2023 Grassland Society of Southern Africa Congress
The 58th Annual Congress of the GSSA will take place from 24-28 July, 2023 in Omaramba, Rustenburg, North West Province, South Africa. Registration will open in the first week of April. Note that the Congress will run as a hybrid event so delegates can register for the Virtual Platform from Australia. Presentations can also be made online so if you would like to be included please send through your Abstracts for presentations or posters – the Call for Abstracts is open until 5 May. Further information is available at the Congress website – https://2023gssa.dryfta.com/
2023 International Grassland Congress
The XXV IGC will be held from 14-19 May, 2023, in Covington, Kentucky, USA. The theme of the conference is Grassland for Soil, Animal and Human Health. The conference features academic presentations that highlight research on grassland ecology, forage production and utilization, livestock production systems, grassland sustainability and ecosystems, and grassland policies and social issues. Our very own Dana Kelly is highlighted as a guest speaker at the event. Further details can be found at the Congress website – https://www.internationalgrasslands.org/2023-igc/
Are there two worlds of agricultural sustainability?
Beef Central, reporting from the Protein 2023 conference in Dalby, explores how competing priorities will influence a sustainable future for agriculture. “On one hand, the agriculture sector is facing a major challenge to provide a nutritious food supply to a large and growing world population, which is leading to more intensive agricultural operations. On the other hand, others in the sector, including some corporates and industry representative groups, are committing to meet ambitious emissions-reduction targets in their supply chains through all means necessary.” Read more about this challenge here.
What is the the key to securing a reliable and dynamic rural industries workforce for the future?
An Australian first study has found that changing how community members view a career in agriculture, fisheries or forestry could hold the key to securing a reliable and dynamic rural industries workforce for the future. Agrifutures Australia reports that the research involved surveying more than 5,000 people to understand the key drivers of workforce retention and attraction across rural industries. See the results of the study here.
New grassroots funding for South Australian Arid Lands projects
A new funding pool of $100,000 is available to address environmental projects in the SA Arid Lands. The 2023/24 Grassroots Grants funding round is now open and is available for projects undertaken by volunteers, community groups, not-for-profit organisations and landholders to help sustainably manage local landscapes through on-ground works and building community capacity.
Grants of up to $10,000 are available and applications will be open for two months. Projects need to address one or more of the board’s priority issues of climate resilience, water management, sustainable land management, protecting and enhancing biodiversity and people and partnerships.
Applications for this year’s round will close on Monday 8 May 2023 at 5pm. For more information visit here.