For many of us, it’s easy to take water for granted. But to feed the world’s growing population in a changing climate, we need innovative ways to manage water. These big issues were the topic of a huge irrigation event held recently in Adelaide, attended by more than 2,000 people from 46 countries.
The theme of the biennial Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition, which was held together with the 24th ICID International Congress, was ‘Irrigation for the future – challenges, innovations and opportunities’.
The event was attended by state, federal and international ministers, researchers, and representatives from councils, water agencies and industry. The presentations encompassed every aspect of irrigation, from the use of sensors in turf irrigation through to national water policy.
The people who attended the event have the knowledge and skills to help us develop more efficient ways of using water to sustainably feed a growing population and improve people’s lives. Sharing of this knowledge is vital, and this event presented a unique opportunity for people to do just that.
The role of women in the industry was also a key topic, with a highlight being the ‘Women Working in Water Forum’. This forum provided a long overdue recognition of the important and often unrecognised role that females have in the irrigation industry.
The large exhibition that formed part of the event featured leading irrigation supply companies from Australia and overseas, who showcased their products and technology to the industry.
Look out for the next Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition to be held in Sydney in 2024.
