Make sure you remember to keep talking to people who are different from yourself to come up with new directions and solutions to problems”. These were the resounding final words of a workshop I participated in recently. The workshop was convened for Climate Change Innovation projects, ORM Pty Ltd is part of a project team including some of the brightest data analysis and modelling minds within the Monash University Business School.
The project is assessing the impacts of extreme temperatures on wheat yields in the Wimmera Mallee regions of Victoria by combining historic regional yield and climate data with farm management experience. It is developing a better understanding of future risk and management impacts over the next 10 – 20 years.
The modelling will provide a focus for discussions on how farming systems will need to adapt to counter the increased temperature extremes that are expected into the future. It is often said that we must focus on the things we can change in our business rather than the uncontrolled factors; however, it is worthwhile occasionally looking at the big picture and explore what could happen and how we will be prepared for it. We all know the importance of resilient farming systems in driving profits within variable seasons.
The workshop enabled several project teams to share their learnings and challenges. Only a few of the projects have direct linkages to agriculture so there was the opportunity to momentarily share notes with people working on mangrove conservation, building a business case for electric vehicles to be adopted by local councils and having long term climate data included in TV weather broadcasts, to mention a few.
ORM is taking the opportunity to be involved in this modelling research as it builds positive links between ORM’s farm business knowledge and the world-renowned data analysis capacity of the Business Econometrics and Statistics group at the Monash School of Business. We are helping to keep the climate projections and impacts grounded in the raw truth of farm profitability and practical business management.
“Make sure you remember to keep talking to people who are different to yourself to come up with new directions and solutions to problems”.
Information links: https://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/virtual-centre-for-climate-change-innovation/virtual-centre-for-climate-change-innovation
For more information contact Matt McCarthy at matt@orm.com.au