The Project
There has been considerable interest and discussion in Australia recently regarding foreign investors buying up agricultural land. Other countries can see the value of investment in land, food and water security, unfortunately few Australian companies do.
The Australian Farmland Conservancy plans to buck that trend and acquire, invest in and regenerate Australian agricultural land on behalf of Australian investors.
The Australian Farmland Conservancy is an agricultural development organisation managed by a skilled group of Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Agricultural professionals.
The Vision and Goals of the Australian Farmland Conservancy although bold, are smart. The people at Australian Farmland Conservancy have had many years experience delivering projects in the NRM context. They have been responsible for and successfully delivered many million dollars of publicly funded conservation projects.
The Australian Farmland Conservancy plans to buck that trend and acquire, invest in and regenerate Australian agricultural land on behalf of Australian investors.
The Australian Farmland Conservancy is an agricultural development organisation managed by a skilled group of Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Agricultural professionals.
The Vision and Goals of the Australian Farmland Conservancy although bold, are smart. The people at Australian Farmland Conservancy have had many years experience delivering projects in the NRM context. They have been responsible for and successfully delivered many million dollars of publicly funded conservation projects.
Guiding Principles
The Australian Farmland Conservancy will manage its land, finances, people and business according to a combination of the following principles.
7th Generation Principle
The “7th generation” principle taught by the Iroquois Native Americans says that in every decision, be it personal, governmental or corporate, we must consider how it will affect our descendants seven generations into the future to protect the sky, the land and the water, and therefore the people.
The Australian Farmland Conservancy will apply this principle to ensure that the activities undertaken will not cause harm, and will give benefit to future generations.
The Precautionary Principle
The precautionary principle or precautionary approach to risk management states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is not harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking an action.
Permaculture Principles
Permaculture consider 12 principles that when combined allow us to creatively re-design our environment and our behavior to use less resources and energy.
Holistic Management Principles
Nature functions in wholes
All environments are different
Properly managed livestock can improve land health
Time is more important than number
Agroecological Principles
These are similar to Permaculture and Holistic management; and look at the conserving, diversifying and empowering all aspects of an environment.
7th Generation Principle
The “7th generation” principle taught by the Iroquois Native Americans says that in every decision, be it personal, governmental or corporate, we must consider how it will affect our descendants seven generations into the future to protect the sky, the land and the water, and therefore the people.
The Australian Farmland Conservancy will apply this principle to ensure that the activities undertaken will not cause harm, and will give benefit to future generations.
The Precautionary Principle
The precautionary principle or precautionary approach to risk management states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is not harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking an action.
Permaculture Principles
Permaculture consider 12 principles that when combined allow us to creatively re-design our environment and our behavior to use less resources and energy.
Holistic Management Principles
Nature functions in wholes
All environments are different
Properly managed livestock can improve land health
Time is more important than number
Agroecological Principles
These are similar to Permaculture and Holistic management; and look at the conserving, diversifying and empowering all aspects of an environment.
Financial Management
The financial management of the invested funds will be open and accountable. Funds and income from the business will be used to further the vision and goals of the Australian Farmland Conservancy.
As a way of managing financial risk, all investors will be assessed to ensure personal debt (borrowings) is not created via investment in the Australian Farmland Conservancy.
As a way of managing financial risk, all investors will be assessed to ensure personal debt (borrowings) is not created via investment in the Australian Farmland Conservancy.
Risk Management
A risk management policy will be developed to protect the invested funds.
The diversification of location of purchased/leased land will help mitigate risk from climate variance.
The diversification of produce will help mitigate risk in the food markets.
The diversity of people will help generate new ideas and ways of doing things.
The diversification of location of purchased/leased land will help mitigate risk from climate variance.
The diversification of produce will help mitigate risk in the food markets.
The diversity of people will help generate new ideas and ways of doing things.
Landscape Management
The management of landscape will be integral with the guiding principles and holistic goals of the Australian Farmland Conservancy
Farm Management
Best (better) practice farm management will ensure sound operation and be consistant with the guiding principles and holistic goals of the Australian Farmland Conservancy
Diversification
Diversification of industry and product will be determined by location, climate and resource availability.
Education
The Australian Farmland Conservancy is primarily about growing people. The Australian Farmland Conservancy supports the personal development of farmers and land managers knowledge of landscape function, holistic management, agro-ecological and permaculture principles; and supports life long learning.
