Episódios
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Hemp is a plant so versatile that it has the ability to feed, clothe, and house us. The rediscovery of industrial hemp and new investment in research and development is unlocking amazing opportunities as the world grapples with food security, waste and climate change.
In this episode explore the myriad of potential hemp provides and hear from industry leaders who are driving the industry forward.
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts and make sure you don’t miss the final episode, dropping Friday, 4th March.
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Australian hazelnut growers, processors and researchers are pulling together to show the world the enormous potential to replace imported products with fresh, nutritious, high-quality Australian nuts. In this episode we put the product to the test and discover how industry pioneers and problem solvers are cracking the code on this exciting emerging industry.
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts and make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday, 21 March.
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The average Australian produces more than half a tonne of household waste each year. We recycle what we can and the rest goes to the tip… but what if we could take our food waste and not just recycle it, but transform it into an alternate, high quality protein source that’s packed with health benefits? It’s happening. And there’s a buzz about it. In Australia, a small group of innovators are putting their money where their mouth is to show how insects might be the answer to the world’s increasing demand for protein. What is the palatable and profitable use for these incredible critters?
Seeded is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday 7 March.
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It’s an old-world luxury ingredient that the French, Italians and Spanish have included on their menus for hundreds of years. But Australia’s growing black perigord truffle industry is making a name for itself as a global powerhouse of production and is the fourth largest producer globally. Continued success is built upon Australia’s reputation as a supplier of premium quality truffles and access into international markets, including during the off-season to Europe’s truffle growing season.
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.Follow AgriFutures on Air wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don’t miss the next episode, dropping Friday 21 February.
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Australians love their coffee. As a nation we consume about 130 million kilograms each year. But only a tiny amount - less than 1% is actually grown here in Australia.
Why is this the case and what opportunities exist for the industry to expand? What research is being done to increase Australian coffee production and position it as a clean, green premium product that can pass the taste tests of our coffee-obsessed local consumers?
SEEDED is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team. -
Australia’s agriculture sector has a $100 billion goal. But what role will new and emerging industries play in reaching that target? Can industries like coffee, truffle and insects realise their full potential and help make it happen?
Seeded is a special six-episode series for AgriFutures on Air brought to you by the AgriFutures Emerging Industries team.
Make sure you don’t miss the series, with the first episode dropping Friday, 24 January 2025. -
Could Australia’s greatest untapped resource be its own backyard?
In this episode, Matthew Peacock, Head of Agribusiness and Sustainability at Densu PR speaks to Jayne Knight, Senior Manager Rural Futures - AgriFutures Australia, Adrian Spencer, CEO at Sampano and Dr. Louise Brown, CEO and Founder of HydGene Renewables as they unveil the untapped potential of regional manufacturing in agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.
Together, they explore the incredible opportunities in pulse processing, algae innovation, biomass transformation, green ammonia, and biofuels. Discover how Australia’s 12,000 species of algae could fuel local industries, and learn how green hydrogen from biomass waste is paving the way for sustainable ammonia production.
Listen as our guests discuss the critical role of research, technology adoption, and workforce development in driving rural resilience and transforming regional economies.
Tune in to hear how regional manufacturing can reshape our industries and secure a brighter, greener future!
Further Resources
Manufacturing agriculture’s future: Opportunities and challenges in developing regional manufacturing for the Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector
In this report, we undertake the crucial task of identifying the on-farm inputs and outputs best suited for regional manufacturing, recognising the potential for substantial impact and the economic, social and environmental impacts on regional communities, accompanied by a high-level supply chain analysis. -
In this episode, we explore a pivotal research project that examines the current capacity and future needs of agricultural extension practitioners in Australia.
Hosted by a panel of experts—John James, Jeff Coutts, and Denise Bewsell—this episode shares valuable insights into the critical role of extension in supporting farmers and driving innovation.
Listen to the John, Jeff and Denise discuss the definition and importance of agricultural extension, challenges like fragmentation and resource scarcity and research insights from surveys, interviews, and Bayesian modelling.
This episode highlights the need for a strategic and long-term approach to strengthen Australia's agricultural extension system to enable adoption on farm, in production systems and across communities.
Further Resources
Australian extension capacity and capability A map and a gap analysis
Undertaken in partnership with the broader RDC network, this report surveyed 400 current extension people, mapping their capacity (time and resources) alongside their capability (skills, expertise and knowledge).
This work aims to ensure there is adequate extension capacity and capability available to support Australian agriculture into the future. -
"We need more people, especially from emerging industries, to attend courses like this, to reshape their view, not just change their view, reshape it towards the right direction."
Dr. Omid Ansari, the founder and CEO of HempGen Tech, recently completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course as part of his commitment to growing the Australian hemp industry. In this episode, Dr. Ansari shares how the course equipped him with the tools to lead his startup company through its critical early stages.
He explains that as a CEO in an emerging industry, he recognised the need for a deeper understanding of corporate governance, strategic decision-making, and risk management. The AICD course provided him with a systematic approach to building a solid foundation for his business based on best practices.
Dr. Ansari highlights key takeaways from the course, including establishing clear governance structures, making informed financial decisions, and developing strategic planning skills. He emphasises how these learnings have not only benefited his own company, but also enabled him to become a more effective leader and role model for the fragmented hemp industry.
By completing this course, Dr. Ansari has gained the confidence and expertise to guide his startup through the challenges of an evolving market. His insights underscore the value of formal training for industry leaders looking to drive innovation and growth.
Further Resources
Want to gain the skills to drive innovation and growth in your industry? Apply now for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities for the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs including the AICD (applications close Wednesday, 8 January 2025).
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In this episode, hear from two inspiring young people, Tess Cook and Ben Peden, who both participated in the 2023 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program.
Tess comes from a cattle and cropping property in central Queensland and is now studying veterinary science, while Ben grew up in Sydney with no agricultural background before discovering a passion for the sector through high school and university.
Both Tess and Ben share how the Horizon Scholarship has been transformative for them, opening their eyes to the incredible diversity of the agricultural sector and providing invaluable networking, professional development and personal growth opportunities.
Listen to them discuss their experience taking part in the Program including overcoming imposter syndrome, getting comfortable being uncomfortable, and finding their voice to share bold ideas.
The program has helped them build confidence, expand their perspectives, and discover new pathways they never would have considered before.
Further Resources
Want to gain the skills to drive innovation and growth in your industry? Apply now for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities for the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs including the Horizon Scholarships (applications close Friday, 15 January 2025).
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This podcast was first published by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
Supported by the GRDC, the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship Program fosters the next generation of agricultural leaders who are interested in contributing to the Australian grains industry's success.
Awarded to roughly 20 students each year, the Scholarship provides a bursary of $5000 a year during the final two years of a degree, along with professional development, work placements and networking opportunities.In this podcast, we hear from Horizon Scholarship recipient, Grace Moloney, on how the experience has opened doors for her professionally here in Australia and abroad.
A bursary of $5000 per year for the final two years of your degreeProfessional development workshopsAnnual industry work placements aligned with the scholar’s areas of interest and their sponsor’s industryOpportunities to network and gain knowledge at a range of industry events.
Further Resources
Applications are now open for the 2025 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship. In partnership with 12 industry sponsors, students enrolled in full time study at an Australian university can apply for:For more information and how to apply, head to agrifutures.com.au/horizon. Applications close on Friday, 10 January 2025 at 5pm AEDT sharp.
More episodes of the GRDC Podcast are available on their website, or on Spotify. -
"Seriously, just do it! You certainly won't regret it.”
In the latest episode of the AgriFutures Capacity Building miniseries, we hear from two agricultural leaders who participated in the transformative Australian Rural Leadership Foundation's TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program - Verity Price, Deputy CEO of the Australian Chicken Meat Federation, and Jacob Birch, Managing Director of Yaamarra & Yarral in the native grains industry.
From the powerful Welcome to Country ceremony that set the tone, to the immersive experiences in nature the program pushed them to step back and reflect on their purpose, behaviours, and relationships in new ways.
Despite working in vastly different agricultural sectors, both Verity and Jacob highlight how taking part in the program allowed them the time for deep reflection, how they have applied their learnings back home, and how they continue to be shaped by the lasting impact of the program that go beyond just teaching technical skills.
Further Resources
Ready to take Verity’s advice and “just do it”?
Apply for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities - the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs - including TRAIL (applications close Wednesday, 8 January 2025). -
“It was the furthest thing from a day spa, but it gave me space.”
Jennifer Galloway has a hectic life - a young family and a busy job as Acting General Manager covering three portfolios - Workforce, Communications and Adoption (WCA) at AgriFutures Australia.
Day-to-day, Jen leads a team dedicated to effectively delivering AgriFutures’ research outcomes to the people that need them most. She also ensures the WCA team’s communication efforts extend to attracting a motivated and future-ready agricultural workforce, while helping build their leadership skills.
But for Jen, participating in the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s Australian Agribusiness Leadership Program (AALP) meant suddenly finding herself on the receiving end of her everyday work.
Tune in to the latest episode of #AgriFuturesOnAir’s Capacity Building miniseries to hear Jen discuss what it’s like being forced to be vulnerable, and how the ARLP helped her understand who she is a leader, and the leader she wants to be.
Further ResourcesPassionate about rural industries like Jen? Apply for one of the 2025 AgriFutures Learning and Development Opportunities - the chance to secure an AgriFutures-sponsored position in up to nine nationally renowned programs including the AALP (applications close Wednesday, 8 January 2025).
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“Leadership in Australian agriculture involves a blend of vision, the resilience, adaptability and commitment to sustainable practices”
In the second episode of the AgriFutures Capacity Building mini-series, we hear from Dakshina Yadav, a passionate horticultural scientist from Nepal now working in the Northern Territory, who was selected to take part in the prestigious Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program.
Dakshina specialises in the production of jackfruit, a tropical fruit that is widely used in Asia and is rapidly gaining popularity in Australia. After attending the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program, Dakshina's approach to her work has been revitalised and, in this episode, she shares how the course helped her develop key skills like vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and leading by example - all crucial for driving innovation in the Australian agriculture sector.
While highlighting her leadership transformation, Dakshina also discusses the unique challenges and opportunities facing agricultural leaders in Australia today and stresses the importance of creating meaningful connections and networks formed through leadership programs like Marcus Oldham.
The AgriFutures Leadership and Development Opportunities are now open. Tune into the mini-series to learn more about these fantastic opportunities on offer and apply at the link below to take your leadership skills to the next level.
Learn more and apply: Learning and Development Opportunities and Resources | AgriFutures Australia -
"I think leadership is about having those abilities to public speak and all that kind of stuff, but it's about bringing people together."
Discover the inspiring journey of Sarah Secker, a remarkable leader in Australian agriculture. Sarah completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Foundations of Directorship course, a program designed for new and aspiring directors, senior executives, and managers wanting to gain a foundational knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of boards and directors.
In the first of five episodes of the AgriFutures Capacity Building Program’s Learning and Development Opportunities mini-series, Sarah, a farming business manager in South Australia, discusses her journey from a corporate career in advertising to running a family farm and the need for leadership in community projects and the value of diverse perspectives.
Sarah's participation in the AICD course has had a profound impact on her life and business and her story is a testament to resilience and innovation.
The AgriFutures Leadership and Development Opportunities are now open. Tune into the mini-series to learn more about these fantastic opportunities on offer and apply at the link below to take your leadership skills to the next level.
Learn more and apply: Learning and Development Opportunities and Resources | AgriFutures Australia -
Join the Fibre Frontier! In this episode, we join the AgriFutures Australia Goat Fibre Program Extension team, neXtgen Agri as they sit down with Dr. Susan Robertson, a senior lecturer at Charles Sturt University and passionate mohair producer, to get an insider's look at the world of Angora goats. Susan shares her journey of transitioning to farming Angora goats alongside Merino sheep, blending her academic expertise with hands-on experience.
Discover the unique management considerations for Angora goats, from navigating shearing and fencing challenges to tackling health concerns like worm control and photosensitization. Susan offers invaluable insights into the physiological differences between sheep and goats, and how she's optimising her production system to maximise mohair quality and profitability. Hear Susan's perspective on the economics of mohair versus wool, and the importance of strategic marketing to capture the best prices. Whether you're a seasoned goat farmer or just starting to explore the mohair industry, this episode is a must listen.
And don't forget to mark your calendars for the upcoming AgriFutures Goat Fibre Program field day Thursday, 14 November in Shepparton, Victoria. This free event is the perfect opportunity to connect with industry experts, network with fellow producers, and dive deeper into the latest advancements in the mohair and cashmere industries.
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Mary Nenke's journey from aspiring pharmacist to renowned "yabby lady" is a captivating tale of serendipity, resilience, and a lifelong passion for agriculture. Growing up in the city, Mary never imagined she'd end up as a pioneering force in Australia's aquaculture industry, but a chance encounter through junior farmers changed the course of her life.
When economic challenges hit in the 1990's, Mary and her husband pivoted from the family's sheep and grain business to yabby farming, turning a hobby into a thriving export operation. However, their success was tested by devastating setbacks that nearly wiped out their business. Through it all, Mary's unwavering advocacy and entrepreneurial spirit shone through.
Recognised as one of the earliest AgriFutures Australia Rural Women's Award winners, Mary's visibility skyrocketed. She leveraged this platform to champion causes close to her heart - from sustainable agriculture to rural community development. Her Farming Champions initiative has connected city and country, amplifying agriculture's vital role.
Today, Mary reflects on her extraordinary journey with gratitude and in this episode we'll hear what her motivation is, how the Rural Women's Award cemented her determination, and why her circle of influence continues to grow. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and the profound impact one passionate individual can have on an industry. -
Meet Nathan Cleasby, Aquaculturist who’s passion for both research and aquaculture is driving innovation and growth throughout the Redclaw crayfish industry.
Nathan’s journey from Sydney to Townsville inspired him to pursue a master's degree in aquaculture, where he discovered a market gap for commercial seed stock and addressed this by developing a state-of-the-art hatchery that incorporates ozone and probiotics. Today, his 5.5-hectare farm supplies Redclaw from Sydney to Townsville.
Nathan’s unique blend of strategic planning and bold risk-taking has not only launched a thriving business but also generated significant advancements within the industry, earning him the 2023 Science and Innovation Award.
Join us as we explore Nathan's innovative approaches, the challenges he has overcome, and how his journey is shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture. -
The agricultural landscape is rapidly evolving, with a complex web of forces shaping the industry's future. This episode explores a new report from Agrifutures Australia that explores the "cross-sectional forces" set to impact the sector.
Report author Sarah Nolet joins us to discuss the key findings, which cover everything from the rise of AI and mandatory climate disclosures to global conflict and systemic changes in production systems. Sarah explains how the report aims to guide the R&D community in addressing these interconnected challenges through collaborative, cross-industry efforts.
We also hear from Agrifutures Senior Manager, Rural Futures Jane Knight on why this report is a critical resource for decision-makers, researchers and producers alike as they work to future-proof Australian agriculture.
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Tanya Dupagne has dedicated her career to supporting children and communities in need, both in Australia and around the world. As the 2017 AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year, Tanya used her platform to launch a transformative grassroots leadership program for women in regional areas. However, Tanya's inspiring work was derailed when she was finally diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease - a condition that had gone undetected for over a decade.
Seven years later, we catch up with Tanya to hear how she continues to fuel her incredible determination and resilience. In this episode, Tanya shares insights on the importance of support networks, self-care, and her vision for empowering rural communities while managing chronic illness and advocating for better treatment options in Australia.
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