CSIRO Launches Five-Year Study to Test Regenerative Farming Practices Across Southern Australia

Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, has initiated a five-year research project across South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales to evaluate how regenerative agriculture practices can assist grain growers facing climate volatility. The initiative, titled Stress Testing Regenerative Agriculture Practices (STRAP), is supported by nearly $8 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund under the Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program Round 2.

Regenerative agriculture encompasses farming and grazing methods aimed at restoring and enhancing landscape and soil health rather than merely maintaining existing conditions. According to CSIRO, the project seeks to determine how these methods perform under Australian dryland conditions, which feature older, more weathered soils and highly variable rainfall compared to international farming environments.

The project addresses inquiries raised by local growers and is being delivered in partnership with the Ag Excellence Alliance and multiple regional farming systems groups. Dr Jade Rose, Project Manager at Ag Excellence Alliance, stated that the collaboration allows local farming groups to address region-wide questions while keeping specific trials tailored to local district needs.

Throughout the five-year timeframe, researchers will conduct small plot experiments, a pasture-focused small plot trial, and four larger demonstration trials across different environments in the southern region. The trials will evaluate several farming practices, including:

• Intercropping
• Using legumes as a biological nitrogen source
• Testing alternative fertilisers
• Integrating pasture into traditional cropping systems

The research will assess the environmental and economic sustainability of each approach alongside soil health and resilience. To process the findings, CSIRO is developing data systems integrated with artificial intelligence and geospatial platforms to evaluate complex variables such as greenhouse gas emissions, input requirements, and economic risks.

Partner organisations involved in delivering the STRAP project include Ag Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula, Agriculture Kangaroo Island, MacKillop Farm Management Group, Mallee Sustainable Farming, Upper North Farming Systems, Fleurieu Farming Systems, Agbyte, Agronomy Solutions, and Coutts J&R.

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