Advertising Feature
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
MORE than 400 leading scientists from 44 countries are looking to the future of our food supply and environment at a Melbourne-based conference running until December 8.
The conference, which began at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 4, focuses on one of the most useful and problematic elements on the planet: nitrogen.
Conference secretary, Dr Cameron Gourley from Agriculture Victoria, said that using nitrogen fertiliser helped to feed the world’s growing population, but that we needed to do more to deal with its effects on climate and water quality.
“Nitrogen fertiliser helps provide food for up to 50 per cent of the world's 7.3 billion people,” Dr Gourley said.
“To ensure food security for the growing global population, we must improve our understanding of nitrogen and the way we use it.
Nitrogen fertiliser helps provide food for up to 50 per cent of the world's 7.3 billion people
"Advancing the science of nitrogen use also helps us to reduce negative impacts on the climate and the health of our waterways and oceans."
"The International Nitrogen Initiative Conference (INI 2016) is the ideal forum for scientists, the agriculture industry and policy-makers to come together to share the quality work being done around the world to ensure we can keep producing food sustainably and profitably."
The conference is co-hosted with the University of Melbourne. This is the first time INI has been held in the southern hemisphere.
Professor Deli Chen from the University of Melbourne said that hosting the conference was a real win for the University and the State Government.
"We are really keen to bolster the international reputation of our scientists in this space and to foster the collaboration that is so critical to scientific development nowadays," he said.
The conference is held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s conference facilities overlooking the hallowed turf where, Professor Chen commented, the groundskeepers would know all about the importance of nitrogen.
"Getting a consistent quality playing surface is much the same as getting a high quality and productive crop, and more often than not that means nitrogen fertiliser," he said.
Richard Bolt, the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, welcomed attendees to the conference.
Delegates will have a chance to see Victorian agriculture in practice on field tours throughout the state.
This Advertising Feature is sponsored by the following businesses. Click the link to learn more:
Related content: