The Drought Resilience Showcase 2024 brought people together to share ideas, learn from each other, and highlight drought resilience research from around Australia that is relevant for Western Australia’s unique agricultural environment. It offered something one can’t get from reports or online updates: direct access to presenters and the chance to build relationships across projects and regions.
The Showcase helped connect Western Australian farmers, grower groups, researchers, agribusinesses, and government with national perspectives on drought resilience. Hearing from people working on similar challenges in other parts of the country gave Western Australian participants fresh insights and new ways of thinking about local issues. It also created space for networking and collaboration.
Building connections
Participants explored a wide range of projects funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and how they apply to Western Australia. Key outcomes included:
- Stronger collaboration between groups working on drought resilience
- New connections that will support future projects
- Shared understanding of how coordinated action can help Western Australia prepare for and manage dry seasons
By bringing people into the same room and out into the field, the Showcase and ensuing study tour strengthened the shared effort to help Western Australia’s agriculture adapt to a warmer, drier climate.
Highlights from the program
On 11 December 2024, 21 speakers from across Australia presented practical solutions designed to strengthen drought preparedness and resilience across diverse farming systems. A Tech Alley showcased new tools and innovations, and the day wrapped up with a sundowner.
The following day, participants joined a field tour to see Hub‑supported projects in action, including:
- Curtin University: Digital agribusiness analytics and On farm Water Demand
- Whole Green Foods: Technology turning potato waste into high‑value livestock feed
- Henley Brook Vineyard: Improved vineyard floor management for premium grape production in warm, dry conditions
News
- Article, Innovation Farmanco, PropaGATE, Regional Nodes, Showcase, Transformation Murdoch, Transformation Whole, X-hub Contour Consulting
- Media Release, Innovation Farmanco, PropaGATE, Regional Nodes, Showcase, Transformation Murdoch, Transformation Whole, X-hub Contour Consulting
Resources
- Podcast
- Podcast
- Podcast
- Podcast
- Podcast
Resources per project
Paddock level carbon benchmarking
Hydro Harvester: a fresh way to extract atmospheric water for drought affected communities
Communities of practice project: up-skilling farming communities with landscape rehydration infrastructure and farm system solutions for drought resilience
SMART SPRAYS: maximising the benefits from rainfall
De-risking the seeding program: adoption of key management practices for the success of dry and early sown crops
Managing Rangelands for drought resilience
Virtual fencing for improved drought resilience on South Australian farms
Improving sowing opportunities for increased farm resilience in a changing climate
PropaGATE: Challenge-led innovation for growers in WA and the Peel region
WaterSmart Dams: making dams work again
Digital Edge: Next generation agribusiness analytics for the Eastern Wheatbelt
On-farm water demand
Sustainable transformation of waste from the potato industry into novel feedstock
Implementing improved vineyard floor management for premium grape production in a warm and dry Mediterranean climate