City Farm Forum: Regenerative Agriculture

City Farm Forum Series: Regenerative Agriculture

Farming; absolutely essential to our survival, but a drive through the Wheatbelt is a reminder that conventional agriculture is not sustainable. Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm rather than depleting it, and it’s a movement that has been growing in W.A. Join us to hear from three people involved in this fascinating sector, driving change at the farm, distribution and retail levels. 

With all this talk of food we need to eat some good stuff! Our speakers are bringing their amazing local products and we'll have a fire pit cranking to cook up damper and oat milk chai (included in ticket price). There will be curry for dinner too, and a bar with mulled wine on the menu. Yum!

This event is part of the City Farm Forum series, evening events showcasing local sustainability or community initiatives and providing space for people to connect. All part of City Farm’s purpose of building connected communities living sustainably. 

This event series is sponsored by the City of Perth. 

Schedule 

6:00 Event opens, food and bar available 

6:45 Talks commence 

7:45 Talks wrap up, food and bar available 

8:30 Event close

Speakers

Mark Taylor

Mark is the co-founder of Miller + Baker, a family-owned and run flour mill and bakery in Perth specialising in sourdough bread and pastries made using traditional methods. It’s an ‘if you know, you know’ situation, with their gorgeous food often causing a line snaking out the front door.

In line with their desire to ‘support life,’ the bakery has a close relationship with the WA farmers they source their grain from, specifically farmers dedicated to improving soil biology which supports the health of their customers and the future of our planet.  In other words- farmers practicing regenerative agriculture.

Mark is an Environmental Scientist who fell in love with making bread whilst living in Copenhagen.

Blythe Calnan

Blythe grew up in the Pilbara region of Western Australia where she developed her love for the landscape and agricultural systems, and has worked in the pastoral, mining and aquaculture industries across the north of Australia.

Blythe became interested in regenerative agricultural systems after observing widespread land degradation and resulting food insecurity in Australia and around the globe. This interest led to Blythe & her partner Gregg developing their farming business in Uduc, Southwest WA.

Farming as ‘Runnymede’ they’ve transitioned high input farming land into productive regenerative management, developed a beef breeders & finishing with objectives of resilience, efficiency and ease of management in a grass based environment, established a well regarded pastured egg business that provides cash flow, community employment opportunities, soil health benefits and expanded their operations via unconventional methods by creating strong relationships built on foundations of shared values, good communication and innovative proposals that benefit all involved.

Bonnie Jupp

Bonnie grew up on a farm in Northampton, in WA’s Midwest, and currently manages the RegenWA Program at Perth NRM (Natural Resource Management), an environmental and sustainability organisation working across agriculture and landcare.

RegenWA is network of regenerative farmers and interested stakeholders providing support for farmers who are identifying profitable practices that restore natural capital.  The platform allows farmers to share their knowledge and skills with other farmers via demonstration/field days, website and newsletters.