The successful projects of the Australian government’s $3.9billion Future Drought Fund for 2025 were recently announced with local Namoi Valley firm Ag Econ Australia Pty Ltd securing funding to investigate a suite of issues around irrigation water, renewable energy, and climate science.
Partners in the five-year project include Macquarie University, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of NSW, with Ag Econ the project lead.
The news is a real coup for the small firm founded by Burren Junction’s Janine Powell and former Narrabri resident Jon Welsh in 2017.
Their team has grown to five regionally based agricultural economists including Wee Waa product George Revell, and three climate research scientists working explicitly in agriculture-related topics.
The Cotton Research and Development Corporation also heavily invested in the research, among other rural agencies in irrigated agriculture which will take place across five years with over $12m of funding.
The Ag Econ bid made the cut out of only eight successful projects from more than 120 submissions.
“We have teamed up with some of the best and brightest minds in the nation to find solutions to saving water, understanding climate processes, ensuring efficient land use, and exploring new business opportunities for energy generation,” said Ag Econ partner Janine Powell.
“These topics will build on related early-stage research, funded mostly here in Narrabri by the CRDC.
“Irrigators need innovative solutions to adapt to a warming climate and these issues are right in our firm’s area of expertise.”
In a crowded and highly competitive area of commercial research, typically dominated by government research agencies and universities, Ag Econ partner Jon Welsh remarked on the unusual nature of Ag Econ being selected to lead such a project of national significance.
“This is basically unheard of for a rural-based firm like ours to lead a venture of this scale,” said Jon.
“I think our advantage in this submission is our grass roots postcode, the strength of our researchers, and the fact that we have the pulse of rural communities and businesses.
“We live, eat, and breathe farming which helps our case for greater impact and relevance. We certainly hope to make headway in some of the most challenging, complex, and intrinsically linked areas of our daily lives: water, food, and affordable energy.
“Our network of partners is as equally aligned and enthusiastic about regional Australia and finding novel solutions to prepare for extreme events – the horrific drought conditions of 2019 never seems like all that long ago.
“We feel extremely fortunate with this announcement and that the Department of Agriculture has faith in us to lead
this project with so many esteemed partners.
“This announcement is also a great example of what can be achieved from a remote area. All our team works from home,” Jon added.
To order photos from this page click here
