Innovation for Sustainability: Collaborative Solutions from Australian and Californian Agrifood Systems
Agrifood systems globally are facing challenges including climate change, finite natural resources, increasing input costs, changing consumer preferences and shifts to net-zero economies. In this context, innovation is key to supporting sustainability and driving system-wide adaptation. Yet innovation as we have known it will not be enough. Producers, industry representatives, governments and researchers will need to collaborate, embrace new ways of thinking and shift our approach to innovation to meet the challenges of the coming decades. Experts and practitioners from Australia and California will share their experiences, knowledge and insights in a facilitated panel discussion. Public policy, circular economy, technology, research and innovation lenses will be applied by the panellists. Please join us to consider the innovation systems of the present and future and how agrifood systems can be productive while adapting to climate and resource challenges. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the State of California of the United States of America signed in 2023 has been the impetus for this event. The MoU provides a forum for cooperation and information sharing on issues including sustainability in agriculture.