Murray Now

A self-confessed "farmer from Finley" who has travelled the world learning about the carbon industry will provide a down to earth perspective as a panelist at the Murray Now State of the Region Dinner on February 27.

Discussing the catch-cry, Watch out for Climate Sharks, Jennie Hawkins is well qualified to contribute to any debate surrounding climate variability and change.

Already facing six years of drought and determined to learn more about how the carbon emissions trading scheme might further impact her family farm, Jennie Hawkins has been a mum on a mission.

Mrs Hawkins is one of 16 farmers who secured a Nuffield Scholarship specifically looking at on-farm management and the recording of carbon.

"When I applied for the scholarship, little did I realise the massive adventure I had put my hand up for," Mrs Hawkins said.

"As I pointed out to the interview panel, I am neither an agronomist nor an academic research scientist, just a farmer with questions that I wanted answers to."

In the past 12 months, Mrs Hawkins has attended conferences across the world, hearing from a range of international agricultural sectors on issues from food scarcity, climate change, marketing, global trade, agricultural production and rural community management.

"While I didn't solely focus on the carbon sector, my travels have given me a wonderful opportunity to ask the carbon questions all over the world and at all levels, from self-sufficient rice farmers in China to members of the Ag congressional committees in Washington."

Mrs Hawkins even found herself in Copenhagen during the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

"I was in Copenhagen in no official capacity, so it was great to have that independent wide-eyed view of the world of developing environmental policy," Mrs Hawkins said.

"The challenge now begins in putting this complicated world of science, climate, international policy and various agendas into a simple message and language that everyone can understand."

Jennie Hawkins is honoured to be a panelist at the State of the Region Dinner and is fully supportive of the inaugural get-together to discuss issues pertinent to the Murray Region.

"It's a fantastic concept and is an important way of highlighting issues that are important to us in the Murray Region, particularly in the areas of food production and promotion," she said.