2021 Participants Meeting a success

Close to 200 Soil CRC Participants joined our online Participants Meeting on Wednesday 24 March.

Despite the disappointment of the cancelled face-to-face meeting, the day was a great success.

Participants said they enjoyed the sharing of ideas and research, the discussions during the panel sessions and the connections they made, despite being online.

“Getting together as a large group is a great way to feel like you are part of the Soil CRC, to learn about our research and to have input into the CRC,” CEO, Dr Michael Crawford said.

Chair of the Soil CRC, Dr Paul Greenfield opened the meeting, followed by Dr Michael Crawford talking about the achievements and future directions of the CRC, and an address from the National Soils Advocate, the Hon Penelope Wensley AC.

It was announced that Penelope Wensley will take the role of Patron of the Soil CRC.

In her address she outlined her vision for her role as National Soils Advocate.

‘My job as National Soils Advocate is to be an independent champion for soil, to raise awareness of the vital role that soils play and to provide strong leadership and advocacy on the importance of conserving and improving the health of Australia’s soils.

‘There is still that basic need to promote awareness within the wider community of the vital importance of soils and of the need to commit more resources and effort and policy attention to Australian soils and soil health,’ Wensley said.

The four panel sessions on Soil Carbon, Soil Stewardship, Soil Sensors and Farmer Groups proved to be an excellent opportunity to hear different perspectives from within the Soil CRC and for many participants to ask questions. The discussions were very valuable.

We had a small sense of getting together in person by hosting eight hubs at our university partners across Australia. At each of these, we had 10 to 20 Soil CRC Participants gathering to take part in the meeting together.

The hubs were at Griffith University, Brisbane; Murdoch University, Perth; University of Tasmania, Hobart; NSW DPI/Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga; Southern Cross University, Lismore; Federation University, Ballarat; University of Newcastle, Newcastle and University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba.