Federal Member for Nicholls visits Vic Hub HQ at Dookie

L-R: Vic Hub Regional Soil Co-ordinator Dr Peter Fisher, Director Michael Tausz, Sam Birrell MP, Manager Anita Chennell, and Admin Assistant Emma O’Halloran.

Sustainability and its link to profitability; reasons behind understanding current soil health; differing views on soil carbon; getting an agrovoltaic (solar panel) project up; the opportunities for transformational, rather than incremental, change; and the Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub’s role in farmer drought preparedness and resilience … these were among the topics discussed with Sam Birrell MP on his visit to Vic Hub HQ at Dookie Campus today.

Vic Hub Soil Co-ordinator, Dr Peter Fisher, updated the Member for Nicholls on how soil health underpins ag production and ecosystem services, citing findings that show from agricultural production alone, soils directly contribute some $63 billion annually to the economy, while Australia’s soil provides roughly $930b annually to the economy when ecosystem services are included. He also explained the importance of the currently open soil survey to Sam. (You will find a QR code link on the article page, or the direct URL here.)

Director Michael Tausz gave an overview of the Vic Hub’s “operating architecture”, it’s connection with growers and research groups across Victoria as well as national linkages.

Around the table, the Vic Hub team was interested to learn Sam’s insights as a Federal Government member who grew up in the region.