Connecting Producers, People, and Possibilities in the Mid West

Food producers, researchers, industry reps, students and consumers came together in Dongara in early April to talk local food production and what it means to be resilient. The event, organised by the Mid West Food Industries Alliance, was designed to kickstart a broader conversation about the Mid West region’s food production industry, which continues to grow larger, stronger and more resilient. NACC NRM’s Sustainable Agriculture Project Officer, Yvette Hollings, got in amongst the action and came away with some key messages.
Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Connecting Producers, People, and Possibilities in the Mid West

The speakers were grouped under a number of interconnected resilience themes – food security, food waste, soils, water, supply chains and innovations. Within each theme, a presentation from a researcher or industry leader was followed up by a connected tale or two from a varied range of our inspiring local producers. A panel session and Q&A discussion then explored the challenges and emerging opportunities to round out the indoors itinerary.

Photos: Mullermind Creative

Afterwards, event attendees headed out to Wye Farm Organics to see the results of their certified organic approach to soil improvement for melon and vegetable growing. Next stop was Collier & Son Orchards to check out their new netting system, which was installed to prevent crow damage to the mango harvest and has since shown to also benefit tree health and fruit quality. An opportunity to chat over a Strawberry Rd Lamb sausage sizzle rounded off the day.

A lasting impression of the forum was the significance of connection to a successful and resilient food future for the Mid West; that’s connection between different producers, between researchers and producers and industry, between producers and consumers, and more. When it comes to connecting our urban consumers – who increasingly are looking to buy sustainable products – with our regional and rural producers, the importance of good storytelling about the primary production journey was highlighted as an essential tool.

Given the climate and other external challenges that lie ahead, there is still a lot of work to do and further support needed to continue improving outcomes in this space. But there is already much to celebrate, with inspiring stories from countless local producers who deserve widespread recognition and celebration.

It starts with all of us, as consumers. So, embrace your buy-local power and support the great range of producers in your own backyard, and maybe help to share their story too. DPIRD’s regional food and beverage capability guides are a great starting point. The Mid West Food and Beverage Capability Guide has recently been updated, and is particularly worth a look to discover some great producers close to home.

This event was part of the Healthy Lifestyles Project, supported by NACC NRM and made possible by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Yvette Hollings – Sustainable Agriculture Project Officer

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.