Water, Environment and Agriculture

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Strengthening water security, food production and healthy ecosystems.

Water is a critical but increasingly limited resource and is vital for a sustainable future. We work closely with communities, businesses and governments to understand their needs, and to help improve their resilience to climate, water and environmental threats.

Our work

We build knowledge systems to help natural resource managers make complex decisions about competing water uses in both rural and urban landscapes. We develop advanced technologies to help deliver safe water supplies and healthy environmental systems.

Partnering with the agricultural sector, we also use remote sensing technologies to evaluate water availability and the impact of other influences on crop health to improve farm productivity.

Why it matters

From climate change to population growth, our ability to grow enough food, provide safe, secure water and maintain healthy, functioning ecosystems is under increasing pressure in Australia and globally. Food demand is rising as arable land and water resources are diminishing.

How we can help

We work closely with farmers, river and catchment managers and water utilities to understand their challenges, and to develop practical solutions in urban and natural environments. We co-create solutions and knowledge systems to improve resources management, for better decision-making and to inform policies.

Our collaborators

  • Agri-related businesses and industry bodies
  • Bureau of Meteorology
  • Catchment management authorities
  • Commonwealth, state and local governments
  • Environmental water-holding authorities
  • Indigenous communities
  • Murray–Darling Basin Authority
  • Sensing and remote-control system manufacturers
  • Water utilities, distribution and management agencies

Partner with us

What challenges do you have? Let us help you solve them.
Make an enquiry and our business development team will contact you.

Make an enquiry

Our multi-disciplinary teams work in close collaboration with partners; from farmers to industry and government agencies. Our research builds the prerequisite knowledge for better, evidence-based decision-making, through advanced monitoring, mapping, modelling and forecasting.

We develop sophisticated sensing, remote control and data management systems. We integrate the most advanced technologies into water delivery systems and infrastructure to improve water use efficiency and to utilise more diverse water sources.

Research programs

Place-based research programs

Partner with us

What challenges do you have? Let us help you solve them.
Make an enquiry and our business development team will contact you.

Make an enquiry

Meet our team of world-renowned researchers, engineers, and talented staff.

  • Prof Michael Stewardson

    Program Leader, Water, Environment and Agriculture

  • Dr Sharon Davis

    Enterprise Senior Fellow, Water, Environment and Agriculture

  • Dr Brian Pang

    Business Development and Research Commercialisation, Water, Environment and Agriculture

Research program leaders

Researchers

Partner with us

What challenges do you have? Let us help you solve them.
Make an enquiry and our business development team will contact you.

Make an enquiry

Partner with us

We are client-focussed and collaborative – we work side-by-side with your leaders, engineers and technicians to develop solutions to your challenges.

From multi-partner research to technical training and internships, get in contact with us about:

  • Emerging technologies
  • Developing technology strategies
  • Technical training
  • Engineering customised solutions
  • Creating a talent pipeline through student engagement
  • Leveraging our state-of-the-art research facilities

What challenges do you have? Let us help you solve them.

Make an enquiry and our business development manager will get in contact with you.

Make an enquiry

Media enquiries

Prue Gildea, Media Advisor
M: +61 466 473 741
E: prue.gildea@unimelb.edu.au

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Water Security Series

Bringing together thought leaders from academia, industry and government to provide evidence-based insights and raise the quality of debate around key issues in water security.

If you would like to be a speaker or submit a discussion topic for future Water Security events contact industry-events@unimelb.edu.au.