

Impact on other enterprisesCarbon

BoyaginReserveBoyaginReserve

Restoring ecological valuesRestoring ecological valuesThe Enterprises 1) Animal

2) Cropping3) Ecology4) Human

‘CarbonFarming’?‘CarbonFarming’?

4) People: UWA People, The Local Community

A. Pingelly and Brooktona) Contribution to local economyb) Schools (UWA Centenary 2013)

B. Collaborationsa) UWA Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Fine Artsb) UWA Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Sciencec) UWA Institute for Regional Development

C. Built environment (design, materials), Energy and water management (“Smart Farm”)

a) Farm House, Shearing Shed (“FREOS”)b) Solar energyc) Pingelly township; rural community

1) Animal2) Cropping3) Ecology4) Human

The Enterprises

The Project: UWA Future Farm 2050

Progress to DateInfrastructureProjectsManagement

The Project: UWA Future Farm 2050

Progress to DateInfrastructure

Fencing, Water: $2m investmentAutomatic weather stationBuildings, Energy

Patrick Beale, Domenic TrimboliAdvanced Timber Concepts Research Centre, UWAThe “ALVA House”

Official OpeningOctober 2011

Patrick Beale, John McLeanArchitecture Honours Students

Facility forResearchEducationOutreachShearing

Dr Ricardo Rüther (July-December 2011)University of Santa Catarina (Brazil)University of Freiburg (Germany)UWA Engineering

100% solar?

Turn-key system: Au$90k for the complete plant: 25% of 2008 estimate!

The Project: UWA Future Farm 2050

Progress to DateInfrastructure

Fencing, Water: $2m investmentBuildings, Energy

ProjectsAnimal enterprise: methaneCropping: soil mapping, hydrologyEcosystem: tree planting

Projects

Animal enterpriseAttack methane on 3 fronts:

1) ‘Maternal efficiency’ (with DAFWA)2) Genetics (with DAFWA)3) New forages (with CSIRO)

Also: 1 of 4 ‘National Demonstration Sites’ for the national program funded by DAFF and MLA (“RELRP”)

The Project: UWA Future Farm 2050

Progress to DateInfrastructureProjects

Animal enterprise: methaneCropping: soil mapping, hydrology Ecosystem: tree planting

The Project: UWA Future Farm 2050

Progress to DateInfrastructureProjects

Animal enterprise: methaneEcosystem: tree plantingCropping: soil mapping, hydrology

ManagementWeb siteAdvisory Committee

www.ioa.uwa.edu.au/research/future-farm

Management Portal (password access)Online forms for new projectsInteractive online database of projectsBooking system for visits, meetings

Interactive Showcase; Interactive Farm Map (free access)Links to exciting current projectsStatus: water, electricity usage, weather (automatic)Possibly live streaming web cameras

The Project: UWA Future Farm 2050

Progress to DateInfrastructureProjects

Animal enterprise: methaneEcosystem: tree plantingCropping: soil mapping, hydrology

ManagementWeb siteAdvisory Committee

Future Farm Advisory CommitteeRogor NewmanAnthony TurtonFelicity Astbury (CEO Facey Group)Two others TBA

Ashley Herbert (Agrarian Management)DAFWA NarroginCSIRO

UWA: Chair, Executive,Ridgefield Manager(s)