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
Academic staff
Lecturer
Professor
Fellow
Associate Professor
Affiliate
Honorary Associate Professor
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor
News
The future of water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin has been in the spotlight in recent months, with allegations of water theft by irrigators in New South Wales, and claims that the Basin Plan is being undermined by a lack of transparency and accountability.
We are pleased to be offering a scholarship program in 2018, as part of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited Scholarship Program, to encourage young people to choose a career in the agricultural industry.
ACICIS Agriculture Semester Program in Indonesia for ANU students.
Better access to irrigation for farmers is key for climate change adaptation.
New research led by ANU finds that if irrigation systems are to successfully secure food supplies under a changing climate, western and national donors must invest in better scheme management rather than only investing in infrastructure.
Governments across South-East Asia have programs to intensify rice production but researchers from ANU and other institutions are arguing for the conservation of the traditional, once-per-year crop of floating rice in Myanmar.
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.