%20September/News_RegAgConference.jpg)
Margaret River just hosted its biggest regenerative agriculture event, combining workshops, a delegate dinner, two full conference days, field trips around the shire and evening satellite events for the community.
300 attendees travelled from around WA and interstate to join the Regenerative Agriculture Conference 2023, hearing from a huge line-up of expert speakers over a jam-packed week!
Full-day pre-conference workshops and a special screening of Rachel’s Farm saw the conference get under way the day before the main event presented at the Margaret River HEART.
MC’d by Anthony James from the RegenNarration podcast, keynote speakers from around WA, Australia and the world, including Dr Terry McCosker, Di and Ian Haggerty and New Zealand Merino’s Dave Maslen, enthralled the audience with their stories.
Other highlights include a live-streamed session from Gabe Brown (USA) and from David Montgomery and Anne Biklé (USA), panel and breakout sessions where a diverse range of expert opinions were shared.
It was incredibly rewarding to bring together landholders and experts from across the country.
In addition to the valuable knowledge brought by the presenters, the attendees and delegates commented on their sense of excitement at connecting with other farmers and land managers as they are often isolated.
The catering featured sustainable produce, and the dinner event held at The River Hotel was a hit, with renowned chef and farmer, Matthew Evans, keeping the audience engaged.
Following the conference, attendees got out onto farms and paddocks and into forests and vineyards for a final day of field trips under the themes of Farm to Fork, From Principle to Practice, Sustainable Vineyards and Cabbage Without The Baggage.
The Regenerative Agriculture Conference 2023 was an initiative of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Agriculture Climate Resilience Fund. Other conference partners included Perth NRM | RegenWA, South West NRM and Business Events Perth.
Special thanks to our Conference Sponsors which include:
- Carbon Sync (Gold)
- Wide Open Agriculture (Gold)
- Commonland (Silver)
- Southern Cross University (Bronze)
- Smartsoil (Bronze)
The Shire is grateful for the invaluable contribution from the conference steering group which includes all conference partners and local experts Lower Blackwood LCDC and Lower South West Growers Group.