Newsletter Australian Institute of Ecological Agriculture
No. 15 | December 2019
Editorial
Its ground-breaking news!
2020 will see Australia’s first ever degree program in Regenerative Agriculture to be offered at Southern Cross University (SCU) at Lismore. SCU is not renown as a centre for agricultural education, in fact, they haven’t any exposure to courses in agriculture at all.
They did, however, have an investment in fostering agricultural cooperatives throughout Australia thanks to a grant from the Federal Government, and they did have a highly engaged leader of the Farming Together initiative in the shape of Lorraine Gordon, who is a regen farmer from Ebor. Lorraine’s engagement with the Farming Together initiative plus her overall activities in the rural sector led to being awarded NSW Rural Women of the Year (2018).
Lorraine Is currently a contender for NSW Australian of the year award. Sensing an opportunity to introduce agricultural education to SCU Lorraine approached the AIEA and sought our interest in developing a major (8 subjects) to be a component of a degree initially in the Bachelor of Science, but ultimately, after one year, in the Bachelor of Environmental Science. Members of the AIEA Board have had extensive experience in curriculum development in this area first with the Bachelor of Ecological Agricultural Systems offered through Charles Sturt Uni, and then a Bachelor of Agroecology through NSW TAFE. The TAFE course was developed but sits on a shelf at Griffith following the implosion that hit TAFE three years ago. The course at CSU ran into issues which is best summarised by a number of farmers who stated – “Universities that run agricultural science courses are incapable of introducing a course in regenerative agriculture or its type”. And so it has turned out to be the case!
The composition of the Major can be viewed at this link: https://www.scu.edu.au/school-of-environment-science-and-engineering/regenerative-agriculture/
The AIEA has appointed writers all of whom will teach into the course. There is an expectation that a post graduate course will emerge within 1-2 years.
The degree will be offered in the distance mode and will involve an internship component and a double unit of study on Integrated Project.
If you are interested in applying or know someone who might be interested you will find the application details in the above link.
The AIEA has also been involved in producing 8 podcasts with regen farmers most of whom featured in Dr Charles Massy’s book The Call of the Reed Warbler. The first interview in the series is with Charlie Massy. You can listen to these broadcasts by tuning into Ground Cover.
This is the link through Apple;
and through Andriod.
There is one additional podcast to be listed and that will be with Lorraine Gordon and her views on the degree program in regenerative agriculture.
So far there have been 10000 hits on the Ground Cover podcasts.
Annual General Meeting of the AIEA
The meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 December at 8pm. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom (involving computer or phone) or via a teleconference. Access details are available in the Agenda: AIEA - Google Drive.
AIEA new website
The new website is accessible through the normal link: www.ecoag.org.au The content and pictures have a contemporary feel about them and hopefully it will be an excellent vehicle to convey our messages about agriculture. If there is something missing that needs to be added or something there that you
would like to see amended please let the AIEA know.
The Holocene and the Anthropocene
Here is a thought that needs to be considered. We have experienced 17000 years of climate stability in what is know as the Holocene epoch. This period has led us to a false security believing that all that we need - food, climate, water, etc – will be provided, now, as it has been for all those years. But times
have changed and we are now entering a different phase known as the Anthropocene period which is a recognition that humans are now determining the future direction of the planet. The above is a paraphrase of a statement from Sir David Attenborough who sent a 3-minute video to those who attended a recent climate change gathering at the United Nation. If you missed
it, you can hear it hear: https://bit.ly/2o9i68K Via @WWF
A good news story about water
If you are feeling glum about water and its absence take a look at the following TED talk. There is inspiration in this one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2xDZlpInik
Bayer (formerly Monsanto) has its headaches
Over 10,000 people in the USA suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma have sued the company, because their illness is related to glyphosate exposure. The first three verdicts in favour of Dewayne ‘Lee’ Johnson, Edwin Hardeman and the Pilliod couple sent shockwaves through the shareholder market and Bayer – Monsanto lost half of its stock value, some 50 billion dollars. The fourth trial was expected in October, in Monsanto’s hometown St Louis, but is now delayed until early 2020.
Many More Court Cases
In Sri Lanka 400,000 people are suffering from chronic kidney disease, out of which some 25,000 have died. The disease is related to heavy metals in drinking water in combination with glyphosate use. A group of farmer organizations, researchers, patients and the families of deceased farmers are set to take Bayer – Monsanto and other glyphosate herbicide manufacturers to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
In addition, the first French civil court case on glyphosate was started by Sabine Grataloup, who testified in the Tribunal. She attributes her son Theo's serious health problems to his exposure in utero to the product and asks that the responsibility of the manufacturer be recognized. Last but not least, the first Australian glyphosate court case against Monsanto was launched last summer.
Ockham’s Razor
If you haven’t heard the Ockham’s Razor broadcast of how a Western Australian scientist is teaching primary kids about Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum physics, then you have missed a treat. What a challenge and how exciting to think that the emerging generation may have the capacity to understand this complex theory and its place in modern life. Here is the link and the speaker is Professor David Blair : https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/einstein-relativity-quantum-physics-for-kids/11765670
Xmas Break
It looks as though 2020 might turn out to be a turning point in agriculture. As we hear so often that “time is running out re climate change and if we are going to make a difference and get top of it 2020 could be a watershed year.”
There is also a sense of needing to think freely and openly about new ways of producing food and fibre. The AIEA is nicely positioned to play a role in relation to these issues. In the meantime there are serious fires to be fought, and conquered, and our thoughts are with those who are carrying the brunt of this
effort. The Board of the AIEA will be back with you in late January and we look forward to that.
