Karin Stark, founder of the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo, is preparing to host the fourth annual event in Dubbo on June 21.
“The conference was developed due to a need to provide credible, independent advice to farmers about how they could replace diesel and electricity on their farms with renewables,” she said,
Ms Stark hails from a farm in the central-west of NSW and has appeared on the ABC’s The Drum speaking about national energy transition to renewables and how to decarbonise the grid using solar, wind and bioenergy.
As an advocate for agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar and farming, and a member of the NSW Farmers Energy Transition Working Group, she is passionate about knowledge sharing among primary producers.
“Agriculture and solar panels can be combined on the same parcel of land. It’s a win-win, with sheep grazing underneath panels, there is shade and there is a reduction in chemical use.”
With the price of diesel and electricity increasing, profit margins are continually being scrutinised by farm businesses.
According to Ms Stark, the conference aims to arm farmers with information, contacts and ideas around how they can cut input costs, address a changing climate and go towards a renewable future.
Renowned author and economist Ross Garnaut will be a keynote speaker, who Ms Stark described as one of the country’s most well-known and influential thinkers in renewables and climate change policy.
For those who enjoy a farm visit and demonstration there will be a converted electric ute and electric farm bikes on display and an optional solar grazing tour.
For more information and for tickets, visit: https://renewablesinagconference.com.au/
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