The future of sustainable agriculture video

Liam (host):

Thanks very much for having us here at Tathra Ridge. Absolutely beautiful location. Can you tell us a bit about what you're doing and what regen-agr is?

Adam:

Sure. Well look, what we're creating here is a bit of a blank canvas. This is home for us, but 16-acre property in the Hinterland, through Byron Bay Bangalow Hinterland. And we're using it as a bit of a demo site to see how much food, good quality, nutrient-dense, chemical free food we can create in one space, in a small area and using that as a teaching facility. So we've got a workshop here today, for example, we've got about 20 farmers from all over the country, learning biodynamics, which is a regenerative ag technique. And the idea is to have a facility where people who otherwise wouldn't get the opportunity, particularly kids, kids at school, young kids, right through to teenagers, and so on, can come and learn, not just about how to plan a farm out, how to grow, but also how to harvest, cook, and also learn about the business of food production, actually learn some business side of it.

Liam:

So your background, would you say is in agriculture or?

Adam:

No. I, look, I've had a passion. I've been reading about permaculture and things like that since I was a child. Literally six years old, I read my first permaculture book. But where I've come from is actually the wellness industry, the fitness industry.

Liam:

So you mentioned permaculture there. Can you just tell us a little bit about what that means?

Adam:

Yeah. Without giving an expert definition, but I think the term itself is about permanent agriculture. So it's about creating systems in using the land and the environment and animals and everything, and sort of in a way that works in harmony with the natural systems around it. But it's part of what has now become regenerative agriculture. It's agriculture that leaves the land in better condition than when we started.

Liam:

This is obviously amazing and really inspiring. Where do you see the future careers coming from this?

Adam:

So to some extent, it's like, we have no idea how big this can be and what careers are there, because it's so exciting and the future's unknown. Rather than just think about agriculture, think about it as our food system. So for me, you can work on the farm, you can be involved in the management of the farm, you can be involved in the supply chain, linking produce with consumers. You can be involved in the tech side of that, there's a lot of tech opportunities now, where consumers are looking for good food, but it's not necessarily on their supermarket shelf, but they can go to their app and deliver it. And so on.

Liam:

There's obviously, there's a mountain of opportunity there for young people to look at there.

Adam:

There is. I think whatever their particular skillset might be, it could be applied at different levels along that supply chain.

Liam:

Yeah.

Adam:

From growth, to the marketing, to the consumer, to logistics, everything in between.

Liam:

So just to wrap up Adam, if you were to speak to a 15, 16-year-old tomorrow, and they are looking for some advice, looking back on your career and your life, what would you tell them?

Adam:

It's a big question. It sounds a little bit cliché, but I'd say don't chase the money. Find the thing you love to do and know you can make it, so some sort of burning passion. Something where you feel there's a purpose attached to what you're doing, and something that suits your skill set. So I think not underestimating your own impact. Some of the most dynamic entrepreneurs I see now are under 20 sometimes, and they're switched on and they're happening and they've got it working.

Liam:

Amazing words of wisdom right there mate. Look, thank you very much for having us here at Tathra Ridge. Absolutely beautiful location. And thanks for spending some time with us and talking careers.

Adam:

Thanks Liam. It's been a pleasure, mate.

End of transcript.