Lesson Summary

Anika Molesworth, a PhD holder in agriculture and environmental science, dedicated to sustainable farming landscapes for addressing climate change talks about her route to publication. Anika has international experience in agricultural development, advocating for emission reduction and climate change awareness, receiving multiple accolades for her sustainability efforts.

Anika, a farmer, scientist, and storyteller, has authored a nonfiction book detailing climate, food, and farming, sharing her journey in seeking feedback and emphasising differences between nonfiction and fiction writing. She values awards as recognition for a book's impact, and mentions upcoming projects like a children's environmental book, aiming to spread positivity and hope through her writing, for which she is collaborating with Jennifer at Daisy Lane Publishing.

Anika recounts her transition from Melbourne to a farm in New South Wales, Australia, where she witnessed drought impact, shaping her focus on climate science and sustainable practices. Her first book targets bridging academic climate discussion with public awareness, stressing the urgency for environmental action.

The discussion also includes broader topics of farming, climate change, and global efforts to combat the climate crisis. Anika elaborates on her writing process, working with publishers, and the significance of reading aloud for refining manuscripts.

Hi, I'm Anika (pronounced A-nee-ka), and it's great to meet you!

I spent most of my childhood in Melbourne, and like a lot of people living in a big city, I didn’t think too much about where the food on my plate had come from. My mum and dad brought home grocery bags from the local supermarket and cooked tasty meals for my brothers and me. Food was always there, and I guess I was complacent that it always would be too.

I was twelve when my parents decided to buy a farm 1,000 kilometres away from Melbourne. City buildings and cars were replaced with open skies and paddocks with kangaroos. Food suddenly became something that did not originate from a supermarket, but from the farm that surrounded me.
 
I fell in love with the landscape and felt a tremendous privilege to be involved in growing food that would nourish people. With my family, I learnt the secrets of the soil, marvelled at the plants and animals, and developed a great sense of belonging to the rural community.
 
But it was the decade-long Millennium drought that changed my life forever. Between the years 2000–2010, very little rain fell in much of Australia. My home became dry and dust-storms turned the skies red. My heart ached watching the land suffer and how that pain was felt by my family and community. We obsessively looked at the skies, waiting for the rain to come again.

That's when I started to join the dots between the land, the climate and the food on my plate.
 
It was at this point that I read about climate change and to learn about the damage we humans are doing to our planet. I began to understand that extreme weather events - like droughts, bushfires and floods - are becoming more frequent and intense. I became worried about the rate and scale of the changes occurring and concerned with the lack of leadership in tackling this issue.
 
I knew I had to do something.

I am a farmer, a scientist and a storyteller of a better future. 
 
I know that we can live and eat in a way that is good for both people and the planet. With your help, we can find the answers on how to feed the global population well and in a way that tackles climate change.
 
With a passion for rural communities and healthy ecosystems, I am committed to help create sustainable and vibrant farming landscapes now and for the future. I have a PhD in agriculture and environmental science, I speak and write on agro-ecological systems resilience, and have a passion for building the capacity of farmers to respond to climate change, both here in Australia and around the world. I have designed and delivered international agricultural development projects in many countries, including Laos, Cambodia, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

My dedication to raising awareness of climate change impacts on farms, and most importantly, what action can be taken to reduce emissions and adapt to changing conditions has gained me widespread notability. My career has taken me around the world to every continent (including Antarctica!), meeting with farmers, global leaders and royalty. As a sought-after keynote speaker and educator, I bring heartfelt warmth, authenticity and optimism to complex global challenges.

In 2015, I was named Young Farmer of the Year, and went on to be awarded the 2017 Young Australian of the Year NSW Finalist, and 2017 NSW Young Achiever Award for Environment and Sustainability. In 2018, I was awarded the Green Globe Awards Young Sustainability Champion, the NSW/ACT Regional Achievement and Community Award for Agricultural Innovation, and the 350.org Heroes of a Low-Carbon Economy Youth Champion. In 2019, I was recognised as a Future Shaper by InStyle and Audi, and a Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review. In 2020, I was awarded the Emily Hensley Award for self-discipline, integrity, compassion and contribution to the wider community. In 2022, I was recognised in the Top 100 Green Power Players.

https://www.anikamolesworth.com/about.html

Interview arranged by Daisy Lane Publishing.