Emma Lubcke

2022

Agriculture

In Honour of Frank Mansell

Growing up on a sheep and cropping farm in central Victoria, I spent my weekends and holidays working on the farm. My family’s Border Leicester Stud introduced me to the way technology could be used in agriculture. I learnt about LambPlan, Australian Sheep Border Values, artificial insemination, electronic ear tags and how the Tru Test Livestock Scanner improved the data collection and genetics of our stud. This exposure to the industry allowed me to see first hand how changes in agricultural technology improved not only our sheep genetics but also improved our sustainability. 

Creating a more sustainable world requires future innovation and successful collaboration.

This scholarship will help me to further my knowledge of the livestock industry and determine ways in which Australian agriculture can be improved by using ideas from other countries, and adjusting them to suit our environment. I hope to gather insight into meat and livestock industries around the world and use this new-found knowledge to improve agriculture in my area.

Q: A Global Footprints Scholarship is your opportunity to do more of what you love. What have you done at work that you are proud of or passionate about?

I’m most proud of completing my first year at Longerenong Agricultural College and being awarded Dux of the Advanced Diploma of Agribusiness for 2021. This was a massive achievement for me personally as it required me to push past my own preconceptions of myself that I was not a studious person and challenge myself to meet my goals. Throughout, high school I struggled with the pressure of a highly academic environment and as a result decided to complete the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning. Completing this has shaped me into the person I am today and has shown me that success can be achieved through more than one roadmap. The VCAL certificate also provided me with the soft skills that are required to be successful, become a community minded person and the the tools needed for collaboration. These are all traits that I believe are required to influence a sustainable agricultural industry.

Q: A Global Footprints Scholarship is for those who are passionate about creating a sustainable future. Describe something you have done at work or are working on, that helps the environment. Why is it important to you?

The term sustainability is defined as the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level as well as the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. Joining the SuperBorders group has enabled me to discover ways in which the livestock industry can be more sustainable through the use of genetic improvement.

SuperBorders are a group of Border Leicester Studs that work together to meet market requirements of maternal genetics in the Australian Lamb Industry by encouraging genetic analysis, engaging in joint programs to increase the rate of genetic gain and support studs in the marketing of quality Border Leicester rams.

Collaborating with the SuperBorders group helps me to create a more sustainable world by giving me the tools to improve my family’s stud. Sheep that are higher in genetic figures have higher growth rates and are predisposed to producing quality meat faster. Breeding animals with these traits reduce strain on pastures and therefore environment. Increased meat yields will also prove beneficial for feeding the ever increasing population while reducing methane due to decreased inputs required. Increased muscle, fat and growth rates can have detrimental effects due to the potential of increased animal size. However, the genetic gains remain industry focused to maintain size of animals to limit the pressure put on management of stock thus making sustainable improvements to the industry.

Q: Everyday across the globe, people make breakthroughs for a more sustainable future. What have you seen or heard about that you find inspiring, and why?

As a part of my studies I completed work experience in SA with Lynton Arney, stud principal of Inverbrackie Border Leicester Stud and a 2001 Nuffield Scholar. I found it inspiring how he uses his enterprise to try new technologies, experiments with what is currently available to improve his production and seeks to learn from industry experts every day.

Working with Lynton, provided me with a renewed interest in regenerative agriculture and it’s importance in creating a more sustainable industry as well as world. His willingness to experiment with growing mixed pasture species in a single paddock to increase biodiversity based on the german JENA experiment has inspired me to research ways in which I can improve my own family’s farming.

NextGen Agri is a consulting business out of New Zealand who I am also inspired by. They are livestock experts who have coupled with scientists and engineers to provide the animal industry with guidance in making genetic gains. Their current research project into creating cameras that can recognise sheep and improve remote farm-based monitoring has shown me just how important it is to build on our technology to improve outcomes. These developments in livestock management will make the industry more sustainable as less stress will be placed on animals, creating quicker meat production and reducing environmental strain. Their willingness to experiment with current technology and adapting it to the livestock industry is what inspires me the most.

I would like to learn overseas what improvements can be made to the land and livestock that we currently have to increase production sustainably.

“Emma has leadership potential and has done sufficient research to have a valuable input into the industry upon their return”

- Paddy Fagan, Global Footprints Assessor

“Emma will greatly benefit from the scholarship and will be a great ambassador for their industry.”

- Quintin Murphey, Global Footprints Assessor