Irrigation is an ancient, proven and powerful climate adaptation, supporting productive agriculture in inhospitable and variable climates. In the past decade, while attention has focused on water reforms in the Murray Darling and expanding Australia's northern "irrigation frontiers", an estimated billion dollars has been invested in expanding irrigation in Australia's southern "water frontier" and wettest state, Tasmania.
Foresighting methods were used in a consultative R&D planning project that resulted in commitments to establish an R&D coalition that will deliver the "knowledge infrastructure" needed to compliment investments in the "hard" water resources infrastructure.
The foresighting project aimed to clarify priorities and reconcile the supply and demand for R&D and improve capacity for innovation.
Multiple drivers including future climates and climate policies were used in three divergent scenarios for the future of Tasmanian agriculture, where irrigation already accounts for approximately %60 of the gross value of production. The scenarios focused on irrigation and related industries taking into account broader socio-political, economic and environmental drivers, such as global markets and climate change impacts, both direct and indirect.
The scenarios were intended to stimulate discussion and generate debate. Participants were invited to explore the dynamic relationships between R&D, public policy and economic development.
Foresighting methods proved useful in consultative R&D planning. In response to the scenarios, stakeholders expressed strong support for an ambitious R&D initiative focused on achieving broad societal goals - sustainability, productivity, and regional development - and for establishing cooperative innovation networks to deliver it.