NEWS
From its earliest conception, the mission of the Regenerative Food Systems Conference was clear: to set in motion collective responsibility for soil health, human wellbeing, and food security by unifying all sectors of the food system. Because taking responsibility together is an opportunity to reimagine and regenerate Australia’s food system.
To some, hosting a Regenerative Food Systems Conference in Australia may have seemed superfluous. After all, Australia produces enough food each year to feed 80 million people. But those intimately involved in the food system are painfully aware of the realities that lie beneath this impressive figure; farmers are under increasing pressure to produce more and more food just to make ends meet, around 30% of Australian households face food insecurity, and the natural capital our food system depends on is rapidly depleting. Expanding the narrow lens through which Australia’s food system is currently viewed (outputs and productivity) reveals the need to account for a suite of hidden costs and to embed our approach to food in human and ecological health.
The Regenerative Food Systems Conference set out not only to highlight these issues, but to chart a clear way forward. We recognised that sharing positive success stories alone would not be enough – that it was crucial to confront the difficult realities we face together, as a unified force. And we knew these conversations could not remain within our own circles; we needed to strengthen the movement, amplify voices across the sector, and learn how to engage all those connected to the food system.
This year’s conference was a step in that direction. It was a gathering designed not only to spark dialogue, but to showcase practical solutions, bring an array of perspectives to the table, and build the shared momentum needed to drive meaningful change. The conference platformed 5 international speakers, 12 interstate speakers, and 3 First Nations speakers, comprised of soil scientists, producers, educators, academics, economists, agronomists, experts from the health and finance sectors, and leaders of international and local not-for-profits. It attracted a crowd of 300 people across those same sectors. Two esteemed MCs, Anthony James and Elizabeth Brennan, had the ambitious task of consolidating these perspectives into a cohesive pathway towards regenerative food systems, a challenge they met with charisma, discernment, and authenticity.
Being opened by His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM afforded the conference the professionalism befitting of its mission. This address set a reflective and respectful tone for what became an inspiring and impactful week, affirming the importance of all levels of the food system, from ground to policy, walking the road to regeneration together.
By weaving together well-established data, emerging scientific insights, compelling storytelling, and actionable solutions, we endeavoured to coalesce the diverse approaches shaping responses to the complex challenges confronting our food system.
Addressing these challenges would not be possible without first facing the realities of how we got to this point – which is exactly what Walter McGuire asked us to do. During his powerful Welcome to Country, Walter emphasised that regenerating landscapes requires collective care, and that we all carry a responsibility to restore the traditional knowledge systems deliberately disrupted by colonisation. While First Nations people may not have been “farmers” in the modern, industrial, Western sense, their deep understanding of growing food in harmony with Country provides enduring guidance for regenerative futures. He pressed the audience to reflect on our own discomfort and reminded us that guidance from Elders is offered in welcome and respect. Walter’s words “It’s together or not at all,” were particularly poignant, and embedded themselves in every conversation that followed.
The introductory presentation from RegenWA Chair and Buntine farmer, Stuart McAlpine, added to this sense of collective duty established by Walter. Stuart shared his own journey with farming, calling for immediate action to invest in soil biology and regenerative agriculture. He highlighted that without greater collaboration, research, and public support, farmers risk rising costs and fragile margins, while the full potential of healthy soils to deliver food security, resilience, and human and ecological wellbeing will remain unrealised.
Building on this foundation, Hanabeth Luke (Murdoch University) delivered the conference’s first keynote presentation, setting the scene with a discussion of the need for robust, practical and holistic metrics to assess regenerative outcomes and the creation of policy enablers for accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture. The core messages of this strong opening resonated throughout the remainder of the day, echoed later in Dr. Susan Orgill’s call to “make the invisible investable” and MC Anthony James’ declaration that we have the evidence – now we need the support to enable further uptake of regenerative practices.
Dan Kittredge (Bionutrient Institute) and Dr. Craig Liddicoat’s (Flinders University) sessions highlighted the powerful connections between soil health, food quality, and human wellbeing. Dan explored the dependency of nutrient density on the life and function of soil rather than certifications or labels, and emphasised that while his Bionutrient Meter will be able to put figures to this, we can also rely on our in-built monitoring system: our senses. Craig showed how exposure to biodiverse soils and natural materials, from farms to childcare centres, can boost immunity and reduce allergies, particularly in children. Together, their talks affirmed that healthy soil, thriving ecosystems, and nutritious food are inseparable.
Danny O’Brien (Integrated Futures) and Michael Taylor (Taylor’s Run) shared the stage next, unpacking the relationships between different types of natural capital and various farm business performance measures, highlighting the ‘double dividend zone’ within which conservation efforts reap production benefits. While Danny brought the data, Michael’s perspectives on putting the science into practice and discussions of the more intrinsic values of natural capital touched on a central thread of the conference: that people and ecology are the central pillars of our food systems, and data often serves only to articulate what stewards of the land already understand – a sentiment repeated by speakers like Heidi, Oral, Bonnie, and Ronnie.
Dr. Susan Orgill brought her signature interactive, energetic delivery in spades, keeping the crowd captivated with the aid of soil-filled buckets and audience participation designed to bring the hidden world of soil biology to life. Given this, it’s no surprise that many attendees regarded her as one of the conference’s most compelling contributors. In pointing to the role of intuition not as guesswork, but as the brain’s recognition of patterns (a skill farmers rely on daily in their decision-making) Dr. Susan reiterated the conference’s broader theme of blending knowledge, experience, and science, setting the stage seamlessly for the sessions that followed.
Lance Mudgway (Mulloon Institute) and Warren Pensini’s (Paraway Farm) live-action landscape rehydration demonstration provided a welcome change of pace following the intricacies of microbial relationships, econometric analysis, and the soil-human health interface. Through the story of Paraway Farm, where a suite of interventions are rapidly enhancing landscape functionality, they illustrated practical, on-the-ground solutions. Reflecting on the work, Warren Pensini remarked, “I always loved my land, but now I feel like I am loving my land,” capturing an often overlooked driver that can transform perspectives and outcomes, and drive broader engagement and coordinated action – an apt note to lead into the following session, ‘Driving Collective Action’.
Gabrielle Taus (Commonland) shared how communities worldwide are restoring ecosystems by building local capability and fostering collective action through the 4 Returns Framework, while Heidi Mippy highlighted First Nations food sovereignty and the need to reframe how knowledge is valued, challenging the tendency to see Indigenous ways of knowing as secondary to Western science and proposing a new knowledge system altogether. The session also featured Ronnie Duncan (In Better Company), who used the setting of Optus Stadium, a $1.6 billion project, to question the priorities of our state’s decision makers, then emphasised that meaningful change emerges through collaboration and listening – and listening to the right people. Heidi’s point that storytelling has the power to change mindsets accentuated this and was met with agreement from the Collective Action panel members, Rikki Foss, Tara Shyam, Carolyn Hall, and Gabrielle Taus.
By day’s end, the prevailing feeling was one of possibility: thriving land, nourished communities, and diverse, valued knowledge systems. The sundowner offered a pause to reflect, connect, and carry that energy into the next day’s conversations.
Following a roaming mic session facilitated by MCs Anthony James and Elizabeth Brennan, Day 2 opened with a presentation from Brad Plunkett (DPIRD) that grounded us firmly in reality. In addition to laying out the increasing pressures facing farming systems, Brad presented two local case studies as examples of how these challenges can be overcome. Combining production data with reflections on mindset shifts, Brad made a case for hybrid modes of farming over rigid attachment to particular labels or systems, gesturing at a driving principle of the conference: what we call ourselves matters far less than the goals, values, and context guiding our practices.
Always a brilliant communicator, Joel Williams (Integrated Soils) then refocused attention on soil biology, demonstrating how diverse plantings foster richer microbial communities and enhance natural soil fertility. He cited research showing that synthetic nitrogen can inhibit plants’ ability to fix their own nitrogen, making the case for working with soils and microbes rather than relying heavily on external inputs. His presentation highlighted the potential for well-managed soils to drive both productivity and resilience across farming systems.
Nic Kentish (RCS) followed with a practical discussion on how grazing animals can be integrated into broadacre operations for both economic and environmental benefit. He pointed out contradictions in conventional practices, such as expecting animals to perform under stressful conditions, and illustrated how regenerative design, planning, monitoring, and management can deliver healthier animals, soils, and landscapes.
Transitioning from applied strategies to on-farm realities, Eli Court (Soils for Life) facilitated a panel with Debbie Dowden (Challa Station) and Garry Page (Bittleyonge Farm), weaving together stories of both achievement and challenge. Gary reflected on the initial scepticism his regenerative practices faced, noting how interest in his farm has since grown exponentially – so much so that he can no longer respond to every request for guidance. This highlights the rapid evolution of social perceptions around regenerative agriculture. Debbie showcased inspiring examples of rangeland restoration through simple rehydration techniques such as scallops, with striking before-and-after photos that illustrated what can be achieved when knowledge, care, action, and a desire to produce world-class food converge.
Dr. Jacob Parnell (BiomeMakers) placed importance on the critical need to bridge the gap between scientific data and actionable insights for farmers. He highlighted the disconnect between corporate reporting mechanisms that offer little in the way of meaningful guidance, or practical transitional support for farmers. Through his work at BiomeMakers, Dr. Jacob is shifting this by providing biological diagnostics that enable growers to move towards data-informed, microbially intelligent management.
This framing stressed the challenges inherent in the current food system and primed the audience to hear solutions that move beyond agronomic approaches. Nick Rose (Sustain) offered a vision of a food system that prioritise human health, wellbeing, and ecological flourishing over short-term, corporate profit. Acknowledging farmers’ reflections on the pressures of modern agriculture, he challenged the very structures that keep us trapped in this system and highlighted how to overcome them. He cited policy shifts such as South Australia’s fast food advertisement bans and Victoria’s proposed ecological land scoring as positive steps forward, and advocated moving from total factor productivity to total system productivity to account for hidden health and ecological costs. Referring to earlier insights Oral McGuire’s panel contribution, he reminded us that improving the mediocrity of health and food in Australia requires the elevation of First Nations knowledge.
Picking up from Nick’s calls for localised, people-centred food systems, Matthew Evans drew on his time in a regional WA town with a notable of lack amenities to highlight the realities of the current food system. When met with the proud proclamation from a local farmer about how many million loaves of bread the community is responsible for producing, Matthew’s stark response was “So where’s your bakery?” This simple exchange powerfully illustrated a fundamental imbalance: while production and export dominate, local communities often struggle to access nutritious, affordable food and essential services. Matthew emphasised that addressing this gap requires not only systemic change but also active support from consumers and the wider community. His presentation was highly interactive, engaging the audience in a dynamic discussion that brought these critical issues to life.
Broadening the perspective from national to global, Tara Shyam discussed Regen10’s global work to align stakeholders around regenerative, equitable food systems. She highlighted the farmer-centred Outcomes Framework and Transition Pathways, showing how evidence and practical tools can guide regenerative practices across contexts, and exemplifying what Dr. Jacob Parnell had previously noted. Her presentation reinforced the conference’s focus on collective and collaboration to achieve meaningful, practical change.
The conference’s final hours highlighted emerging leaders, featuring a panel with young farmers Dustin Michael and Shaun Kalajzic, agronomist Nick Eyres, and RegenWA Program Manager Bonnie Jupp. The farmers candidly reflected on their setbacks and the motivations that keep them committed to farming, while Nick Eyres spoke to his dedication to supporting growers in achieving both productive, resilient soils and secure profit margins. Bonnie Jupp closed the discussion by emphasising the vital role of local grower groups in fostering connection and knowledge exchange, highlighting that data is only one piece of the puzzle. Together, their insights reinforced the conference’s overarching message: building regenerative food systems requires collaboration, practical solutions, and the integration of lived experience, scientific knowledge, and community-led learning to regenerate landscapes, strengthen local food systems, and support human and ecological wellbeing.
Opening with his reflections on the conference, Tim emphasised that the path forward lies in making regenerative practices and principles mainstream: through storytelling, normalising approaches, and underpinning them with robust data. With his trademark blend of insight, humour, and curiosity, Tim guided Matt to share how his family operation, Natural Intelligence Farming, seeks to pave an easier path for others transitioning to regenerative methods and accessing niche markets. Matt spoke passionately about their motivations: producing high-quality food, educating consumers, ensuring farmers are fairly rewarded, and safeguarding the landscapes that sustain them.
This final conversation captured the broader spirit of the conference – one of shared learning, tangible connections between ideas and practice, and genuine collaboration. Simple gestures were embedded throughout the conference, like Gingin grower Tom Mitchell supplying his mandarins for morning tea, cider and beer made by Dustin Michael being offered at the sundowner, and all manner of relevant books (including those by presenters) being available at a stall, to spark further conversations and create experiences that reflected the values of regenerative thinking.
The connections forged over the course of the conference were able to flourish further at the week’s other events, such as The Tour of Natural Intelligence Farming, Nourish Perth, Roots So Deep, Grounded, and a Mulloon landscape rehydration field day, offering participants the chance to extend their learning across diverse environments and carry the ideas and energy of the conference well beyond the confined of Optus Stadium. As noted by Matt Haggerty following the successful week of events (two facilitated by Natural Intelligence Farming) that attracting upwards of 1000 people, “WA has been the heart of the global regenerative movement this week!”
In the wake of the Regenerative Food Systems Conference, we sincerely hope the event achieved more than a series of presentations and discussions. Across sessions, panels, and hands-on experiences, we watched common threads emerge: the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing, the integration of lived experience with scientific insight, and the urgent need to place human and ecological wellbeing at the heart of our food systems. Put simply by Elizabeth Brennan, “linking head, the heart, and the gut is key to regenerating our food systems.” From First Nations wisdom to the innovations of young farmers, from practical farm interventions to global initiatives like Regen10, we hope participants left with a renewed sense of possibility, shared purpose, and the tools to take action. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all speakers, facilitators, partners, sponsors, and attendees whose generosity, insight, and engagement made this conference a remarkable step forward in shaping resilient, regenerative food systems for the future.
Thank you to the generous sponsorship of Perth NRM, the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program, WALGA, Department of Planning, Lands, and Heritage, Commonland, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation, GreenMate Agriculture, CarbonLink, Rural West, and Best Farming Systems.
Photos by Paolo Sulit.
