Ag research, development and adoption, and its potential for global applications, was the focus of the recent Ag Institute Australia SA Division's annual meeting.
Speakers shared their experience of working in international outreach through programs such as the Crawford Fund and Researchers for Agriculture in International Development or RAID.
CSIRO's Brendan Brown, who originally graduated as a soil scientist, has devoted his career to working with smallholder farmers of Asia, Africa and the Middle East with the Australian government, United Nations and CGIAR.
Working in more than 15 countries, projects have varied from rabbit and honey production in Ghana, irrigated rice production in Cambodia, conservation agriculture promotion in Kenya and effective management of saline soils in Iraq.
He says it is important that research moves "from the shelf to the field".
Third-year Agricultural Science student with the University of Adelaide Emma Knowles also shared her experience after receiving the New Columbo Plan Scholarship, which allowed her to spend a semester studying in Indonesia.
University of SA PhD student Sophie Lountain, RAID, and Crawford Funds Roger Wickes outlined the aims, activities and opportunities for students and young professionals in international development.
Mr Wickes said it the world was a farm, Australia and South Australia would not be the best paddock but the biophysical constraints on our continent have forced us to innovate.
This innovative mindset and capability have been shared with developing countries, he said.
Newly-elected AIA-SA vice chair James Easter said it was great to see students interested in the international space and to provide an avenue to help encourage networking between them and other professionals within that area.
While a new committee was voted in, there was time for reflection on what the AIA-SA had achieved in the past 12 months.
"SA has continued to grow its membership base significantly in the last 12 months," AIA-SA chair Craig Davis said.
"The division endeavours to provide communications and events that reflect the requirements of the membership and the committee is a broad representation to deliver this diversity."
With the Student Compendium, a partnership with University of Adelaide ag science students, a big project, Mr Davis said the idea had been considered by other states.
"The WA division has released their version (of the student compendium), and NSW has, albeit delayed got theirs on the cards for later this year."
"I am very proud of the results of the internship project in its second year, the results speak for themselves - and we have been exceptionally fortunate to have attracted another round of quality undergraduates - they have produced amazing results."
The newly-elected committee has Mr Davis staying on as chair, while James Easter, PPSA, Elders Rural Services and University of Adelaide, is vice chair.
Other members are Bruce Hancock, SA Livestock Consultants, Rhiannon Schilling, SARDI, Andrew Lehmann, Viterra, Pene Keynes, Livestock SA, Emily Chambers and Emma Knowles, Adelaide University Agriculture Students Association, Alex Newbold, Elders Rural Services, Tom Gameau, FG McCabe Pty Ltd, and Jessie Daniel, AgInnovate.
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