An Immersive Learning Experience on Country
The program brought together 11 participants from across the agricultural sector for four days in Mildura and the Rick Farley Reserve, adjacent to Mungo National Park, an area with over 45,000 years of continuous cultural connection.
Guided by cultural leaders Geoff Simpson and Darren Daly, the group took part in activities and ceremonies centred on the role of fire in the landscape, including cool burns conducted under night skies. These practices helped participants understand fire as a tool for renewal, storytelling and reflection, all fundamentals of First Nations land management.
During the days, participants learned about the region’s natural and anthropological history, discovering ancient tools, marine fossils and plant species revived through cultural practices. The program encouraged deep reflection on the interconnectedness of people, land, culture and stewardship, and how these lessons can influence modern agricultural sustainability.
Connecting Farmers to Country
In 2025, Bayer partnered with the Australian Farm Institute (AFI) and CSIRO to support an inaugural Connecting Farmers to Country immersion, an experience designed to help people working in agriculture deepen their understanding of First Nations knowledge, land stewardship and cultural connection.
Why our support matters
Experiences like this help reshape how agricultural professionals think about sustainability, moving beyond policy and theory to truly understand the mosaic of Country: people, place, history, knowledge and values.
By supporting this inaugural program, Bayer has helped create a space where:
- First Nations cultural knowledge is centred and respected.
- Agricultural leaders can reflect on their role in caring for land.
- New perspectives can inform future policy, research and sustainability practice.
As the Insights article highlights, connecting with Country enriches agricultural and food science by grounding it in place-based wisdom and strengthening ethical, innovative and resilient farming systems.
This collaboration is a great example of how Bayer can meaningfully support cultural understanding, sustainable land management and partnerships that strengthen the future of Australian agriculture.
