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© 2026 Unearthed - the people changing Australian agriculture
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When big ideas and new opportunities run up against established practices of farming in Australia’s unique environment, there’s tough choices to be made - tune in as we unearth the farmers, scientists and big characters who have found a new path to a more profitable, productive and resilient future for Australian agriculture.
“Unearthed – the people changing agriculture” is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
19 Episodes
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Send us a text The Changemakers series has examined how leaders from across rural Australia and at different stages of their diverse career paths, navigate the pitfalls of making change happen. John Harvey has been at the pointy end of change having led AgriFutures for the last 10 years, and served as CEO of the Grains Research and Development Corporation for five years before that. But for all of the technical knowledge and the complexity of the organisations he has led, the simplicity...
Send us a text Lisa Anderson is anything but “just a farmer” – her career journey spans agriculture, the legal profession and serving as a board director. Lisa shares the importance of curiosity, building trust through vulnerability, the balance of culture versus strategy, and the impact of peer-to-peer learning in driving change in agriculture. Unearthed is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
Send us a text The road to the top isn’t a straight line – every interesting life experience and the meaningful relationships built along the way are of immense value when it comes to driving change in agricultural industries and rural communities. In this conversation, we meet Courtney Bailey, the agriculture sector lead at Voconiq and CEO of Country to Canberra, who discusses her non-linear career path, the importance of mentorship, and the impact agriculture education can have on a y...
Send us a text At just 22 years old, Basil Nolan demonstrates diplomacy and humility beyond his years, skills that have him earmarked as a young leader in the Thoroughbred racing industry. A recipient of the AgriFutures Les Young Scholarship, Basil shares his experiences at the famed National Stud in the United Kingdom, where he learnt from some of the best in the business, resulting in refinements to the operations at his family’s home stud of Raheen in Warwick, Qld. The conversation c...
Send us a text Stephanie March shares her deeply personal story of the birth of her son, Bill, and the immediate diagnosis of a rare but chronic respiratory illness. The conversation covers the emotional turmoil of navigating the healthcare system, the impact on family dynamics, and the power of feedback as an advocacy tool for change. When you hear Steph’s story and the impact it is having on the medical system, you’ll understand why she’s a Changemaker of Australian agriculture....
Send us a text Introducing Changemakers, a special series of five fascinating one-on-one conversations with the leaders changing the direction of Australian agriculture. Disruption doesn’t come easy and making change happen can reap huge rewards, but it can also come at a personal and financial cost – hear their experiences and insights in navigating the pitfalls of pursuing new opportunities and big ideas. Unearthed is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
Send us a text With more than 50% of school children believing that cows are milked by hand, and that the only career available in agriculture is to be a farmer, something needed to change in the education system. So all 15 Rural Research and Development Corporations banded together to develop Australia’s first National Schools Food and Fibre Strategy, which was launched by AgriFutures in November. This episode of Unearthed explores the pressing need for skilled professionals in Australian ag...
Send us a text Chemical resistance has been detected in populations of redlegged earth mites and blue green aphids in new parts of Australia, challenging lucerne producers to consider new methods of crop protection. This episode of Unearthed challenges farmers and industry to move beyond single crop thinking and towards landscape scale approaches to pest control. Unearthed is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
Send us a text Where do Australia’s famed Thoroughbreds go after their career in racing finishes? The question of finding the right post-racing career for Thoroughbreds is at the heart of this episode of Unearthed. AgriFutures is developing a national strategy to increase demand for the 6000 horses that retire from the track each year, with second careers options ranging from the equestrian ring to amazing work healing the bodies and minds of human beings through equine therapy. Unearth...
Send us a text As the climate shifts and farmers more closely monitor the returns achieved for every megalitre of water invested, the landscape is changing and producers are asking the question of what else could they grow to maximise productivity and profit. This episode builds on our series examining the evolution of Australia’s rice industry over the last 100 years, and investigates the place of new crops like sesame and industrial hemp in modern, water- and climate-efficient farming syste...
Send us a text For an industry built on irrigation, modern Australian rice growers have become the most water efficient in the world using 50% less water than their international competitors and producing 50% more rice per megalitre than they did 25 years ago. And the improvements are set to keep on coming as new varieties and agronomic practices transform the farming landscape. Unearthed is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
Send us a text Over two big episodes, Unearthed is exploring the rich history and evolution of the Australian rice industry, which is this year celebrating 100 years of commercial production. From horse and plough, to Tiger Moth planes, to massive machinery, this episode tracks the changes in farming techniques, water management, and the impact of technology on rice production. The conversation features insights from industry veteran George Rathbone, who at 95 has lived through almost everyth...
Send us a text Australia’s chicken meat industry is a star performer of Australian agriculture with retail value of around $6.6 billion and employing more than 58,000 people. So how does an industry like that take its game to the next level? In this episode of Unearthed, we discover how the team at AgriFutures has taken a leaf out of the elite sports coaching manual as part of a new approach to chicken meat research. Unearthed is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
Send us a text The final episode in our three-part series celebrating 25 years of the Rural Women's Award, is a special one-on-one interview between AgriFutures Chair, Cathy McGowan and our host Michael Thomson. As one of the changemakers of rural Australia, Cathy shares her personal insights into the evolution of the award, the challenges faced by rural women in gaining recognition and taking a more prominent role in Australian agriculture, and the ongoing challenges to realising their full ...
Send us a text Unearthed continues the celebration of 25 Years of the Rural Women’s Award by delving into the next chapter of its the evolution. After emerging from the shadows in the previous episode, leading rural women are now in the spotlight and facing new and unexpected challenges. Through the use of design thinking, new support networks and alumni connections are created resulting in greater collaboration and diversity in the agricultural workforce. Looking ahead, the conversation envi...
Send us a text In part one of Unearthed’s special three-part series celebrating 25 years of the Rural Women’s Award, we go back to where it all began and discover the challenges facing women in rural Australia in the 1980s and ‘90s. Featuring interviews with Jeanette Long, Lisa Palu and Edwina Clowes, the episode explores how they were motivated to bring the contribution of women to agriculture and rural communities out of the shadows and into the spotlight, and how the Award has empowered wo...
Send us a text Episode 2 of AgriFutures' newlook podcast Unearthed, delves into the hives of Australia’s European honeybee population and the impact of the varroa mite on both the beekeeping industry and the crops that depend on pollination. To help keep track of varroa’s spread, and stay ahead of emerging pests and disease challenges, AgriFutures has implemented an early warning system in the form of an annual Colony Loss Survey. Find out what the first Col Loss survey has revealed about the...
Send us a text We’re off to the races in episode 1 of our new-look podcast, Unearthed, to find the people who’ve changed Australia’s racing industry using new research into Thoroughred respiratory conditions. Unearthed is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
Send us a text Join host Michael Thomson as he unearths the farmers, scientists and big characters changing Australian agriculture in this new series from AgriFutures Australia. Unearthed is brought to you by AgriFutures Australia.
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