First time Primex exhibitors, Banyula, are gearing up for the event and looking forward to the opportunity of strengthening their ties with others interested in regenerative agriculture.
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Located just outside of Clunes on the Northern Rivers, Banyula is a 914-acre mixed enterprise focused on regenerative agriculture and reforestation.
The nutritional arm of the business, Banyula Rural, produces foliar sprays for direct application to the crop's leaves, and soil amendments. Foliar nutrient application allows for fast absorption in a process called foliar feeding. Among other things these sprays contain modified fish hydrolysate and wood vinegar, which is a by-product of biochar. Banyula Rural also produces fungal dominant compost extract and highly soluble carbon, to improve the biology of the soil, and feed the microorganisms therein.
"The goal is a cycle of constant plant, soil and ecosystem improvement," Banyula Rural Operations Manager Vinesh Prasad said.
Interest in these products stemmed from Banyula's early attempts to farm in a solely organic manner, which was somewhat thwarted by the lack of available organic fertilisers and pesticides to make this possible. So, Banyula worked with Ray O'Grady to test out his products, eventually purchasing O'Grady Rural. They will be launching the renamed Banyula Rural at Primex.
"We're pretty excited about the launch and meeting farmers on a similar journey to swap stories and management techniques," said Mr Prasad.
The parent company, Banyula, is focused on planting bush foods, farming cattle using rotational grazing techniques and extending the Big Scrub. With the help of ReForest Now Banyula has planted more than 260,000 rainforest plants, focussing on riparian zones to protect the waterways.
"We've also planted 25 hectares of eucalypt species for koalas; this helps to restore land that is otherwise difficult to farm and will form what will eventually become a 'koala resort'," said
Banyula Director Matt Bleakley. This planting was facilitated by Climate Friendly, earning well- deserved carbon credits.
Co-owner of Banyula, Richard Schweger, believes regenerating the land is a moral imperative.
"If you have the opportunity to initiate a project like Banyula, you actually have the obligation to do it. If you have the tools, you should use them," he said.
You can visit Banyula in the Regenerative Agriculture Hub at Primex, Site H18a.
The three-day primary industries expo in Casino is celebrating its 40 th anniversary on May 16-18.
