Japanese visit

The Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Hamamura Susumu, and his staff visited Alice Springs on the 27-28 July. The Japanese Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has an existing Memorandum of Cooperation with our department to work together on projects of mutual benefit.

The Japanese delegation was interested in Central Australia for renewable energy and water recycling, existing horticulture and cattle farming and recycling of water and organic waste.

After having lunch with Minister Wakefield, Mayor Ryan and the Arrente Elder in Residence for Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA), Harold Furber, the visitors received presentations from Paul Rodden, Senior Project Manager, Renewables at Ekistika at the Solar Research Centre at Desert Knowledge Australia; Wade Jenkins, New Energy Development Engineer at Territory Generation and from Dan Tyson, new Chief Executive Officer at Desert Knowledge Australia.

After leaving DKA, a visit was paid to Territory Lettuce, run by Mo McCosker. The visitors were particularly interested in hydrogen generation from solar power, and how this could be integrated with protected cropping.

Next day, on Sunday morning, Bond Springs cattle station’s Jan and Laura Heaslip hosted a great tour of the historic buildings, the solar power generation centre and the working cattle yards.

The Japanese are keen to return to develop further research into sustainable energy production and farming in the red centre.