A researcher in a lab coat stands in a green house with potted plants.

Food, soil, water & agriculture

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.

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

Two farmers setup irrigation hoses in a crop of plants in Africa.

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.

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A researcher kayaks down a river in a yellow inflatable raft.

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.

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A group of researchers sit among large rocks and ferns outside a building.

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.

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A student takes notes at the edge of a dam with eucalyptus trees and kangaroos in the distance.

Sustainable Farms draws upon research programs across the Australian National University, focussing on three key research topics: Healthy Farms, Healthy Farmers, and Healthy Profits.

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Three people testing soil in an agricultural field in Africa.

The project aims to find means of meeting the African government’s plans for greater food security while using limited water resources more sustainably.

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Members

Affiliate

Honorary Associate Professor

Honorary Senior Lecturer

Honorary Professor

No photo provided

Honorary Senior Lecturer

Honorary Associate Professor

Photo of David Dumaresq

Emeritus Fellow

Baihua Fu

Honorary Senior Lecturer

Honorary Senior Lecturer

Academic staff

Martin Amidy

Lecturer

Research Fellow

Research Fellow

News

We are all about wicked problems.

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Marcus Dadd stands in a woodland.

Fenner graduate and disability advocate Marcus Dadd has a passion for inclusive and sustainable practices in agriculture.

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A hydropower dam.

Pumped hydro and batteries can easily provide all the storage needed for 100% renewable electricity generation, eliminating the need for polluting gas power plants.

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PhD student, Michelle Littlefair, crouches near the edge of a dam at night pointing her spotlight into the reeds.

Michelle Littlefair is a PhD student at the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society researching frogs in agricultural landscapes. She is also a dancer who uses her performances to spread awareness about frog declines. We spoke to her about how frogs have become such a large part of her life.

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We are all about wicked problems.

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Illustration of Alice, the rabbit and the Mad Hatter sitting around a table drinking tea.

“Most people don’t even realise we’re all affected by pollution throughout our whole lives," says Dr Julia Jasonsmith from ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.

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Events

A serene rural dam with still, dark water reflecting a blue sky and scattered white clouds. The bank in the foreground is edged with dry grasses and reeds, and contains a plastic crate holding a yellow portable pump hooked up by hoses to a floating sampling device resting on the water. On the opposite shore, gently sloping pasture is dotted with eucalyptus and other native trees under a partly cloudy sky
Friday, 22 Aug 2025, 12 - 1pm

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.

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