Melbourne Water has launched a major climate-smart agriculture initiative designed to support more than 500 farmers across the Port Phillip and Western Port region. The program will help farmers adopt practices that improve soil health, boost productivity, strengthen biodiversity and protect catchments.
The Melbourne Water agriculture project is funded through the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. It was officially launched at a farm in Officer South, bringing together industry groups, Landcare, local government and participating farmers.
The project will deliver workshops, peer learning and a series of on-farm trials. These trials will test practices such as multi-species cover crops, biological fertilisers, EcoVineyard approaches, Natural Sequence Farming and plantings that attract beneficial invertebrates.
Each demonstration site will include monitoring so farmers can see the direct benefits for soil health, pasture productivity, biodiversity and water quality. The initiative aims to build farmers’ confidence in practical approaches that improve resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.
How Melbourne Water’s agricultural work supports resilience on farms
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said the program empowers farmers to be climate-smart leaders.
“The Climate-Smart Agriculture program is a clear example of how we can support farmers to be leaders in climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, while also strengthening Australia’s agricultural future,” Collins said.
Melbourne Water Managing Director Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo said the initiative is central to supporting the region’s food bowl.
“Healthy farms mean healthy catchments and resilient communities. By running locally led trials, sharing decision-support tools and scaling what works, we’re helping farmers protect vital soils, cut erosion and nutrient loss, and reduce runoff into our rivers and bays,” Di Lorenzo said.
Di Lorenzo said the program delivers benefits that extend beyond individual farm gates.
“Outcomes that safeguard both farm incomes, food security and water quality for everyone,” she said.
Farmer-led innovation at the centre of Melbourne Water agricultural trials
Local farmers Simon and Michelle Beard are hosting one of the trial sites.
They said the project helps farmers build confidence by supporting real-world testing on their own properties.
“We’re proud to be able to supply quality, locally raised beef as a direct paddock-to-plate business for the Melbourne region, and this project ensures that we are adopting agroecological practices to protect natural assets through the whole process,” they said.
The program’s focus on soil function, biodiversity, and water quality supports long-term catchment health. It also strengthens collaboration across agricultural networks, enabling farmers to learn from each other and apply evidence-based practices.
A long-term approach to climate-smart Melbourne Water agriculture
Melbourne Water is delivering the initiative as part of the Commonwealth’s Regional Delivery Partners program. It builds on the organisation’s broader environmental stewardship work across the region, including targeted programs that reduce nutrient loss and improve waterway health.
Farmers can participate in workshops, access decision-support tools and join learning groups as trials progress. Feedback gathered through the program will help refine practices that can be scaled across the region.
The Climate-Smart Agriculture project marks a long-term investment in resilience, supporting farmers as key partners in protecting catchments and ensuring sustainable food production.