L-R: Malcolm Roberts, Gary Nairn AO, Owen Gabbitas, Ariun Bayarjargal and Adam Bogiatzis.

The Mulloon Institute’s Chairman Gary Nairn AO and CEO & Managing Director Carolyn Hall had the pleasure of hosting the Productivity Commission at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms this April.

As part of their review of the Futures Drought Fund, the Productivity Commission were interested in exploring how economic and environmental objectives could be better integrated. The team had read with interest Carolyn’s submission to the commission that the Mulloon Institute had its own commercial farm that acts as a demonstrator and thought that an onsite visit might offer a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience on how these objectives can support each other.

The group which included Malcolm Roberts (Commissioner), Adam Bogiatzis (Assistant Commissioner) and team members Owen Gabbitas and Ariun Bayarjargal enjoyed a beautiful autumn day while exploring the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative.

They learned about how landscape rehydration can restore the way water moves through the landscape and how it is cycled and stored there to rebuild soil health and increase plant available water. They also learned about the multiple benefits of increased agricultural productivity, improved biodiversity and natural capital like soil carbon, increased resilience to drought and the flow on benefits to rural communities.

Furthermore, they appreciated the value of data now emerging from the MRI for proof of concept and the benefits of a holistic management approach, that when paired with landscape rehydration, can help farmers make the most of restored and rehydrated landscapes.

We very much look forward to the report by Commissioner Roberts and his team.

TheMulloon Rehydration Initiativeis jointly funded through the Mulloon Institute and theAustralian Government’s National Landcare Programand is supported by theNSW Government’s Environmental Trust