Local producers are more enthusiastic than ever about regenerative farming’s potential after attending Gulf Savannah NRM’s (GSNRM) specialist-led seminar in Mareeba on June 25.
GSNRM Agriculture Project Officer Jessica Miranda said the workshop’s ultimate goal was to ‘inspire farmers in our region to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices,’ and guide them toward its many co-benefits.
‘It’s important for our region because our farmers spend a lot of money on fertilizers and pesticides,’ Jessica said.
‘[Chemicals] are an expense  that damages their soils and also their environments — if they can learn how to use less, everyone will benefit from this.’
Daintree mango farmer and president of Regeneration International André Leu featured as one of the workshop’s guest speakers and described the event as a ‘101-introduction’ grounded in science and lived experience.
‘Business as usual in farming no longer works … we’re losing millions of farmers all around the world and most know that we need to regenerate agriculture, they’re looking for ways to do it,’ Mr Leu said.
‘[We want to] get farmers thinking about their systems … challenge them on existing farming paradigms.’
‘It’s not rocket science, but practical farming by farmers, for farmers,’ he said.
Downforce Technologies carbon specialist Ben Wark also presented on the day, and
highlighted his passion for the ‘interface between regenerative, sustainable agriculture and productivity.’
‘The biggest thing everyone needs to understand is that you’re not going to make a quick win off just going to carbon markets,’ Mr Wark said.
‘Sustainable and regenerative agriculture is what we need to do as a planet — if you do that properly, then there are ways of benefitting through the carbon market.’
Over 70 local producers attended, some of whom expressed the workshop was an opportunity to ‘see another point of view, completely different to what [they’ve] been taught,’ and recognise ‘this is the future: taking care of what we have.’
The next workshop in GSNRM’s Climate-Smart Agriculture series will focus on integrated pest management and is scheduled to take place on August 19 at Jennings Farm, 64 Slape Rd.