Industry leaders gather in Armidale to celebrate National ag day + PHOTOS

Photo: Mike Terry

AGRICULTURE leaders gathered in the Northern New South Wales town of Armidale this week for a first look at some new soil carbon research and to talk about opportunities in the local agricultural sector.

Hosted by Precision Pastures, the event highlighted local companies and individuals who are making strides to seize opportunities in agriculture, building a more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future for the sector.

The breakfast event, attended by more than 80 members of the Armidale and New England agricultural community, provided a platform to showcase bold thinking and success stories from local companies. These organisations are demonstrating how dedication, technology, and sustainable practices can meet today’s agricultural challenges and spark economic growth in regional Australia.

Several speakers from leading agricultural companies in the New England region shared insights on a range of topics, including keynote presentations from managing director of Meat and Livestock Australia, Michael Crowley, and CEO USA Impact Ag Partners, Bert Glover.

The findings of a five-year study co-founded by MLA, ‘Grazing system impact on livestock productivity, soil moisture and soil organic carbon’, were also revealed by Precision Pastures, as project-lead, highlighting important trends in grazing management and opportunities to boost soil carbon stocks. The study involved 10 farms in northern NSW, used 40 moisture probe sites, and 928 soil samples were taken over the course of the project.

MLA managing director Michael Crowley addressing the Precision Pastures forum. Photo: Mike Terry

Precision Pastures CEO Hamish Webb opened the event with remarks on the power of collaboration to drive success.

“Today’s event is a celebration of the resilience and creativity in our local agricultural communities,” said Mr Webb.

“We’re thrilled to honour those who are not only contributing to the ag industry but also paving the way forward by seizing new opportunities that make agriculture smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. Armidale is punching above its weight when it comes to leadership in decarbonisation and how we can better leverage opportunities in carbon to unlock production gains in agriculture.”

Attendees had the chance to engage in discussions on how these approaches are creating real-world impacts. The morning featured a fire-side chat with Bert Glover, the driving force of Impact Ag Partners, the Armidale-based investment firm using regenerative farming practices and other nature-based solutions to optimise food and fibre production.

Impact Ag Partners through its US-listed entity ANSC announced in August a business combination agreement with Australian Food & Agriculture (AFA) through a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) listed on the New York Stock Exchange, a unique financial vehicle that streamlines the process of taking a company public.

This business combination is world-leading, as Impact Ag Partners uses capital raised via its SPAC to invest in agricultural real assets with a focus on decarbonisation across the portfolio of properties, including the establishment of large soil carbon projects.

“We’re excited to see how the agricultural community here is innovating, thriving, and leading by example,” said Mr Webb.

“Armidale is home to some of the most forward-thinking ag companies, and today’s breakfast was a testament to their hard work and dedication. By fostering connections and sharing knowledge, we’re ensuring that agriculture will continue to be a vibrant and vital
part of our local and national economy.”