I was a key founding member of ‘Project Catalyst’, a multi-year, world first program to reduce the impact of sugarcane farming on the Great Barrier Reef.

 

This involved helping develop the overall strategy and then leading the funding of a 'catalytic project' that aims to improve sugarcane farming practices globally, starting with selected farms in Queensland. The project was research–led and focused on water management and reducing fertiliser run–off as a way of reducing some of the detrimental agricultural impacts on the Great Barrier Reef and hence increasing its resilience to the future impacts of climate change.

​

It also explored potential marketing strategies to accelerate the development of new markets for a more sustainably grown sugar product.

 

During the project a successful, ongoing partnership was developed between WWF, Reef Catchments NRM Group, sugarcane farmers, sugar manufacturers, the Coca–Cola Company, the Queensland State Government and the Australian Federal Government.

 

The program was awarded a Banksia Award and Queensland Premier Sustainability Award in 2010 and is now in its 16th year having expanded from 19 to 155 farmers in the region, and is now held up as a case study for the Circular Economy globally.

​

Next Project >>