Vitasoy, one of Australia’s top plant-based food and beverage brands, has partnered with not-for-profit water advocacy group Mulloon Institute to strengthen the resilience of Australian landscapes.
Together they will bring new life to millions of hectares of farmland in the country’s largest ever restoration project.
Australia is the driest inhabited country in the world, with more than 70 per cent of its land being arid or semi-arid. Prone to long droughts, bushfires and other natural disasters, these challenges are expected to get worse, with agriculture profits in Australia falling 23 per cent in the last 20 years because of climate change.
Faced with these environmental challenges, Australian farmers must find new ways to increase drought resilience and make every drop of water count.
Mulloon Institute is on a mission to educate farmers about sustainable, profitable water management by rehydrating on-farm catchments. Since its formation in 2011, Mulloon Institute has worked with 3,000 farmers, helping to revive 40,000 hectares of farmland to create healthier and more productive landscapes.
Mulloon Institute is embarking on Australia’s biggest rehydration initiative with the goal of working with 5,000 farming families to rejuvenate 2.5 million hectares of Australian farmland. Throughout November, for every Vitasoy product sold at IGA and Foodland stores, Vitasoy will donate funds to rehydrate one square metre of land.
“Farmers are highly susceptible to the effects of climate change and we hope to boost resilience across Australian agriculture by giving them the tools to more effectively harness their natural water resources,” said Carolyn Hall, CEO at Mulloon Institute.
“The national rehydration initiative is all about futureproofing our land. We’re thrilled Vitasoy is joining us to help boost productivity gains across the entire Australian agriculture sector.”
Warren and Lori Pensini, cattle farmers from Paraway Farm south east of Western Australia’s Bunbury says that the work facilitated by Mulloon Institute transformed their property and reinvigorated the natural landscape.
“Originally a eucalypt forest and woodland, historical over-clearing led to hydrological and soil health issues on our property,” said Warren.
“Until the team from Mulloon Institute implemented a holistic farm plan utilising techniques and inputs that work in concert with the landscape typography.”
“Since the work has been completed, our grazing management and productivity have improved significantly, but what stands out the most is the incredible impact the landscape’s rehabilitation has had on my mental health. Each day I am approaching work on the farm with a greater sense of joy than before.”
Sange Iyer, CEO at Vitasoy Australia, adds: “Productive and healthy waterways are vital to the success of agriculture which is why we’re supporting Australia’s biggest ever rehydration initiative to help grow a better world.
“Farmers are on the front line when it comes to managing the effects of climate change and Mulloon Institute creates more robust landscapes and more resilient regional communities,” said Iyer.
