GV21 tackles the challenges of this century, one brick at a time

L

earning to live with the challenges settling upon us because of climate change will be humanity’s most significant task this century.

Looking at what needs to be done from a global perspective can be, and is, rather daunting and like building a mighty cathedral where it is simply about laying one brick at a time, a Shepparton-based group laying its “one brick” has narrowed the challenge down to the Goulburn Valley.

The group, GV21, wants to look at ways that people, businesses and governments can collaborate to explore and build on the region’s record of vitality, innovation, adaptability to plot a path through what will be a challenging century.

On its website GV21 Symposium, the group says: “The climate, soils, water, irrigation infrastructure and manufacturing strength of the region is second to none in agricultural Australia and compares favourably with most in the world.



Monica Bradley - she will
orchestrate events.

”As our region moves into the 21st Century the pioneering and development qualities of those who came before us will again be critical to our future as we face perhaps the greatest phase of change yet experienced.

”Our ability to adapt to a changing climate and energy sector, the availability of traditional inputs and resources utilised by agricultural industries, changing community values and markets are just some of the drivers that will decide the future prosperity of our region.

“As in the past we must again re-invent this region, based on existing strengths to adapt to quickly changing global circumstances.”

The first in a trio of events organized by GV21 gives us the Kilter Rural Story that tells about the sustainable amalgamation of small holdings on Monday, October 19, in Kyabram.

Kilter Rural invests in farmland to maximise opportunities provided by drivers of food security, climate change, demographic change and sustainability. Kilter uses its asset management expertise for farmland selection and renewal at scale through its Future Farming Landscapes (FFL) model.

It has a track record of land acquisition, consolidation and redevelopment that is unique in Australia.

The Kyabram event will allow people to learn about the history of the development of the Kilter Rural property in Swan Hill, the advantages of amalgamating small farming enterprises, using sustainable practice management and its future direction.

Cullen Gunn, Kilter Rural’s CEO since 193, has been work in the farmland and water management sector and has a strong grounding in active, hands on land management, and at a strategic level he has experience in the development of priorities for investment at both catchment and state levels in Victoria.

Later in October, the 27^th, a closed loop example using on-farm resources will be demonstrated at Madowla Park.

The Madowla Park field day will consist of presentations starting with Madowla Park principal, Peter O’Donnell, exploring closed loop and cluster models and provide a chance for people to view and discuss them with experts.

Also on show and able to be discussed will be bio-fuel production, the pelletising of stock feed, chaff production and the production of energy using bio-digestive technology.

The use of oilseed crops as part of crop rotational management and mixed farm management in a dryland situation will be presented by Steven Hobbs from BE Bioenergy, Kaniva.

Also, Peter Brown, a specialist agronomist working with Seasol, who has long experience in soil biology will be speaking on soil health at Madowla event.

The Madowla Park event will start at 9:45am and continue through to 4:00pm and as with the Kyabram event, those keen to attend should contact Wendy D’Amore with by email or by phone at 0407 331 376. Registrations for Kyabram are need by October 14 and for Madowla Park by October 21.

Finally coming up early in November will be the pinnacle event, the GV21 Symposium, at The Connection on the Causeway between Shepparton and Mooroopna.

A trio of speakers have been lined up for that invite only event with Monica Bradley in charge of proceedings with the trio of speakers being Professor Ross Garnaut, Professor James Clark and Ifor Ffowcs-Williams.

James Clark is Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence where he leads a research team of about 100 people specializing in the valorization of waste and the development of green chemical technologies.

Professor Ross Garnaut AO is a Professorial Research Fellow in Economics at the University of Melbourne (since 2008).

Professor Ross Garnaut - he understands
the power of economics when it comes
to address the challenges of the 21st Century

Earlier at the Australian National University he was Distinguished Professor of Economics (2007-2013) and before that longstanding Head of the Division of Economics in the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies.

Ifor Ffowcs-Williams is acknowledged as one of the most influential cluster practitioners in the world, with hands-on experience extending to over 50 countries, who will focus on the practicalities of cluster development, leading training and strategy workshops with economic development agencies, cluster groups and support organisations.

Ifor is a frequent conference speaker, addressing such issues as competitiveness, clusters, smart specialisations, innovation and regional development.