Inspired by a childhood of growing strange plants, Shane trained in research biochemistry, but abandoned academia when the GFC provided ample warning of the unfolding arc of history. He is now retired to a sprawling, weed choked experimental farm in subtropical eastern Australia. He puts potential crops through a gruelling gauntlet of challenges to see which are suitable for zero input agriculture, where they are pushed to perform without irrigation, pest control, imported fertility or mechanised assistance.
Dr. Shane Simonsen has been a guest on 1 episode.
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Zero Input Agriculture with Shane Simonsen
March 21st, 2022 | Season 3 | 1 hr 2 mins
collapse, fenner conference, food security, post-growth, shane simonsen, shock octopus, sustainable population australia, zero input agriculture
With the twin horsemen of climate change and diminishing fossil fuels impacting food security (did you know that 10 calories of fossil fuel are required per calorie of food?) it is evident that the future of industrial agriculture looks more than a little grim. Given that food is critical for survival, PGAP continues to explore the essential answers to the question: how do we radically change our approach to growing food in the years to come?
Dr. Shane Simonsen operates a ‘Zero Input Agriculture’ farm in the highlands of South-East Queensland. What does zero input mean and does it work? Shane shares with PGAP how a zero input system works, in addition to weaving his vast knowledge and unique insights into a very pithy conversation with PGAP host Michael Bayliss.