Ang Hammond attended the Down to Earth workshop at the University of New England UNE (in Armidale, NSW), on behalf of the Landcare Ag Program.
Hats off to the FarmLab team for a groundbreaking ag event. It was an immersive, non-traditional gathering where boots got muddy, conversations were real, and the mission was clear: scale climate solutions through practical collaboration.
Farmers, agrifood supply chain members, researchers, and investors came together to work on land-based solutions for climate change and carbon drawdown.
Key Aspects of the Event
Practical collaboration on soil health, trees, and technology to lower emissions in the agrifood sector by walking the land, planting trees, exploring soil pits, and fireside conversations – replacing lectures with real-world, outdoor learning & engaging discussions.
Highlights
- The Megatons Challenge was launched ahead of COP26 – encouraging projects that collectively draw down a million tonnes of CO₂ into soils and trees.
- Agritech collaboration emerged as critical – enabling, verifying, and scaling carbon projects requires strong partnerships.
- A strong focus on practical pathways for farmers and land managers into natural capital markets and long-term resilience.
- Sprint presentations, soil pits, tree planting, hikes, and fireside connections – a true example of collaboration in action.
Location: Armidale – chosen for its innovation ecosystem, UNE’s SMART Farm, and a community of landholders driving change.
Participants: A diverse mix of producers, supply chain leaders, government, researchers, and investors, engaging in honest conversations about climate action.
Outcomes: Stronger connections, collaboration, and practical strategies to advance climate and biodiversity solutions.