Vic Hub’s new podcast series a practical look at farming innovation
Innovation AG, the new podcast series from the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, picks the brightest minds, examines the latest research and maps out a step-by-step process to help farmers implement change to build drought resilience.
Episode one drops 6am Wednesday, January 18; available on Spotify, Apple, Buzzsprout and the Vic Hub website: vicdroughthub.org.au/podcast
Sabine Tausz-Posch, Associate Director – Innovation at the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Vic Hub), said, “We created this new podcast series as a guide for farmers who are deciding whether to invest in new AgTech, change practice or are trying to fund or future-proof their next project to build a climate-resilient business.”
Dr Tausz-Posch said Innovation AG is also for those who want to value-add to their agricultural businesses, or even just keep up with industry changes.
“Hear from farmers, scientists, technologists and ag industry leaders, who are all working towards innovation, improved sustainability and new opportunities in agriculture.
“This podcast draws out the practical lessons, so farmers can apply them on farm, in industry or research.”
Hosted by Vic Hub Knowledge-Broker and former ABC radio and television journalist, Kirsten Diprose, the free 10-part series is supported by funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Ms Diprose said, “I am so very excited to launch this new podcast. Innovation AG is intended to act as a ‘guide book’ to innovation on-farm and for the broader agriculture industry. While there’s no perfect playbook for innovation, throughout the series we’re drawing on the latest research from universities, farmers and industry to help those on the land navigate what can be a messy journey of changing practices. We also share the ‘fails’ too, because no innovation happens without the odd misstep along the way.”
The experienced broadcaster and rural storyteller said the Vic Hub podcast series brings together the best advice from farmers, academics and science.
“We ask questions such as ‘what motivates people to innovate?’ and ‘how can you make the right decision when thinking of introducing a new innovation?’ And – the big one – ‘how do you fund it?’.
“Innovation AG is different to other farming podcasts: we incorporate the latest research as well as farmers and rural communities. I live on a farm and I work in academic research, so I get that these two worlds don’t always sit down for a chat. But they do on this podcast!
“There are so many bright minds we have interviewed for this series and I feel so privileged to be hosting, with the series brought to life by the Vic Hub’s talented producer Rachael Thompson, who has worked on many podcasts and films over the years.”
Episode 1
The first episode, which drops this Wednesday 18 January at 6am, looks at what innovation is and what motivates people to do it. Hear from:
- Andrea Cross, Director of 150km Feast in Horsham
- Nigel Kerin of Kerin Poll Merino sheep stud, an agricultural entrepreneur
- Ivan Shaw, inventor of the Shaw Arm Trellis and now-retired Merbein dried fruit grower
- Ross Kingwell, Professor at the University of WA’s School of Agriculture and Environment; and
- Dr Dorin Gupta, Associate Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at The University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus
Join Kirsten Diprose from the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub in this free, 10-part series. Innovation AG is available from standard podcast platforms.
Find more information, including the series trailer, on the Vic Hub website: https://vicdroughthub.org.au/podcast
Episode 1 will be uploaded on 18/1/2023
Brought to you by the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub; Innovation AG is about helping farmers to implement change to build drought resilience.
About the Vic Hub
The Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub is a state-wide collaboration of 10 organisations.
Led by the University of Melbourne and with headquarters at UM’s Dookie Campus, the Vic Hub is a partnership between five farming organisations (Birchip Cropping Group, Food & Fibre Gippsland, Mallee Regional Innovation Centre, Riverine Plains and Southern Farming Systems), four universities (UM, Deakin, Federation and La Trobe), and the State Government (through Agriculture Victoria).
One of eight hubs established nationally through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF), the Vic Hub works to enhance the drought preparedness and resilience of Victoria’s agricultural industries, the environment and regional communities, encompassing broader agricultural innovation. Engaging with a range of industry and community stakeholders, the Vic Hub links research with community needs for sustainable outcomes.
For more information on the Vic Hub and its work, please visit https://vicdroughthub.org.au
