Joanne Tingey-Holyoak
UniSA Business School, Adelaide, SA
ABSTRACT
Primary producers need strategies and tools to assist in monitoring water use with a view to improving physical and financial productivity. Farm accounting systems, if present, lack the sophistication to allow growers to analyse the use, loss and productivity of water to identify areas of potential water savings. Also, emerging farm technologies do not readily link to business systems to provide the optimal real-time financial decision making data. Findings of desk-based technology benchmarking suggest best-practice elements required include production ‘hotspot’ identification and real-time sensory data integration that allows for strategic allocation to all direct and indirect water use drivers. Key actor interview and producer demand surveys highlight demand exists for a cost-effective integrated water productivity tool, especially in regions where there is a large proportion of irrigated farming. The paper provides preliminary demonstration of how the crucial link can be made between producers’ business systems and resource technology.
Biography:
Dr Joanne Tingey-Holyoak is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in the Sustainable Engineering, Accounting and Law Group in the UniSA Business School. Since completing her PhD in sustainable dam management on an ARC Discovery Project in 2012, Joanne has had over 40 publications, including in Water Resources Research, three publications in Agricultural Water Management, and also a number of awards, such as the 2013 Emerald Social Impact Award. With a background in farming and industry, strong links to business and Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) status, Joanne’s research has made end-user informed assessments of water accounting and management resulting in policy and practical guidance. Through most recent industry and consulting projects, including a 51-country World Bank study, Joanne is seeking to develop integrated financial and management solutions that enable farmers, policymakers and community and environment groups to maximize efficient and safe management of precious water resources.
