Project updates

• “Basin Forums” Deliverable: The final two Basin Forum workshops were held online in Griffith on 27 May and Goondiwindi on 3 June, completing the four-region workshop series. The sessions brought together growers, irrigation organisations, energy providers and industry representatives to explore regional challenges and practical decarbonisation opportunities. Discussions reinforced that energy cost, operational reliability and regional system characteristics strongly shape investment decisions, while barriers such as capital costs, grid constraints and infrastructure limitations can restrict technology uptake. Workshop reports for both regions were finalised and shared with participants, and findings from all four Basin Forums are now being consolidated to inform the Decarbonisation Roadmap.

• “Decarbonisation Roadmap (part 1)” Deliverable: The first part of the Decarbonisation Roadmap has now been drafted, drawing together project findings and stakeholder input to identify key pathways, priorities, enabling conditions and risks for reducing irrigation-related emissions across the Murray–Darling Basin. Three Working Group meetings were held to discuss emerging findings, discuss regional differences and refine the direction of the roadmap. The draft report provides a strategic foundation for the next stage of the project, including consideration of priority actions and potential demonstration opportunities.

Region-based activities

1. Mildura Field Day and AgVenture Expo
Participation in the Mildura Field Day and AgVenture Expo provided valuable opportunities to connect with local growers, irrigation businesses, technology providers and other regional stakeholders. At the events, the project team presented key findings from the ‘Size of the Prize’ analysis in poster format. It generated strong interest among local attendees, particularly around the estimated scale of irrigation-associated greenhouse gas emissions across the Basin. The poster provided an accessible way to communicate the magnitude of the decarbonisation challenge and helped prompt conversations about local energy use, irrigation practices and potential emission-reduction opportunities. These events also helped raise awareness of the broader project, identify potential interview participants, and strengthen local networks to support ongoing stakeholder engagement and data collection. In addition, Arezoo was interviewed by ABC Swan Hill, providing a further opportunity to introduce the project, its objectives and emerging findings to a wider regional audience and increase awareness of the research among local communities.

2. Women in Irrigation and Australian Almond Board Riverina Meeting
Attendance at the Women in Irrigation event and the Australian Almond Board’s Riverina meeting strengthened connections with growers and industry representatives across the region. The events provided opportunities to discuss irrigation practices and challenges, identify potential interview participants and expand the project’s regional stakeholder network.

3. National Renewables in Agriculture Conference & Expo – Orange
The project team attended the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference & Expo in Orange, providing a valuable opportunity to engage with farmers, technology providers, researchers and agricultural organisations from across Australia. Discussions highlighted growing interest in renewable energy and low-emission technologies for agriculture. The event also provided useful insights into emerging technologies and practical examples of how agricultural businesses are approaching energy transition and emissions reduction. At the same time, conversations reinforced that high upfront costs, grid access and connection constraints, financing, technology suitability and practical implementation remain important barriers. The conference also supported project networking by identifying potential interview participants, strengthening industry connections and gathering case-study examples relevant to the decarbonisation of irrigation and agricultural systems.

4. Leadership Development Program and One Basin CRC Annual Event
Participation in the One Basin CRC Leadership Development Program and Annual Event provided valuable opportunities to strengthen leadership capability, connect with researchers and partners from across the CRC, and build relationships that support collaboration and knowledge sharing across projects. The Leadership Development workshop included useful discussions on managing challenges in stakeholder engagement, including how to build trust, navigate differing expectations and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholder groups. The CRC Annual Event was also a valuable opportunity to meet industry partners in person, discuss the project from different perspectives, and gain broader insights into how the research can respond to regional and industry needs.

5. Loxton Research Farm and Loxton Hub Engagement
A visit to the Loxton research farm provided insights into the evolution of irrigation management in Riverland horticulture, including advanced monitoring and machine-learning approaches that have achieved water savings of up to 15%. The visit also highlighted ongoing research into salinity management and high-density horticultural systems. Attending the Loxton Hub morning tea provided an additional opportunity to connect with local researchers and stakeholders.

People update

We are pleased to welcome Reihaneh back to the team following her return from maternity leave on 18 August. It is great to have her rejoin the project and continue contributing to the team’s research and stakeholder engagement activities. We would also like to thank Lawrence for his valuable contributions to the project and the team. As he prepares to leave the group at the end of September, we wish him all the best for his next chapter and greatly appreciate the support, insights and collaboration he has provided.