As 2024 winds to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what has been an incredibly successful and eventful year for the Centre for Agricultural Economics and Development (CAED). From industry-driven outputs to new collaborations and appointments, we’ve had a year full of milestones that are worth celebrating. I am grateful to not only have been promoted to Professor this year, but I also took on a new role as Program Lead for the Cooperative Research Centre on Zero Net Emissions Agriculture (ZNE-Ag CRC). Program Leads are responsible to develop and manage research that benefits the sector while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The program that I lead focusses on adoption, behavioural and institutional barriers, supply chain analysis, and developing renewable energy and circular economy solutions that create profitable opportunities for agribusinesses and rural communities. The responsibility aligns perfectly with the Centre’s objective to foster sustainable agricultural practices and communities.
Below is a look back at the highlights that made 2024 such a fantastic year for our team! Thank you to everyone in the team and our readers for your support.
Prof Marit Kragt, Centre Director
Ross Kingwell’s Seed of Light Award
One of the biggest awards of the year was our very own Prof Ross Kingwell receiving the prestigious Seed of Light award from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). This recognition is a testament to Ross’s outstanding contributions to agricultural research, particularly in the field of economic modelling and the impact of technology adoption in farming. It’s been wonderful to see Ross's work acknowledged on a national stage, and the award is well-deserved for his decades of dedication to advancing Australian agriculture.
Beef Industry Engagement
Our researchers have been engaging with beef producers across the state including visiting stations, interviewing stakeholders and presenting at industry forums. They’ve been working directly with industry ensuring that the research we do at CAED is practical and relevant to the needs of the beef industry – check out this glossy brochure produced for our project stakeholders.
This on-the-ground approach has been vital for building stronger ties with the sector and ensuring our research aligns with real-world challenges in beef production systems.
We need more resources if we are to bid for further work – if interested in this space, contact our Deputy Director, Dr Fiona Dempster, who is leading the industry engagement work.
Pannell Discussions on Risk in Australian Grain Farming
Speaking of relevance, one of the standout deliverables for our industry partners this year was the production of a set of 15 Pannell Discussions focusing on risk in Australian grain farming. Produced for RiskWi$e, these discussions address key issues around managing and reducing risk, including understanding farmer perceptions, intuitive versus analytical thinking about risk, and risk aversion versus loss aversion. This output was written by Prof David Pannell and is a valuable resource for farmers and advisors looking to navigate the uncertain landscape of Australian agriculture.
Team Expansion: Welcoming Jon and German
2024 also saw the expansion of our team, with two new postdoctoral researchers — Dr Jon Sarmiento and Dr German Puga — joining CAED. Their expertise and input on our research projects have been welcomed by the team. We’re excited to see what we can achieve together in the coming years.
CAED Field Trip to WA’s Mid-West
A highlight for many of the CAED members this year was the self-funded Field Trip to Dongara in the mid-west region of Western Australia. The trip was a fantastic opportunity for our team to meet directly with farmers and see firsthand the challenges and opportunities in the region. On-site visits and in-depth discussions with local producers and grower groups enhanced our understanding of the issues that farmers face.
Incidentally, it was a great team building opportunity and the team participated in Diversity Day by dressing in purple!
International Success
A massive congratulation to A/Prof Fay Rola-Rubzen, who was integral to the significant strides in international collaboration and outputs this year.
Three new partnerships have been established with University of the Philippines, Mindanao (UPMin), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Malaysia and Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) in Indonesia. Exciting opportunities will ensue, including research student exchanges, shared conferences, and potential collaborative research projects. These partnerships not only enrich our own research but also provide students with invaluable cross-cultural learning experiences. We’re looking forward to deepening these relationships in the years ahead.
Fay is also making waves with an outstanding 10 publications from her international research portfolio this year. Her work is influencing global agricultural policy and practices, and we’re proud to have her as part of the team.
All publications are listed on our CAED website: https://www.uwacaed.org/publications
And So Much More!
Of course, these are just a few of the many exciting developments at CAED this year. There’s been no shortage of activity at the Centre, which extends to supervising students, working on committees, and attending or presenting at conferences. As we wrap up 2024, we’d like to thank everyone – our partners, colleagues, advisory committee members, research students, and stakeholders - for their continued support and collaboration. Here’s to another year of impactful research, meaningful engagement, and exciting growth for CAED!
For more information:
Tammie Harold: tamara.harold@uwa.edu.au
Marit Kragt: marit.kragt@uwa.edu.au
Fay Rola-Rubzen: fay.rola-rubzen@uwa.edu.au
Fiona Dempster: fiona.dempster@uwa.edu.au
Centre for Agricultural Economics and Development: https://www.uwacaed.org/
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