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The regeneration of Australia’s food and farming systems
in
Fb
The regeneration of Australia’s food and farming systems
A group of people outside watching a man presenting a workshop in a paddock. The skies are blue.
A group of people standing around a piece of machinery in an outdoor shed watching a person speaking.
A group of people outside watching a man presenting a workshop in a paddock. The skies are blue.
A group of people standing around a piece of machinery in an outdoor shed watching a person speaking.
29 June 2023
29 June 2023

Growing Regenerative Cane Farming

The Regenerative Can Farming Network is sharing knowledge for regeneration.

Grant Amount: $67,440

Region: Queensland

Delivered by: The Regenerative Cane Farming Network

Year funded: 2023

Project status: In progress

The Challenge

Sugar Cane is the major agricultural crop grown in the Great Barrier Reef Catchments, with around 3000 farms covering 360,000 hectares. The industry has a significant impact on the water quality of the reef due to fertiliser and pesticide runoff and sediment loss. An expert scientific panel has recommended that we need to reduce the nitrogen entering reef waters by up to 80% and halve sediment run-off by 2025 to bolster the reef’s chance of survival.

The Innovation

Regenerative cane farming practices are one of the most effective ways to tackle water quality issues. The Regenerative Cane Farming Network is a farmer-led peer learning group working to expand the uptake of regenerative farming practices across the cane industry. Sustainable Table has funded the organisation to expand and deepen their work through the facilitation of regional workshops across cane growing regions, develop a farmer-friendly website platform and begin regional demonstration sites/research trials.

The project's key objectives are:

  • To increase understanding and uptake of regenerative farming practices across the cane industry.
  • To build legitimacy of regenerative farming practices by delivering regional workshops led by farmers, developing practical and accessible case studies and information, and commencing catchment scale demonstration/research plots.
  • To develop a trusted digital platform that supports transitioning/interested farmers in implementing practice change through the collation and creation of relevant, practical regenerative cane farming information.

Why did Sustainable Table fund this project?

We first came across the Regenerative Cane Farming Network during the Blueprint for Impact research. The network is led by some of the most innovative and thoughtful farmers in the cane industry and their approach has been carefully considered and stewarded along to ensure their work and offerings are in direct response to farmer needs. They have proven runs on the board and are courageously finding ways to nudge the cane industry in a regenerative direction.

Images by Kim Kleidon

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