Farmers are key to a better future | Anika Molesworth | TEDxYouth@Sydney

[Applause]

[Applause] so just be on my family’s farm they say

so just be on my family’s farm they say

so just be on my family’s farm they say you can see the curvature of the earth

you can see the curvature of the earth

you can see the curvature of the earth the red Plains seemed to stretch out

the red Plains seemed to stretch out

the red Plains seemed to stretch out forever on the hot summer days

forever on the hot summer days

forever on the hot summer days Willie Willie’s also known as dust

Willie Willie’s also known as dust

Willie Willie’s also known as dust devils dance across the horizon when the

devils dance across the horizon when the

devils dance across the horizon when the rains do eventually come

rains do eventually come

rains do eventually come dazzling electrical storms light up the

dazzling electrical storms light up the

dazzling electrical storms light up the night sky and thousands of desert acres

night sky and thousands of desert acres

night sky and thousands of desert acres are submerged under life bringing water

are submerged under life bringing water

are submerged under life bringing water to the untrained eye the expansive

to the untrained eye the expansive

to the untrained eye the expansive interior might look deserted and

interior might look deserted and

interior might look deserted and lifeless but this is where farmers like

lifeless but this is where farmers like

lifeless but this is where farmers like my family raise livestock nurtured from

my family raise livestock nurtured from

my family raise livestock nurtured from the land and in turn nourishing you and

the land and in turn nourishing you and

the land and in turn nourishing you and for those who have witnessed the

for those who have witnessed the

for those who have witnessed the migration of a thousand emerald budgies

migration of a thousand emerald budgies

migration of a thousand emerald budgies who have seen the snow fields of white

who have seen the snow fields of white

who have seen the snow fields of white paper daisies or heard the groans of the

paper daisies or heard the groans of the

paper daisies or heard the groans of the river red gums when the ephemeral creeks

river red gums when the ephemeral creeks

river red gums when the ephemeral creeks start to flow it is undeniable that this

start to flow it is undeniable that this

start to flow it is undeniable that this land breathes and evolves as the seasons

land breathes and evolves as the seasons

land breathes and evolves as the seasons change but this ecosystem is fragile an

change but this ecosystem is fragile an

change but this ecosystem is fragile an eggshell of interdependent and symbiotic

eggshell of interdependent and symbiotic

eggshell of interdependent and symbiotic relationships and the combined

relationships and the combined

relationships and the combined challenges of feeding a growing global

challenges of feeding a growing global

challenges of feeding a growing global population ecosystem degradation and

population ecosystem degradation and

population ecosystem degradation and climate change ask more of farmers than

climate change ask more of farmers than

climate change ask more of farmers than ever before

ever before

ever before and so the protection of these delicate

and so the protection of these delicate

and so the protection of these delicate environments rural communities and food

environments rural communities and food

environments rural communities and food production systems is paramount and I

production systems is paramount and I

production systems is paramount and I believe sustainable farming is key in

believe sustainable farming is key in

believe sustainable farming is key in ensuring a vibrant and resilient future

ensuring a vibrant and resilient future

ensuring a vibrant and resilient future for all of us and that means a food

for all of us and that means a food

for all of us and that means a food system without fragmentation and one

system without fragmentation and one

system without fragmentation and one that we all take care of and by now I’m

that we all take care of and by now I’m

that we all take care of and by now I’m sure some of you are sitting back

sure some of you are sitting back

sure some of you are sitting back thinking cool farmers I’m not a farmer

thinking cool farmers I’m not a farmer

thinking cool farmers I’m not a farmer bring on the next speaker well I want to

bring on the next speaker well I want to

bring on the next speaker well I want to challenge your responsibility because

challenge your responsibility because

challenge your responsibility because each and every one of us plays a role in

each and every one of us plays a role in

each and every one of us plays a role in the food system and the choices you make

the food system and the choices you make

the food system and the choices you make when you eat do impact media and here’s

when you eat do impact media and here’s

when you eat do impact media and here’s why

why

why you might have heard the term planetary

you might have heard the term planetary

you might have heard the term planetary boundaries these are the land ocean

boundaries these are the land ocean

boundaries these are the land ocean atmosphere and biodiversity parameters

atmosphere and biodiversity parameters

atmosphere and biodiversity parameters that define a safe operating space for

that define a safe operating space for

that define a safe operating space for Humanity and like the naughty kid on the

Humanity and like the naughty kid on the

Humanity and like the naughty kid on the playground we’ve tested pushing those

playground we’ve tested pushing those

playground we’ve tested pushing those boundaries of our loving mother earth

boundaries of our loving mother earth

boundaries of our loving mother earth you know we wondered what it would be

you know we wondered what it would be

you know we wondered what it would be like if we cooked the planet a little

like if we cooked the planet a little

like if we cooked the planet a little and killed off a few species here and

and killed off a few species here and

and killed off a few species here and there well we now know that wasn’t

there well we now know that wasn’t

there well we now know that wasn’t appropriate behavior and we’re kind of

appropriate behavior and we’re kind of

appropriate behavior and we’re kind of being reprimanded for it these are some

being reprimanded for it these are some

being reprimanded for it these are some of the big predicaments we now find

of the big predicaments we now find

of the big predicaments we now find ourselves in by this time tomorrow there

ourselves in by this time tomorrow there

ourselves in by this time tomorrow there will be nearly a quarter of a million

will be nearly a quarter of a million

will be nearly a quarter of a million new mouths to feed

new mouths to feed

new mouths to feed great if you own a restaurant not so

great if you own a restaurant not so

great if you own a restaurant not so great if you’re the food producer tasked

great if you’re the food producer tasked

great if you’re the food producer tasked with growing more meat patties and

with growing more meat patties and

with growing more meat patties and quinoa and I say it’s not great for the

quinoa and I say it’s not great for the

quinoa and I say it’s not great for the farmer because the world is currently

farmer because the world is currently

farmer because the world is currently losing productive land arable land

losing productive land arable land

losing productive land arable land pastures and forests are disappearing

pastures and forests are disappearing

pastures and forests are disappearing and at a rate that far outpaces the

and at a rate that far outpaces the

and at a rate that far outpaces the Earth’s natural ability to replenish

Earth’s natural ability to replenish

Earth’s natural ability to replenish diminished areas now let’s throw climate

diminished areas now let’s throw climate

diminished areas now let’s throw climate change on to the farmers plate who

change on to the farmers plate who

change on to the farmers plate who already tried to produce more with less

already tried to produce more with less

already tried to produce more with less floods bushfires and altered rainfall

floods bushfires and altered rainfall

floods bushfires and altered rainfall patterns are pretty bad for farmers

patterns are pretty bad for farmers

patterns are pretty bad for farmers particularly those who walk the

particularly those who walk the

particularly those who walk the tightrope of life in the developing

tightrope of life in the developing

tightrope of life in the developing nations when I’m not at home in dusty

nations when I’m not at home in dusty

nations when I’m not at home in dusty shipyards I spend a lot of my time in

shipyards I spend a lot of my time in

shipyards I spend a lot of my time in the lush rice paddies of Southeast Asia

the lush rice paddies of Southeast Asia

the lush rice paddies of Southeast Asia as well as being a farmer I am also an

as well as being a farmer I am also an

as well as being a farmer I am also an agricultural researcher because as land

agricultural researcher because as land

agricultural researcher because as land managers we know we need to continually

managers we know we need to continually

managers we know we need to continually seek new information a better

seek new information a better

seek new information a better understanding of how our world works and

understanding of how our world works and

understanding of how our world works and the human interaction with it and my

the human interaction with it and my

the human interaction with it and my research takes me to places much poorer

research takes me to places much poorer

research takes me to places much poorer than here it shocks me when these

than here it shocks me when these

than here it shocks me when these farmers that I work with in Southeast

farmers that I work with in Southeast

farmers that I work with in Southeast Asia tell me the number of days that the

Asia tell me the number of days that the

Asia tell me the number of days that the dry season is extending each year when

dry season is extending each year when

dry season is extending each year when they describe to me the insects that

they describe to me the insects that

they describe to me the insects that they see eating their crops that they

they see eating their crops that they

they see eating their crops that they had never seen before they know exactly

had never seen before they know exactly

had never seen before they know exactly how their climate and their world is

how their climate and their world is

how their climate and their world is changing and although there is a

changing and although there is a

changing and although there is a tempting self delusion that hunger

tempting self delusion that hunger

tempting self delusion that hunger plagues and forced migration are fears

plagues and forced migration are fears

plagues and forced migration are fears for lesser mortals let’s be clear

for lesser mortals let’s be clear

for lesser mortals let’s be clear climate change is an ugly beast it

climate change is an ugly beast it

climate change is an ugly beast it impacts farmers around the globe as they

impacts farmers around the globe as they

impacts farmers around the globe as they work closest to the land it is impacting

work closest to the land it is impacting

work closest to the land it is impacting them now and what effects food producers

them now and what effects food producers

them now and what effects food producers affects you in the audience who are

affects you in the audience who are

affects you in the audience who are hanging out for a kebab after the show

hanging out for a kebab after the show

hanging out for a kebab after the show but if farmers have the skills the

but if farmers have the skills the

but if farmers have the skills the knowledge and support structures in

knowledge and support structures in

knowledge and support structures in place they can do amazing things and

place they can do amazing things and

place they can do amazing things and using a food analogy here with the right

using a food analogy here with the right

using a food analogy here with the right ingredients

ingredients

ingredients Mama’s hold the key to healthy

Mama’s hold the key to healthy

Mama’s hold the key to healthy environments that produce nourishing

environments that produce nourishing

environments that produce nourishing food and support prosperous and vibrant

food and support prosperous and vibrant

food and support prosperous and vibrant communities and it’s you guys who choose

communities and it’s you guys who choose

communities and it’s you guys who choose those ingredients you equip farmers with

those ingredients you equip farmers with

those ingredients you equip farmers with the capacity to make change and to do

the capacity to make change and to do

the capacity to make change and to do what they do best and that begins by

what they do best and that begins by

what they do best and that begins by understanding the farming story and how

understanding the farming story and how

understanding the farming story and how you play a role within it

farmers are other custodian stew a lot

farmers are other custodian stew a lot of land they manage the basic building

of land they manage the basic building

of land they manage the basic building block of life the soil and when it is

block of life the soil and when it is

block of life the soil and when it is managed properly we reduce salinity

managed properly we reduce salinity

managed properly we reduce salinity erosion and enhance that as a carbon

erosion and enhance that as a carbon

erosion and enhance that as a carbon store farmers play a pivotal role in

store farmers play a pivotal role in

store farmers play a pivotal role in nitrogen and phosphorus flow the

nitrogen and phosphorus flow the

nitrogen and phosphorus flow the improved fertilizer use efficiency and

improved fertilizer use efficiency and

improved fertilizer use efficiency and the capture and return of nutrients to

the capture and return of nutrients to

the capture and return of nutrients to the soil not only leads to healthier

the soil not only leads to healthier

the soil not only leads to healthier soils but a healthier coastline and a

soils but a healthier coastline and a

soils but a healthier coastline and a healthier atmosphere and on this land

healthier atmosphere and on this land

healthier atmosphere and on this land farmers live and work alongside plants

farmers live and work alongside plants

farmers live and work alongside plants and animals agriculture supports and is

and animals agriculture supports and is

and animals agriculture supports and is supported by these living creatures the

supported by these living creatures the

supported by these living creatures the pollinators that ensure our harvests the

pollinators that ensure our harvests the

pollinators that ensure our harvests the mosaic of pastures that hold down our

mosaic of pastures that hold down our

mosaic of pastures that hold down our soils the trees that provide wildlife

soils the trees that provide wildlife

soils the trees that provide wildlife habitats and this life is dependent on

habitats and this life is dependent on

habitats and this life is dependent on high-quality rivers and aquifers to

high-quality rivers and aquifers to

high-quality rivers and aquifers to sustain it water management on-farm

sustain it water management on-farm

sustain it water management on-farm and beyond the farm boundary fence is

and beyond the farm boundary fence is

and beyond the farm boundary fence is key to proper ecosystem functioning and

key to proper ecosystem functioning and

key to proper ecosystem functioning and with such precious assets at stake we

with such precious assets at stake we

with such precious assets at stake we need to adopt an attitude of shared

need to adopt an attitude of shared

need to adopt an attitude of shared responsibility taking only what one

responsibility taking only what one

responsibility taking only what one needs and no more and this goes for our

needs and no more and this goes for our

needs and no more and this goes for our food as well farmers can help us

food as well farmers can help us

food as well farmers can help us respect our food by educating us on the

respect our food by educating us on the

respect our food by educating us on the time and resources that go into

time and resources that go into

time and resources that go into producing it with their help we can

producing it with their help we can

producing it with their help we can reduce food loss and wastage and banish

reduce food loss and wastage and banish

reduce food loss and wastage and banish ridiculous cosmetic standards like the

ridiculous cosmetic standards like the

ridiculous cosmetic standards like the perfect red apple farmers have long fed

perfect red apple farmers have long fed

perfect red apple farmers have long fed and closed the weld and I think it’s

and closed the weld and I think it’s

and closed the weld and I think it’s time we help power it as well they are

time we help power it as well they are

time we help power it as well they are in parcels of land that can host solar

in parcels of land that can host solar

in parcels of land that can host solar panels and wind turbines they produce

panels and wind turbines they produce

panels and wind turbines they produce biomass that can be used not only to run

biomass that can be used not only to run

biomass that can be used not only to run their businesses but provide them with a

their businesses but provide them with a

their businesses but provide them with a secondary and stable source of income by

secondary and stable source of income by

secondary and stable source of income by putting that renewable energy back into

putting that renewable energy back into

putting that renewable energy back into the grid strong farming businesses mean

the grid strong farming businesses mean

the grid strong farming businesses mean wider social stability building

wider social stability building

wider social stability building resilience into rural communities

resilience into rural communities

resilience into rural communities generates employment markets and

generates employment markets and

generates employment markets and services and as our society progresses

services and as our society progresses

services and as our society progresses strategies and policies that promote

strategies and policies that promote

strategies and policies that promote businesses closely attuned to the

businesses closely attuned to the

businesses closely attuned to the natural world means a stronger economy

natural world means a stronger economy

natural world means a stronger economy for you and me and whichever angle that

for you and me and whichever angle that

for you and me and whichever angle that I look at tackling these big challenges

I look at tackling these big challenges

I look at tackling these big challenges of feeding a hungry –oh world with

of feeding a hungry –oh world with

of feeding a hungry –oh world with reduced environmental footprint it keeps

reduced environmental footprint it keeps

reduced environmental footprint it keeps coming back to farmers the role they

coming back to farmers the role they

coming back to farmers the role they play in looking after the soils the

play in looking after the soils the

play in looking after the soils the water our economy and communities and in

water our economy and communities and in

water our economy and communities and in turn the support and capacity that we as

turn the support and capacity that we as

turn the support and capacity that we as a wider society give our farmers to do

a wider society give our farmers to do

a wider society give our farmers to do that my family purchased our Outback

that my family purchased our Outback

that my family purchased our Outback Sheep station in the year 2000 the start

Sheep station in the year 2000 the start

Sheep station in the year 2000 the start of the decade-long millennium drought a

of the decade-long millennium drought a

of the decade-long millennium drought a word for the Y’s not the best time to

word for the Y’s not the best time to

word for the Y’s not the best time to buy a farm it was immediately apparent

buy a farm it was immediately apparent

buy a farm it was immediately apparent to us how interconnected different

to us how interconnected different

to us how interconnected different components of the farming system are as

components of the farming system are as

components of the farming system are as we all know when the rain doesn’t fall

we all know when the rain doesn’t fall

we all know when the rain doesn’t fall all less vegetation grows livestock are

all less vegetation grows livestock are

all less vegetation grows livestock are sold at reduced weights and crop yields

sold at reduced weights and crop yields

sold at reduced weights and crop yields are not achieved less money in the

are not achieved less money in the

are not achieved less money in the farmers pocket means they search for a

farmers pocket means they search for a

farmers pocket means they search for a farm employment and shops in rural towns

farm employment and shops in rural towns

farm employment and shops in rural towns closed for you food quality goes down

closed for you food quality goes down

closed for you food quality goes down and prices go up knowing that this

and prices go up knowing that this

and prices go up knowing that this region that I hold so dear is becoming

region that I hold so dear is becoming

region that I hold so dear is becoming hotter and drier with more frequent and

hotter and drier with more frequent and

hotter and drier with more frequent and intense dust storms drives me to build

intense dust storms drives me to build

intense dust storms drives me to build resilience and sustainability into our

resilience and sustainability into our

resilience and sustainability into our farm model just like farmers all around

farm model just like farmers all around

farm model just like farmers all around the world who stand at the coal face of

the world who stand at the coal face of

the world who stand at the coal face of life’s macro challenges as an industry

life’s macro challenges as an industry

life’s macro challenges as an industry we have achieved remarkable things we

we have achieved remarkable things we

we have achieved remarkable things we have built a powerful foundation of

have built a powerful foundation of

have built a powerful foundation of wisdom and/or inspiring technology our

wisdom and/or inspiring technology our

wisdom and/or inspiring technology our livestock have greater survival rates

livestock have greater survival rates

livestock have greater survival rates and are producing less methane soil

and are producing less methane soil

and are producing less methane soil sensors provide real-time data that we

sensors provide real-time data that we

sensors provide real-time data that we can immediately respond to and draw the

can immediately respond to and draw the

can immediately respond to and draw the gathering aerial imagery of crop health

gathering aerial imagery of crop health

gathering aerial imagery of crop health helping us to water better and control

helping us to water better and control

helping us to water better and control weeds more accurately and this is

weeds more accurately and this is

weeds more accurately and this is happening in the paddocks today in the

happening in the paddocks today in the

happening in the paddocks today in the future census automation engineering and

future census automation engineering and

future census automation engineering and genetics will only be more impressive

genetics will only be more impressive

genetics will only be more impressive and as we come to realise the urgency

and as we come to realise the urgency

and as we come to realise the urgency for this change we will see a surge of

for this change we will see a surge of

for this change we will see a surge of inventiveness that will create solutions

inventiveness that will create solutions

inventiveness that will create solutions that are languishing in their infancy or

that are languishing in their infancy or

that are languishing in their infancy or even yet to be dreamed of it is exciting

even yet to be dreamed of it is exciting

even yet to be dreamed of it is exciting to see new breeds new management

to see new breeds new management

to see new breeds new management practices new technologies

practices new technologies

practices new technologies revolutionising the way farmers produce

revolutionising the way farmers produce

revolutionising the way farmers produce food fiber and energy my vision of the

food fiber and energy my vision of the

food fiber and energy my vision of the future is where farms have long-range

future is where farms have long-range

future is where farms have long-range weather forecasting and advanced tele

weather forecasting and advanced tele

weather forecasting and advanced tele Communications so we can make

Communications so we can make

Communications so we can make well-informed decisions they are

well-informed decisions they are

well-informed decisions they are businesses run on renewable energy and

businesses run on renewable energy and

businesses run on renewable energy and where no food is wasted unnecessarily

where no food is wasted unnecessarily

where no food is wasted unnecessarily but I need you guys to help create that

but I need you guys to help create that

but I need you guys to help create that future because while finite resources

future because while finite resources

future because while finite resources are still being plundered while our

are still being plundered while our

are still being plundered while our natural landscapes are still being

natural landscapes are still being

natural landscapes are still being polluted while there is still

polluted while there is still

polluted while there is still fragmentation within our food system we

fragmentation within our food system we

fragmentation within our food system we must realize there is no room for apathy

must realize there is no room for apathy

must realize there is no room for apathy there is no luxury of time for

there is no luxury of time for

there is no luxury of time for complacency I have no doubt that we can

complacency I have no doubt that we can

complacency I have no doubt that we can all live well now and into the future

all live well now and into the future

all live well now and into the future within the means of one planet but only

within the means of one planet but only

within the means of one planet but only if we are conscious of our shared

if we are conscious of our shared

if we are conscious of our shared responsibility and with knowledge that

responsibility and with knowledge that

responsibility and with knowledge that farmers are the link to the land to our

farmers are the link to the land to our

farmers are the link to the land to our food and to vibrant and prosperous

food and to vibrant and prosperous

food and to vibrant and prosperous communities sure the world is a complex

communities sure the world is a complex

communities sure the world is a complex place but as I learned during the

place but as I learned during the

place but as I learned during the millennium drought everything is

millennium drought everything is

millennium drought everything is connected in fact if you pull out a

connected in fact if you pull out a

connected in fact if you pull out a single thread of life you will find it

single thread of life you will find it

single thread of life you will find it is attached to everything else and

is attached to everything else and

is attached to everything else and because of this interconnectivity you

because of this interconnectivity you

because of this interconnectivity you here today play a critical role you

here today play a critical role you

here today play a critical role you drive the farmers production by choosing

drive the farmers production by choosing

drive the farmers production by choosing what to eat you manage the natural

what to eat you manage the natural

what to eat you manage the natural resources by deciding to finish your

resources by deciding to finish your

resources by deciding to finish your meal or to throw it out your use of

meal or to throw it out your use of

meal or to throw it out your use of energy and the source of where that is

energy and the source of where that is

energy and the source of where that is generated from determines the pollution

generated from determines the pollution

generated from determines the pollution that is or is not put into our skies and

that is or is not put into our skies and

that is or is not put into our skies and your vote sets the policies and the

your vote sets the policies and the

your vote sets the policies and the trajectory of our common future

trajectory of our common future

trajectory of our common future in essence it is your engagement with

in essence it is your engagement with

in essence it is your engagement with the farming story that shapes our

the farming story that shapes our

the farming story that shapes our industry

industry

industry and the world in which we live thank you

and the world in which we live thank you

and the world in which we live thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]