From June 22 to 29, 2024, the Coalition for Conservation (C4C) hosted a delegation of soil and water experts in Zambia to address the severe drought affecting the region. The delegation included Amb. Dr. Elias Munshya, High Commissioner for Zambia to Australia and New Zealand; Cristina Talacko, CEO of C4C; Carolyn Hall, CEO of the Mulloon Institute; and Deane Belfield, a regenerative farmer and Director of Regenerative Farmers Australia. Their mission was to share knowledge, engage with local stakeholders, and explore potential collaborative solutions to combat climate change’s impact on agriculture.

The delegation’s agenda included high-level meetings with Zambian government officials, agricultural experts, and policymakers to discuss the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture. They also conducted site visits to drought-affected areas, particularly Kazungula, to understand the local challenges and identify areas where their expertise could be most impactful. Additionally, they participated in information-sharing sessions with local experts, NGOs, and community leaders, focusing on drought resilience, sustainable agricultural practices, and climate adaptation strategies.

Key objectives of the visit were to establish stronger linkages between Australia and Zambia, pilot a project focused on regenerative agriculture, and demonstrate practical landscape restoration methods. The delegation aimed to foster collaborative relationships by engaging with policymakers, farmers, and industry representatives. They sought to identify a suitable site and partner for launching a pilot project on regenerative agriculture, water, and soil management. This holistic approach integrated the practical and scientific knowledge from the Mulloon Institute and Regenerative Farmers Australia, providing training in landscape rehydration and regenerative agriculture practices.

The pilot project proposed a staged approach for on-ground work in Zambia. The initial visit allowed the delegates to meet key decision-makers, explore agricultural landscapes, and engage with local farmers. This groundwork helped identify opportunities and constraints for delivering landscape rehydration projects. The project involved identifying a suitable site using topographic maps, collaborating with local farmers, developing strategies and concept designs for landscape rehydration, and educating farmers on regenerative agriculture practices. These practices included cover cropping, crop rotation, no-till farming, agroforestry, managed grazing, composting, integrated pest management, water management, and soil testing.

Significant achievements included training local farmers and agriculture students to control erosion and slow water movement, developing a Rehydration Initiative to support projects in catchments and drought-affected areas, and implementing regenerative agriculture practices. These efforts aimed to create more resilient farming systems that are better equipped to adapt to climate change challenges. The education and capacity-building component of the pilot project served as workshops to build local farmers’ skills in landscape rehydration, crop resilience, and climate adaptation practices. The pilot site acted as a demonstration for other farmers and stakeholders, with formal boot camps and a “train the trainer” program ensuring sustained skills development among Zambian farmers.

Australia’s path to decarbonization is closely tied to expanding renewable energy sources, particularly rooftop solar, which has notably outperformed wind and hydroelectric energy. This success, backed by over $20 billion in household investments, highlights rooftop solar’s cost-effectiveness and minimal environmental impact.

While residential adoption of rooftop solar has surged, there is significant untapped potential in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. These systems primarily aim to reduce grid electricity costs rather than export surplus energy back to the grid. However, the combination of rooftop solar and battery storage in urban areas can decrease reliance on distant wind and solar farms, benefiting farmers and rural landholders.

To capitalize on this potential, supportive policies are needed for surplus energy injection into the grid, which may require distribution grid enhancements and network access revisions. State and local governments must act swiftly to implement policies that harness this urban resource, thereby attracting and retaining commercial and industrial consumers with affordable, clean electricity.

The Australian Government can support this initiative by fostering local energy supply, reducing the need for high-voltage transmission expansions. C4C is advocating for a policy transformation in C&I solar energy, encouraging state governments to adopt this approach. This initiative, led by Professor Bruce Mountain, aligns with both centre-right and centre-left ideologies, promoting a bipartisan effort for a sustainable energy future.