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WOMEN IN AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE
“There are massive monetary benefits be- cause once you’ve paid that off, that energy you have created is basically free which is a huge boost to farmers’ income, and that extra income can be used on other projects around the farm,” she says. “Having a more profitable farm benefits regional communities too because it means farmers have got more money to spend at local businesses such as the auto-mechanic and the grocery store. There is just more money around.” And while more income is always a great thing, Karin says the environmental benefits are significant. “We know we are not on track to meet targets of the Paris Agreement and we know farmers can use large amounts of energy,” she says. “My own farm’s solar system saved an astonishing 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide in just its first year when compared with diesel which is about 44 households’ worth of car- bon dioxide. “Even if we help just 10 farms “make the switch” – it all helps with keeping to our car- bon budget and reducing emissions in the agricultural sector. “It is about saving money while also re- cognising the responsibility farmers have to environmental conservation and protecting what we have for future generations.” The Renewables in Agriculture Confer- ence & Expo aims to overcome the bar- riers faced by adopting renewables by bringing together farmers, peak industry bodies, suppliers, and government rep- resentatives to share stories farmers suc- cessfully transitioning to renewables. The next Conference will be held on the 21 June 2023 in Dubbo.
per cent in the last 10 years while battery storage continues to reduce in price. “That is driving business decisions to the point where it is actually viable for a farm to now try and covert to renewables.” Despite the positive inroads some in the agricultural sector are making through the adoption of renewables, Karin says there is reluctance from some corners. She says much of that hesitancy re- sulted from a lack of working examples. “Farmers like to look over their fence and learn from their neighbours and peers,” she says. “There’s really not enough of those ex- amples yet that allows people to easily learn from one another, and sometimes that causes a lack of understanding, which I appreciate.” Karin says once farmers make the jump, a renewables system usually pays for it- self within five years.
Visit www.renewablesinagconference.com.au for more information.
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28/10/2023
With special thanks to TAF Founding alliance partner AWiA
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