On 24 February, Australian producers, advisors and ag professionals have a rare opportunity to hear from two of the world’s leading thinkers working at the intersection of farming systems, climate, markets and food security.
Professor Julie Ingram and Professor John Ingram — both internationally respected researchers — will deliver separate but highly complementary seminars at the University of Melbourne, available online or in person.
Are greenhouse gas tools actually working for farmers?
In her seminar, Professor Julie Ingram will explore a question increasingly raised by producers: are farm greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting tools genuinely supporting better decision-making, or simply adding complexity?
Drawing on insights from the UK Land Use Net Zero FOOTPRINT project, Julie will share lessons from a large, collaborative effort involving 100 farms, multiple GHG tool providers, researchers and land agents across the UK. The project is testing how GHG tools are understood, trusted and used on-farm — and whether they can genuinely build confidence, learning and “net zero literacy” among farmers.
The session will also examine the governance and equity challenges of scaling GHG accounting, an issue highly relevant as Australian producers face growing expectations from markets, supply chains and financiers.
🔗 Event details:
https://events.unimelb.edu.au/safes/event/51105-professor-julie-ingram-are-greenhouse-gas
A food systems lens on health, climate and enterprise
Later the same day, Professor John Ingram will zoom out to the bigger picture — asking how our food systems shape health, environmental and economic outcomes, and who needs to do what to improve them.
His presentation will unpack the concept of food system transformation, using a “fork-to-farm” lens that considers everyone involved — from consumers and policymakers through to primary producers. John will explore the trade-offs between diets, health, climate and production, and why simply producing more food is no longer enough to meet future challenges.
For producers and advisors, this session provides valuable context for understanding how on-farm decisions sit within broader food system pressures — and why agriculture is increasingly central to discussions about climate, nutrition and resilience.
🔗 Event details:
https://events.unimelb.edu.au/safes/event/51068-professor-john-ingram-transforming-food-system-outcome
Why these conversations matter
Together, these two seminars offer practical insight and big-picture thinking — grounded in real farming systems — at a time when producers are navigating rapid change.
Whether you’re interested in emissions tools, market expectations, policy direction or the future role of agriculture, these sessions offer valuable perspectives worth engaging with.
📅 Date: 24 February
📍 Attend: Online or in person (University of Melbourne)