Food, soil, water & agriculture
About
Food and water security are two of the biggest global challenges of our time. Our research focuses on providing reliable scientific, sociological and institutional knowledge to inform sustainable food and water policies and improve the management, use and conservation of natural resources.
Groups
This project aims to demonstrate that circular food systems can decouple growth in social and economic benefits from consumption of natural resources (particularly water and land) and production of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, as well as reducing urbanisation by creating local opportunities for women and youth.
It's crucial that we as a society communicate the huge importance of this system, celebrate its majestic wonder - and continue efforts to preserve and encourage river stewardship for future generations.
We are a research group at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, led by Dr Steven Lade. We research human and planetary systems using concepts such as resilience, social-ecological systems and Earth systems with applications in water resource management, sustainable finance and more.
Sustainable Farms draws upon research programs across the Australian National University, focussing on three key research topics: Healthy Farms, Healthy Farmers, and Healthy Profits.
The project aims to find means of meeting the African government’s plans for greater food security while using limited water resources more sustainably.
Projects
Members
Affiliate
Honorary Associate Professor
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Honorary Professor
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Honorary Associate Professor
Emeritus Fellow
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Academic staff
Lecturer
Research Fellow
Professor
Research Fellow
News
A scheme to recover water from farmers to benefit the environment under the $12 billion Murray Darling Basin Plan has been abandoned, as the Morrison government says communities cannot sustain the economic impact of reduced irrigation activity.
In 2020 - the year of shutdowns and lockdowns - Fenner School Director Dr Saul Cunningham decided to pursue developing genetic labs at the School, and sought out an expert to invite into the School’s scientific community. He found Dr Linda Neaves.
When Fenner Masters graduate Yiwen Chen led a review of irrigation in the Murray Darling with Prof. Jamie Pittock, Dr. Matthew Colloff and Dr Anna Lukasiewicz, she didn’t expect her findings to become a national news headline.
The majority of environmental water redirected from irrigators under the $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan isn't being delivered to its intended wetland targets, with private land blocking the connections between rivers and floodplains, new research shows.
Fenner School PhD Charles Massy was featured in Australian Story (ABC) with a biopic about his life as farmer and researcher a regenerative agriculture.
A researcher from the Fenner School of Environment and Society at ANU has found the benefits of some fresh produce schemes extend beyond the convenience of skipping supermarket queues: it seems the humble fruit and veggie box can make some people feel happier.
Events
Managing farm dams, freshwater wetlands, and wastewater lagoons for carbon and biodiversity benefits
Teal carbon ecosystems are freshwater wetlands, like lakes, ponds, farm dams and reservoirs. Equivalent to blue carbon (coastal wetlands), they can regulate greenhouse gases and mitigate the effects of climate change.