Drought Resilience Farming Practices Program
What is this program about?
The program focuses on enabling farmers' drought resilience through the adoption of bio-fertilisers with proven effectiveness in increasing soil water holding capacity, improving fertiliser efficiency and enhancing yields.
Media Releases
September 2023
Mollongghip and District Enterprises (MADE) is delivering a paradigm shift in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy enabling Australian farmers to thrive. We are proud to announce the launch of our game-changing project: Enhancing agricultural drought resilience through the adoption of biological fertilisers, supported by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices program.
Building on extensive international evidence on the effectiveness of anaerobic digestate-based biofertilisers, MADE will do in-paddock trials/demonstrations at 5 farms in Western and Central Victoria showing how to use digestate-based biofertilisers to improve soil water holding capacity, improve long term soil health, fertiliser efficiency and stable humus/organic matter formation whilst maintaining yields in the short-term and increasing yields in the long-term.
MADE’s partners, renowned anaerobic digestion (AD) expert, Prof Prasad Kaparaju from Griffith University, will undertake comprehensive testing to validate the effectiveness of blended biological fertilisers. The results of this groundbreaking research will be shared with the scientific and agricultural community, benefiting farmers across Australia.
To build farmers’ ability to use digestate-based biofertilisers successfully, MADE will deliver a personalised education and coaching program lead by renowned regenerative agriculture expert, Graeme Sait of Nutri-Tech Solutions. The program will be offered to support farmers as they transition to integrated farm management practices, enhancing soil health, and building drought resilience. The trials will also use innovative yet practical precision agriculture tools to support farmers gain valuable insights that inform their integrated crop management decisions, ensuring long-term improvements in drought resilience, productivity and profitability.
"The collaborative efforts of MADE, Prof Prasad Kaparaju, and Graeme Sait represent a remarkable opportunity to transform Australian agriculture," said Joe Finneran, MADE CEO. "By showcasing the efficacy of biological fertilisers at our in-paddock sites, we aim to inspire farmers nationwide to adopt new practices that mitigate the impact of drought and improve agricultural productivity for the future. We know from helping our local farmers in a recently completed Landcare Smart Farming initiative, with Nutri-Tech Solutions, that we helped them to achieve efficiency gains of up to 30%.
Through sharing knowledge via national networks, MADE will maximise awareness and adoption of best practices in biofertiliser application. All Australian farmers will have to access MADE’s online resources, empowering them with the latest advancements in digestate-based biofertilisers and how to use them to achieve the best results.
MADE's visionary project, in collaboration with local farmers, expert research and educator partners, will accelerate adoption of digestate-based biofertilisers ensuring Australia’s agricultural productivity remains internationally competitive and Australia’s farmers are more profitable and drought resilient into the future.
Australian Agritech Startup Receives EPA Approval for Ground
In a major win for Australian agriculture, MADE, a leading Australian agritech company, has received approval from the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to conduct field trials using its novel biofertiliser, MADE digestate. This milestone paves the way for a new circular bioeconomy, empowering farmers to create their own sustainable, cost-effective biofertilisers and biofuels.
“This EPA approval is a gamechanger for Australian agriculture,” says Joe Finneran Founder and CEO of MADE. “Our MADE technology transforms high-risk agricultural waste, including manure, into biologically diverse biofertilisers. This not only reduces reliance on synthetic inputs and disease management chemicals, but also creates a valuable resource for farmers.”
The approval comes after extensive collaboration with the EPA. “We appreciate the willingness of the different teams at the Victorian EPA to work with us,” says Joe Finneran. “We’ve demonstrated that our innovative approach can upgrade digestate incorporating manure to meet stringent regulatory requirements.”
This approval is particularly timely. Over 300,000 farmers across Europe, China, and the US are already benefiting from Anaerobic Digestion (AD), a process that repurposes organic residues like straw and manure into biofertiliser for their fields. AD not only reduces reliance on chemical inputs but also promotes soil health and contributes to a more sustainable agricultural system. Over 85% of our food is still grown in soil and soil is the largest carbon sink on the planet!
“With this critical EPA approval in hand, we’re excited to launch our novel field trials,” says Joe Finneran. “These trials will showcase the potential of MADE digestate to build drought resilience for Australian farmers, a critical issue in today's climate as part of Future Drought Fund project.”
For further information, please contact:
Joe Finneran, CEO, MADE. joe@madeenergy.com.au
MADE Biofertiliser Trials Sprouting Across Victoria
Mollongghip, Victoria 11/06/24 – In a promising development for Australian agriculture, MADE, a leading agri-tech company, has commenced field trials for its novel bio-fertiliser strategies across five locations in western and central Victoria.
Year-Long Development Culminates in Field Trials:
This exciting project follows 12 months of intensive research and development by MADE and its partners. The research team conducted a comprehensive review of global research across agriculture, hydroponics, human health, and cosmetics! This was followed by over 300 seed germination tests and extensive pot trials to evaluate the effectiveness of various biofertiliser approaches.
Real-World Conditions for Accurate Results:
Partnering with five progressive farmers, MADE has planted wheat cultivar trials incorporating five unique biofertiliser treatments. These trials aim to demonstrate the potential of alternative nutrient management strategies for building drought resilience, enhancing water holding capacity, and improving soil carbon content. Importantly, each trial site reflects real-world conditions.
- Baseline Soil Analysis: Trial paddocks were prepared in various ways (canola stubble, burnt, worked up, direct drill) to mimic the heterogeneity of farmland.
- Baseline Soil Analysis: Detailed soil tests, along with soil structure, water penetration, and biological analysis, were conducted at each site to establish a baseline for comparison.
- Microclimate Variations: Each trial site boasts distinct microclimates, further mirroring the complexities of real-world farming.
Testing a Range of Biofertiliser Solutions:
The trials include a control plot replicating the farmer's usual practices. Alternative biofertiliser approaches being tested include:
- Seed treatments
- Biological treatments
- Anaerobic digestate – a bio-fertiliser derived from agricultural residues
Precision Ag for Enhanced Monitoring:
The project utilises innovative precision agriculture technologies to meticulously measure plant health and soil health throughout the growing season.
Sharing Knowledge and Early Observations:
MADE plans to share regular updates on the trials, including:
- Demonstration Days: Farmers will have opportunities to visit the trial sites, ask questions, and learn from the research team.
- Website Updates: Regular updates will be posted on the MADE website detailing observations, disease management strategies, and the use of technology to forecast microclimate conditions.
- Knowledge Workshops: On the 7th & 8th August we will be holding workshops in Avoca, Victoria so you can learn more about practises to improve your profitability and productivity
Early Signs of Promise:
While the trials are in their initial stages, preliminary observations offer a glimpse of potential benefits. Some farmers have reported earlier emergence of crops treated with biological solutions compared to the traditional approach.
Stay Tuned for More:
MADE encourages researchers and farmers to stay connected for further updates. Subscribe to the MADE newsletter for insights on the progress of these groundbreaking trials.
For further information, please contact:
Joe Finneran, CEO, MADE. joe@madeenergy.com.au
This program/project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
The Four Key Components of the Program
Practical Demonstrations
Practical Demonstrations
Practical Demonstrations
- Unique Pot Testing of alternative biofertiliser at Griffith University
- In Paddock Trials at 5 broadacre farms in Western & Central districts of Victoria using a typical wheat variety
- Production of tailored biofertilisers using anaerobic digestion (AD) digestate as an input. Digestate produced using typical farm residues from the local area
Knowledge Building
Practical Demonstrations
Practical Demonstrations
- A series of workshops for farmers to build skills in managing drought periods
Precision Ag Tools
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- Tool library for farmers to try, test and use tools that help make informed real time crop nutrient decisions
- Demonstration of tools that help farmers understand soil/crop levels of NPK and soil biology health
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- 2 x 2 day workshops by Graeme Sait from Nutri-Tech Solutions on drought resilience, soil health, soil biology. Free for trial farmers
- Griffith to publish research in an academic journal
- Series of podcasts on building Drought Resilience with global leaders in regenerative farming
- Various field days to visit trials over the course of the project which is due to complete in June 2025
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Opportunities for Farmers
Opportunity for Farmers to
- Build capabilities & an understanding of how soil biology & plants work together
- Learn simple techniques to help making inputs more efficient & cost effective
- Get to see trials that have never been done before in Australia
- Workshops with Graeme Sait from Nutri-Tech Solutions and others
- Demonstration of innovative & practical technology to help growing decisions
- Podcasts to listen to whilst in your four-wheeled offices
- Access to our website with reference materials & trusted source of information
- Learn more about advanced anaerobic digestion & how it may fit different farm or community needs
- See how agricultural residues with a bit of tweaking, can help replace synthetic fertiliser & fuel in the future
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