University of Melbourne to manage new $8.6 million project on water-efficient farming
Media Release, Wednesday 25 June 2008
The Federal Government, through the National Water Commission, has provided $8.6million for a new research project, to be managed by the University of Melbourne, into how the combination of changed farming practices and water resource operations can simultaneously improve water use and productivity, while delivering better environmental outcomes.
The Farms, Rivers and Markets Project will utilize the University of Melbourne’s Dookie research farm and the surrounding Goulburn-Broken River catchment.
To be run over three years the study has been facilitated by Uniwater, a joint initiative of the University of Melbourne and Monash University.
It will involve researchers from the University of Melbourne faculties of Engineering, Land and Food Resources and Economics and Commerce. Other participants include Monash University, the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre and National ICT Australia
“No matter what happens with climate change, we need to get more value from our limited water resources: more profit for the farmers and better protection for the environment” said Professor John Langford, Director, Uniwater, a joint initiative of the University of Melbourne and Monash University.
“We know that Australia’s unique ecology has always experienced droughts and floods; our environment thrives on variability. By understanding this better, we can make our regulated rivers more environmentally resilient in the face of climate change.”
Under the project, researchers in engineering, agriculture, ecology and economics will work in close partnership with farmers and water managers to help them choose the best mix of production opportunities according to their individual circumstances.
The project will provide farmers with ’a how-to guide’ to make the most of available irrigation water supplies – including rainfall and recycled water – through better planning, technology and predictive tools.
“With better information about water availability and price, farmers and water and environment managers can make more efficient choices and reap new benefits for production and the environment” said Suzy Goldsmith from Uniwater, based at the University of Melbourne.
“This project will involve farm-scale demonstrations exploring how the latest technology in water measurement and management, combined with better use of water markets, can boost farm profits and productivity, improve delivery of water to the farm gate, reduce leakage, and improve water use efficiency.”
“Farmers are excellent managers; they need better information so they can choose the best mix of production opportunities according to their land and the circumstances of each year” added Professor Snow Barlow, Faculty of Land & Food Resources, University of Melbourne.
The project will also provide spin-off environmental benefits including improved salinity and water quality management.
It will consider how water markets can be used to provide ‘win-win’ outcomes for both farmers and the environment.
Complementary funding of $950,000 is being provided to the project from the Victorian Water Trust and $100,000 from the University of Melbourne Dookie Fund, established with seed funding from the Tallis Family, local farmers and philanthropists.
For further information please contact:
Professor John Langford, Project Director Farms, Rivers and Markets.
Tel: 8344 4301
Professor Snow Barlow, Deputy Project Director, Farms, Rivers and Markets.
Tel: 8344 5008
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