A host of external and internal factors, some  controllable and others uncontrollable (wicked problems), of which  climate change is a preeminent factor,  are challenging the resilience and sustainability of farm businesses in the developed and developing world. While many Australian farmers have been making productivity gains of some three per cent per annum over the last thirty years, largely through technological advancement and innovation, the gains have been differentially decreasing over the medium term. Intuitively, a decrease in productivity gains will influence the ability to mitigate the negative impact of some influences.  Farm businesses need to continue to adapt and transform largely by adopting new innovations to remain profitable.

In working with 600 farming businesses in Western Australia, a “learning journey” approach, utilizing multidisciplinary facilitation teams, with a focus on improved adaptive and transformational capacity in the face of  climate change, has provided a pathway for a renaissance in agricultural extension.

Failings of previous content focused models to influence farmer attitudes and bring about behaviour change are characterised. Concurrent research on rural community attitudes to climate change is considered.  Attitude changes and plans to adapt and or transform farming practices and the likely sustainability impacts are discussed. Findings are linked to previous calls for change in policy and strategic approach. Implications for innovation in the provision of extension services are demonstrated through a new model that focuses on contextualised processes and delivery capacity rather than content.