It was a privilege to have attended the 2024 Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) Conference and to be awarded the Komptech CEA Young Professionals Scholarship. The platform that Komptech and AORA offer, to help develop young professionals in an industry poised for substantial growth, is remarkably forward-thinking.
The demonstration day, sponsored by Focus Enviro, was a fantastic display of technological innovation. Approximately 20 machines were on-site, including shredders, compost screens, loaders, and excavators. Seeing these machines in action provided valuable insight into the composting process.
The second day of the conference started with a keynote presentation by Prof. Sally Brown, who I will never get tired of listening to. Sally has an inherent ability to captivate audiences and change perspectives. Her presentation cleverly used duct tape as a metaphor for compost; highlighting its remarkable versatility and ability to address and fix a wide range of issues and challenges, drawing parallels to the multifaceted benefits of compost.
Key topics throughout the second day of the conference centred around shaping the industry’s future while analysing its current standings. Janine Price from Scolexia delivered an outstanding presentation, breaking down and reviewing the current state regulations on soil amendments and specific feedstock from each state’s EPA. She shed light on critical areas for improvement and standardisation.
On the third day of the conference, the spotlight was on primary producers, highlighting the application and significance of compost products in agricultural production systems. As an Agronomist, I thoroughly enjoyed the presentations throughout the third day, learning of the positive advancements that recycled organics are having on Australia’s agricultural, horticultural, and viticultural industries.
UQ PhD student, Joshua Bennett-Jones, had a very thought-provoking presentation of his research into granulated compost products. I liked the agronomic approach his research took in identifying the characteristics, application advantages of granular/pelletised compost products and its ease of use in broadacre agricultural systems.
Aligning with current nutrient fertilisation management techniques is vital in reducing capital overhead costs and key to seamlessly incorporating the use of these products within agricultural systems. Josh further explained the pore geometry of pelletised and granulated compost products and their moisture holding capacity. This is an important mechanism, particularly in dryland production systems where water is the limiting factor for growth and productivity.
Bill Grant, a research fellow at Federation University, delivered an update on trials conducted by the Future Regions Research Centre. The trials explore the use of compost and other recycled organic soil amendments to enhance root growth in soils with physical and chemical subsoil constraints in Central Victoria and Gippsland. Bill highlighted the potential of matured composts containing high concentrations of humic substances to improve subsoil structure, showing promising results in soil permeability and new root growth at deposition depths.
Both of these presentations did a great job at highlighting the context and intrinsic value to both the consumer and wider industry on the application of composted products within agricultural soils.
To conclude, the key takeaway for me from the 2024 AORA conference, was the importance of seeking solutions that balance both economic and environmental considerations. We must strive to ensure that solutions for one issue do not create problems for another. This holistic perspective is critical in addressing soil organic fertility. By utilising organic amendments, we can elevate soil health and demonstrate its intrinsic value, benefiting both the environment and the economy.