Protecting Our Waterways and Health From Pesticides

Professor Kirsten Benkendorff is the Director of Southern Cross University’s National Marine Science Centre and the Deputy Director of the Marine Ecology Research Centre. Her research looks at the impacts of ocean climate change and environmental contaminants on the immune health and nutritional quality of seafood species. She is also investigating the use of marine molluscs for human medicine.

Professor Benkendorff has published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and also teaches into the Bachelor of Environmental Science, and Marine Science and Management programs at Southern Cross University. 

As a lead researcher for one of the projects in the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance’s Soil Extension Program, funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, Kirsten spent three years looking at the effectiveness of bioreactors in managing pesticide run-off in intensive horticulture. She was also able to set up a second project which compared the soil health in conventional and regenerative blueberry farms.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How can farmers better manage pesticides on their property.
• Practical steps and advice.
• Understand the impact pesticides can have outside their property boundaries i.e. on waterways and on seafood. 
• Know where to seek more information about your obligations. 

Find more resources on the Farming Together website: https://farmingtogether.com.au/