Sustainable Agriculture: Driving growth through innovation and climate responsive practices.

Project Location
Eyre Peninsula
Project Manager
Naomi Scholz
Start Date
March 2025
Finish Date
June 2028
Funding Source
DAFF via EPLB. Natural Heritage Trust: Climate Smart Ag Program
Funding Amount
$940,620
Project Partners
EP Ag Research, PIRSA, Agriculture Victoria

The Eyre Peninsula Sustainable Agriculture Program brings together Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP), the EP Landscape Board, key researchers, industry specialists, and local organisations to deliver a coordinated, evidence-based approach to improving the productivity and resilience of farming systems across the region. 

Working in partnership, the program focuses on priority soil and climate challenges affecting EP growers. Ten interconnected projects deliver targeted activities including workshops, trials,  soil testing and monitoring programs, communication resources, and field demonstrations. Together, these efforts aim to strengthen local capacity, inform decision-making, and support long-term soil health and farm profitability. 

What the Program Focuses On 

The Sustainable Agriculture Program delivers practical, research-driven outcomes across ten key project areas. Click the tabs below to explore the focus areas. 

1. Managing in a Variable a changing climate
2. Effective Crop Establishment in a Changing Climate

Investigating crop establishment variability, including seed and plant survival surveys, knowledge baselines, and extension materials. 

3. Sandy Soils

Case studies, trials, soil testing, virtual soil pits, and adoption support for tools like the CSIRO Sandy Soils platform to improve productivity on EP’s sands. 

From Constraint to Potential: EP Sandy Soils Case Studies

4. Soil Salinity & Mallee Seeps

Early detection tools (NDVI, decision trees), workshops, soil testing, and extension activities to manage saline and seep-affected landscapes.

Critical  Opportunities to Reduce Dry Saline Land Impacts

 

5. Soil Amelioration

Demonstration of cover-maintaining amelioration practices, technical soils support, VRT-focused workshops, and practical extension resources. 

6. Acid Soils

Managing current and emerging soil acidity, with extensive soil testing, workshops, potassium-related investigations, and targeted extension. 

Articles

Potassium in wheat: did extra K pay its way at Ungarra in 2025?

Reports 

Did the application of potassium fertiliser at different timings result in an economic yield response in wheat at Ungarra in 2025?

7. Regenerative Agriculture

Showcasing regenerative practices through demonstration sites, crop walks, field days and a regional Regen Ag Forum. 

 

Read about workshop 1 - Newsletter Article

8. Increasing Knowledge & Understanding of EP Soil Health

Regional soil forums for researchers and advisors to build expertise, identify knowledge gaps and strengthen collaborative RD&E across the region.

9. Supporting farmers in building resilience

Access to tailored technical support for addressing soil constraints. 

10. Innovations Tour 2026

We are excited to host a collective of like-minded leaders who are shaping the future of sustainable agriculture. Sharing our farms, our landscapes, and our stories with them is a chance to show the strengths of our Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems and highlight the opportunities that could enhance our farming systems on the EP.  

Sustainable Ag Project Logo Block

This page was last updated on 25 May 2026

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