They said it couldn’t be done – to bring together at least 55 farmers and agricultural consultants representing every conceivable pastoral philosophy for 2 full days and nights for harmonious dialogue. Add to this a dose of 19 scientific and social academics, 9 bureaucrats, two journalists, 5 former soldiers and a socio-economist and you probably have a recipe for disaster.

Not so, particularly when one of the former soldiers doubles as a former Governor General and his name is Michael Jeffery. At ANU’s Kioloa Coastal Campus on the NSW SouthCoast last weekend some of Australia’s brightest and best converged to find a solution to the nation’s agricultural and environmental crisis.

Entitled “The Land Restoration Imperative – Many Pathways, One Goal”, the Dialogue provided the opportunity for round table discussion of all the major issues facing our food and agricultural sector – water, soils, vegetation, animal husbandry, human nutrition, rural employment and climate change. Experts in each field spoke briefly on each topic to stimulate wider discussion. As the programme developed, it became clear that everyone had a way to deal with the problems and the similarities in results were startling.

The goals of maximum moisture retention, balanced soil biology, resilient pastures, healthy animals, mineral-dense food, engagement with the urban community and adaptation to climate variability were universally embraced. The methods adopted by permaculturalists, natural sequence farmers, carbon farmers (sequestration), cell grazers, pasture croppers, holistic managers, biological/bio-dynamic/organic practitioners in achieving these objectives might seem to be diverse, but on closer inspection are surprisingly similar.

Having established a commonality of purpose, the Dialogue moved inexorably to the “How To Fix It” stage. Farmers are a proud and independent bunch and none of them believed that it was solely a government hand-out solution. Caring for our Country could provide a major portion of the funding for whole of catchment projects but landowners, business, the energy sector, taxation and employment avenues were also part of the answer

However, Michael Jeffery pulled an unexpected rabbit out of his hat. He introduced the assembled gathering to Outcomes Australia, a pro-bono organization under his chairmanship and comprising a who’s who of Australian movers and shakers. Those who give their time free of charge to address difficult issues include bankers, doctors, lawyers, the media, engineers, company CEOs, scientists and professional thinkers. Outcomes Australia has recently agreed to put its considerable weight behind the Land Regeneration project with a major emphasis upon the recognition that water, its supply, use and regulation is pivotal.

“Our water has to be controlled at the national level with a value attached to it that equates to its importance”, General Jeffery told the Dialogue. “Unless we can address the threat to world-wide water and food security, we stand to see conflict on a scale unknown since WWII. World peace in the face of catastrophic global warming, depends substantially upon providing safe water and nutritious food to a population set to double by the middle of this century.”

General Jeffery encouraged his agricultural troops by saying, “Australia can lead the way in demonstrating to the rest of the world that degraded landscapes can be rejuvenated.”

For those who attended the Dialogue and those who wanted to be there but couldn’t, the work now starts. Everyone present knows the job ahead is enormous and they have already formed into expert teams to develop policies and plans to ensure that Outcomes Australia does indeed cure the ailing landscape.