- Global Conference on Sandy Soils kicks off in Perth, showcasing Western Australian soils research
- New soils research projects driving crop production and improved soil health
- Cook Government helping WA farmers build more efficient, resilient and sustainable businesses
The latest advances and innovations to grow agricultural production and protect Western Australia's landscape are on show this week at a prestigious international conference hosted in Perth.
The Global Conference on Sandy Soils brings together local, national and international researchers and land managers across a range of industries and disciplines.
This year's theme 'Shifting Sands to Sustainable Solutions' focuses on the challenges of managing and protecting sandy soils in the face of a changing climate.
Decades of WA research will be profiled at the event, highlighting the long-term and ongoing collaboration between local scientists and farmers that has made the most of WA's sandy soils.
The Cook Government is building on this legacy, through the work of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), to boost the productivity and sustainability of WA sandy soils.
Projects underway include the $55.9 million Soil Water and Nutrition collaboration with the Grains Research and Development Corporation, a five-year project aiming to transform water and nutrient use efficiency in WA grain production.
In the State's south, the Know Your Southern Soils project is surveying South Coast soils to fill gaps in the State's soil data knowledge, while the Soils - New Horizons project is assisting South West farmers to adopt soil sampling. Both projects are backed by a $6.9 million investment by the Albanese Government and Cook Government.
DPIRD is also leading several projects across the Swan Coastal Plain to overcome irrigation and fertiliser leaching to improve efficiencies, farm resilience and business margins, supporting the key production area for the State's vegetables, strawberries, citrus and olives.
For more information about DPIRD's soils research, visit www.dpird.wa.gov.au .
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"Western Australia has some of the most challenging sandy soils in the world, and yet our farmers have been able to produce phenomenal grain yields and high-quality fresh produce with the support of world-leading research by local scientists.
"The partnership between WA scientists and farmers has resulted in scientific leaps in crop agronomy and plant breeding, the development of new machinery and improvements to irrigation and fertiliser management.
"I am proud of our government's investments in DPIRD's important work, which continues to improve the sustainability, resilience and productivity of our agricultural soils, landscapes and farm businesses."
