Please note: Images in this article were taken before current COVID-19 safety measures were in place.
[Vision: AgriBio signage outside building –People at tables at the symposium]
Mike Gooey - Executive Director of Agriculture Policy, Agriculture Victoria
Look, today’s a fantastic day at AgriBio.
We’ve got people from just about everywhere, from Denmark, New Zealand, the States, Canada, all over.
[Vision: View of people enjoying food and mingling with others at the symposium]
And we’re here to talk about a range of opportunities that sit within intensive animals management, from manure management through to climate change and carbon management and nitrogen.
So it’s a great opportunity for people to come and talk about things, but also connect up ideas and that’s the importance of symposiums like this.
Dr Karl Richards - Agriculture & Food Development Authority, Teagasc, Ireland
I think events like this are really interesting in that you get to share ideas.
[Vision: People mingling at symposium and discussing matters]
And I suppose see common approaches to improving sustainability of agricultural systems, learn from each other and share your expertise.
Dr Cecile de Klein - AgResearch, New Zealand
I’m really looking forward, and have already heard really interesting things about how Australia’s dealing with environment issues.
[Vision: People mingling and discussing matters at the symposium]
The research that’s going on, but also the challenges that Australia particularly is facing.
[Vision: Dr Cecile de Klein speaking]
And, actually I started to think about a little bit about already how we in New Zealand could utilise some of the information coming out.
[Vision: People mingling at symposium and discussing ideas]
Professor Lin Ma - Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
The livestock production in China increased very fast, especially for intensive breeding systems.
[Vision: People enjoying food and sitting around tables chatting - Professor Lin Ma speaking]
Then the big challenge is about manure management, therefore I think this symposium is really important for me to learn with case studies in Australia and other countries.
[Vision: Aerial view of livestock in paddocks - Dr Karl Richards speaking]
So in Ireland we’re very similar, so while our climates might be a little bit different, the systems and I suppose how those systems are organised and run and arranged are very similar.
[Vision: Close-up of cow and cow drinking]
Which means the challenges that we’re facing are very similar in terms of how do we get a carbon-neutral dairy products from our farms?
How do we improve water quality?
[Vision: Dr Karl Richards speaking]
Difficult questions and global questions that everybody in temperate systems are trying to answer.
[Vision: Speaker at podium addressing people in the room – Mike Gooey speaking]
It’s really important that we work with industry, with our scientists, and also with our policymakers to make sure that we can help the industry drive its productivity and profitability for the future.
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