❓ A parliamentary question regarding the budget, locations, timeframe, funding, and definition of regenerative agriculture research at the Wongan Hills Research Station. The Minister's response provides a definition and general support for the research but lacks specific details requested.
AnsweredQoN 740Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
— WONGAN HILLS RESEARCH STATION
740. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I
refer to the minister's announcement at the Dowerin field days
yesterday that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development would be conducting research at the Wongan Hills research station
into regenerative agriculture.
(1) What is the
overall budget allocation for this research and what does that funding provide
in the scale of trials and number of full-time equivalent positions?
(2) What other
locations are being or have been considered for this research?
(3) What is the
time frame for the research and presentation of results?
(4) Who will fund
the proposed regenerative agriculture conference that was announced yesterday?
(5) Can the
minister please define ''regenerative agriculture''?
— WONGAN HILLS RESEARCH STATION
740. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I
refer to the minister's announcement at the Dowerin field days
yesterday that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development would be conducting research at the Wongan Hills research station
into regenerative agriculture.
(1) What is the
overall budget allocation for this research and what does that funding provide
in the scale of trials and number of full-time equivalent positions?
(2) What other
locations are being or have been considered for this research?
(3) What is the
time frame for the research and presentation of results?
(4) Who will fund
the proposed regenerative agriculture conference that was announced yesterday?
(5) Can the
minister please define ''regenerative agriculture''?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
It is a pity that the member was not there, but I note that his colleague Hon Martin
Aldridge was, as was the Western Australian Farmers Federation president, Tony
York. I think that is a very positive sign.
(1)–(5) Regenerative
agriculture is the practice of developing innovation by enhancing biological
soil function and reducing needs for synthetic inputs. It is the application of
techniques to improve healthy nutrient recycling and increase biodiversity and
resilience to change. As I set out yesterday, we believe a couple of hundred
farmers across the state have taken up this practice and the numbers are
growing. Yesterday, 60 signed up to the regenerative agriculture network. It is
a very positive thing. As I said, we do need to build resilience. Anyone who
heard the recent Co-operative Bulk Handling announcement about separation of
grain products that were crop-topped with glyphosate would understand that the
markets are changing and that we need to be resilient, as we need to be
resilient in the face of climate change. Yes, as part of our general focus on
research and development, we want to do some longitudinal trials to test the
science around some of these techniques and practices. We have quite a number
of research stations. We will focus on Wongan Hills in the first instance. We
are looking at five to 10-year trials. I would think that anyone here who is
seriously interested in agriculture would really welcome us undertaking this
important scientific research on these new techniques.
It is a pity that the member was not there, but I note that his colleague Hon Martin
Aldridge was, as was the Western Australian Farmers Federation president, Tony
York. I think that is a very positive sign.
(1)–(5) Regenerative
agriculture is the practice of developing innovation by enhancing biological
soil function and reducing needs for synthetic inputs. It is the application of
techniques to improve healthy nutrient recycling and increase biodiversity and
resilience to change. As I set out yesterday, we believe a couple of hundred
farmers across the state have taken up this practice and the numbers are
growing. Yesterday, 60 signed up to the regenerative agriculture network. It is
a very positive thing. As I said, we do need to build resilience. Anyone who
heard the recent Co-operative Bulk Handling announcement about separation of
grain products that were crop-topped with glyphosate would understand that the
markets are changing and that we need to be resilient, as we need to be
resilient in the face of climate change. Yes, as part of our general focus on
research and development, we want to do some longitudinal trials to test the
science around some of these techniques and practices. We have quite a number
of research stations. We will focus on Wongan Hills in the first instance. We
are looking at five to 10-year trials. I would think that anyone here who is
seriously interested in agriculture would really welcome us undertaking this
important scientific research on these new techniques.
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