Stress Testing Regenerative Agriculture Practices Long Term Trials

AgKI are seeking to contract a consultant to deliver a multiyear trial site on Kangaroo Island as part of a comprehensive, statewide evaluation of novel regenerative cropping and pasture management methods to improve drought resilience in dryland farming systems in southern Australia. 

The project aims to rigorously study regenerative cropping and pasture management to boost drought resilience in southern Australia's dryland farming systems.  It is farmer-led with scientific support from CSIRO and full economic analysis, involving five long-term trials across key eco-climatic zones and four large demonstration trials.  The data collected will be modelled to predict outcomes of different management scenarios, helping stakeholders visualize impacts on soil resilience and sustainable productivity.  A robust monitoring, evaluation, and communication strategy will ensure transparency, stakeholder engagement, and value delivery throughout the project.

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This Request for Quote (RFQ) is being awarded in two (2) stages:-

Stage 1 – Long Term Trials planning & set up

Stage 2 – Trial site management, measurement & sampling (including reporting and extension)

For Stage 1, the project is looking to bring on a consultant to work with the AgKI Project Steering Committee to finalise:-

• trial site selection,

• finalise the ‘core treatments’ to be trialled on KI

• treatment approach for KI trials,

• protocols (in conjunction with AgEx consortium and CSIRO) for data management, data capture, site characterisation, trial site layout management practices, soil sampling, crop data and timing.

The trial sites will commence in March 2026. 

The successful consultant will provide a quote for the delivery of Stage 2 by the end of February 2026.  AgKI will reserve the right to go back to the market if the successful consultant selected for Stage 1 submits a price for Stage 2 that is not within budget or otherwise deemed non-compliant. 

The successful contractor will be required to provide regular updates to the AgKI Project Steering Committee and must obtain their approval on methods, management practices, draft reports and extension. 

For a copy of the Request for Quote for Stage 1 please click here.

For further information on the project, please click here.

Submission:-

Requests for quote need to be submitted to

Anna Kelliher, Executive Officer AgKI

by 4.00pm Wednesday 26 November 2025

admin@agki.com.au (confirmation of receipt of submission will be sent)

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This project is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Future Drought Funds ‘Longterm Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Grants’ Round 2.  The program funds projects that investigate innovative farming techniques through science based long term trials, building drought and climate resilience for Australian farmers.  For Further information on the Future Drought Fund programs please visit Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Grants - DAFF