Incremental transformation: Success from farming system synergy

Those not immediately involved in managing a dryland farm sustainably in a risky water-limited environment such as Australia may think a comparison with rocket science a bit of a stretch. But if the level of challenge, the importance to humanity, the long-term multidisciplinary team approach and planning required, and the level of uncertainty inherent in the pursuit are measures, then I think the comparison is warranted. The importance of the farming systems agronomy research that has supported agriculture and food security in Australia and globally since William Farrer’s time perhaps receives less public attention than some other science areas such as genetics, genomics, or digital agriculture—indeed, agriculture is now literally “rocket science” as satellite-guided machines and sensors gather volumes of data about the soils, plants, and weather on farms at scales and speeds hitherto impossible. Yet despite spectacular advances in individual genetic or management technologies, few have been singularly transformational. Rather significant productivity improvements generally arise when a combination of technologies, often old and new are integrated and synergize in specific ways within a system—a process here termed incremental transformation. William Farrer himself was clearly aware of this fact, as this article shows, he placed as much importance on maintaining the fertility of the soil in which he grew wheat as on improving the wheat plant itself. This article first provides some background to Farrer and on his interests in Genotype × Environment × Management (G × E × M) interactions (though he certainly did not use that terminology). It then describes some examples from my own research teams, to demonstrate the ongoing impact that arises from research to capture synergies from new genetics and improved management in the pursuit of incremental transformation