Ivan Blacket

A fresh look at agroforestry for Australian agriculture

Western Victoria’s Ivan Blacket sees the value in trees, but he knows a paradigm shift is needed in how trees are viewed in Australian agriculture.  

In a country that often experiences drought, trees can play an important role in mitigating its impact. Ivan points to the research that shows links between tree cover and increased rainfall. Trees can reduce evaporation, wind speed, improve soil quality and cycle water from deep in the soil, all of which help with drought resilience. Additionally, they can also produce high-value products. 

Despite these ecological and commercial benefits, trees, conservation and productivity are often seen as contradictory, but his experience tells a different story. It was an agroforestry subject at university that reframed his thinking on trees, and the way they support both conservation and profit.

His Nuffield topic, “Exploring the culture, innovation and products of intergenerational farm forestry communities”, will allow Ivan to explore the historical and contemporary social, environmental and financial drivers of successful agroforestry systems. 

His experience managing a 56-hectare property in Gherang, with a nursery, sawmill, mixed timber plantations, silvopasture and conservation plantings, as well as owning his own agroforestry farm and sawmill, gives Ivan a practical foundation and motivation to learn and share more.  

His studies will take him to countries that embrace agroforestry, such as New Zealand, the United States, Asia, and across Europe.