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How 90 farmers and friends found new hope — in a big tent

The challenge: find common ground among a highly diverse group of 90 farmers and associated experts who are tackling the urgent problem of restoring Australia's much-degraded land. All in one weekend. In a big tent. With the weather hot — and the wind high.

Promoted and led by the former Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, 'The land restoration imperative: many pathways, one goal' was organised by the ANU's Centre for Dialogue. Delegates to the Kioloa conference last month left the weekend optimistic, having indeed found much common ground. So what did they discover?

Two key factors contributing to this were careful design and facilitation, and the use of the iMEET! collaborative meeting technology and conference platform, which allowed ideas to be captured, sorted and shared rapidly. Global Learning played a key role as facilitators.

The group met on 12-13 September 2009 in a large marquee tent, hosted by the ANU's Kioloa coastal campus. The ANU's Fenner School of Environment and Society was a sponsor.

In the group were fifty-five farmers and agricultural consultants, representing every conceivable pastoral philosophy, plus nineteen scientific and social academics, nine bureaucrats, two journalists, five former soldiers and a socio-economist.

They represented a very wide range of methodologies — permaculturalists, natural sequence farmers, cell grazers, pasture croppers, holistic managers, biological, bio-dynamic and organic practitioners. But although their objectives might seem to be different, they proved to be surprisingly similar!

What supported the emergence of a common purpose was a solid process of structured, disciplined dialogue: experts in their fields spoke briefly on each topic, then everybody's input was embraced in small group conversations.

Small groups used iMEET! computers to capture their ideas, which were then shared with the wider group. This is the sort of dialogue — marked by genuine sharing and a commitment to common outcomes — which most benefits from the iMEET! platform.

In this way, the group discussed five critical areas affecting or affected by the land: water, soil, plants, animals and human health.

A critical next stage was also announced by Michael Jeffery at the event, when he declared that the Land Regeneration project would be supported by Outcomes Australia — a pro-bono organisation under his chairmanship including high-level professionals who give their time free of charge to address difficult issues. Outcomes Australia has agreed to put its considerable weight behind the project with a major emphasis upon the recognition that water and its supply, use, and regulation is pivotal.

Michael Jeffery said: 'World peace depends substantially upon providing safe water and nutritious food to a population set to double by the middle of this century. Australia can lead the way in demonstrating to the rest of the world that degraded landscapes can be rejuvenated.'

Sponsors of the Kioloa event included the Federal Departments of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the CSIRO and NSW Industry and Investment (formerly the Department of Primary Industries).