Practical Innovations for on-the-ground Drought Resilience

This session focuses on the practical initiatives developed through Vic Hub's collaborative approach. It showcases technologies, practices, and strategies that farmers can implement to improve drought resilience, enhance productivity, and optimise resource use.

Presenters: Rhiannan McPhee (Adoption Coordinator, Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub), Rebecca Wells (CEO, Mallee Regional Innovation Centre), Kate Coffey (Senior Project Manager, Riverine Plains Inc) and Rod Hayes (Acting CEO and Project Manager, Food & Fibre Gippsland)"

About Rhiannan

Rhiannan has a robust background in project management, research and agronomy, honing her skills through roles at Riverine Plains and Swan Hill Chemicals. Her expertise spans managing communications, organising extension events, conducting field trials and handling critical project tasks, including budget management and stakeholder reporting. Rhi’s agronomy background, particularly in broadacre and horticulture, has fostered a profound understanding of sustainability and technology in agriculture, while her experience as a Support Officer at Perfection Fresh Australia enriched her logistical-management skills and strengthened her ability to collaborate with team members and external stakeholders across Australia. A graduate of The University of Melbourne – who spent time at Dookie Campus – Rhi has spent the past five years immersing herself in regional Victoria and NSW, forging strong connections with farming communities and gaining invaluable insights into their needs. 

3 Key Learnings

1. Hands-on examples of farming innovations developed by the Vic Hub in collaboration with local farming communities.
2. Case studies from Vic Hub nodes that demonstrate how tailored solutions for different regions can lead to better drought preparedness and more efficient farming practices.
3. How farmers can be involved in ongoing research and development through Vic Hub's regional consultations and co-design processes to continuously refine farming techniques and improve efficiency.