By Sue Edmonds, science writer in Waikato.
A couple of months ago I wrote an article about the ending of the National Science Challenges, in particular Our Land and Water – “Many moving parts to land use decisions”. An enormous amount of work had been done by a lot of people, but how was it to be brought together to be useful to those actually working the land?
Well, somebody listened, and I have now been supplied with information on three learning modules. Each module takes about two hours to go through and then there is access to 4-6 hours of reading on each topic. The associated readings contain 896 articles but there is a filter system in the modules, which allows one to signal the area/s of interest, and just produces smaller refined lists.
The initial aim was to make these available to “rural professionals”, but there are constant reminders in the materials to share, share, share with anyone who talks to farmers, or with farmers themselves.
The first module is entitled Management practices to improve water quality, and is designed to help those studying it to support farmers in creating cost-effective freshwater environment plans using the broad scientific findings produced by the relevant teams that were part of Our Land and Water.
The second is entitled Communicating effectively with farmers, and contains a lot more than just teaching old dogs new tricks. It is also aimed at all people in communications, science, policy and community roles who want to talk effectively about the future of farming here.
It provides insights into the science behind the recommended communications strategies, explains the different types of thinking that people have about farming, the environment and possible land use change. It also outlines how their thinking can be helpful or unhelpful in building support for solutions that will protect our environment and wellbeing into the future.
By this point the would-be advisers will be clear on new water science, and have thought about how best to discuss these ideas with individual farmers, or with small groups from individual catchments.
To date, efforts to put together freshwater environment plans haven’t quite been top of the pops because they have sounded like yet more rules and regulations. Done properly, each farmer will be able to view not only their own land and water, but feel that they could produce better ideas if they worked with others on a catchment basis.
The third module is where the previous work really comes into play. At present we are fixated on our export markets, which we have done well for years. However, the lurgy of climate adaptation, and the effectiveness of our efforts in the minds of our export markets, may well leap out of the darkness.
If we aren’t seen to be pulling our weight, particularly given the current state of world governments, we may have to make some drastic changes in our thinking and methods as those markets dry up.
And if we did get offside with others, are we able to completely feed ourselves if we can’t afford our usual imports?
This thinking has led me to trying to answer some difficult points.
The whole concept relies on intellectual advice by clued-up advisers, largely to individual farmers. So how are sufficient advisers going to find time to immerse themselves in this sea of new material, and will they be given paid time to master it all?
Previous supposed group efforts to advise farmers, frequently involving threats of rules and regulations, have led to protests, media circuses, and, with our current government, the heavy hand of nullity for the seemingly cheeky concepts.
If we are instead going to try to bring in a one-to-one approach, which would be bottom-up compared to previous efforts, the team of advice-givers will need to make sure they are working together on the same lines.
It will certainly take a few more than the current crop, and if some come from farm supply firms, how will it be fitted around selling the products which pay the daily expenses of all?
This won’t happen quickly. We are looking at a decade or two to get through the talking and planning. And if we don’t get real over climate adaptation, we seemingly don’t at present have any other detailed ideas as to where farming might have to change to keep us fed and financially viable in the years to come.
However, I give the Challenge people credit for their efforts to date. There is a huge amount of information and advice being offered very quickly, and it is all free! If you want to see what it consists of go to https://ourlandandwater.nz/learn. And then share it!
