Biological Farming Roundtable

Description – In episode 50 of the Biological Farming RoundTable, host Nakala Maddock sits down with ECTOL founder and ag scientist John McKay. John walks us through the discovery of osmo protectants in marine algae, the first commercial frost protection applications in Australia, and how foliar nutrition evolved from horticulture into broadacre cropping and pasture systems. Along the way, he unpa...

Biological Farming RoundTable host Nakala Maddock is joined by David Hardwick from Soil Land Food and Luke Harrington from Re‑Gen Farming in Episode 48. In part one of this two‑part series, they explore the motivations and challenges behind transitioning to regenerative farming. They also reveal some unexpected factors to watch for — insights that can help you regain confidence and control in your...

Biological Farming RoundTable host Nakala Maddock is joined by David Hardwick from Soil Land Food and Luke Harrington from Re-Gen Farming in Episode 48. In part one of this two-part series, they unpack the motivations and challenges to managing transitions to regenerative farming. The unpack some unexpected aspects to be aware of to help you in your journey to gaining control back in your farm man...

In the first episode of the Biological Farming RoundTable for 2026, Nakala sits down with NutriSoil’s tech‑savvy Nige for a candid, sometimes confronting, and ultimately empowering conversation about the rise of AI in agriculture. What begins as a simple chat about who owns AI quickly opens into a deeper exploration of ethics, power, risk, and opportunity. Nakala and Nige unpack the major players...

In Episode 46 of the Biological Farming RoundTable Podcast, Nakala and Shelley travel to Pingrup, in the southeast of the WA wheatbelt. They are joined by David Steele and his wife, Deb, who are multigenerational farmers running a cropping and sheep enterprise. David and Deb recall when the soil had that earthy smell and have their sights set upon bringing the aroma back to the farm. When David re...

In Episode 45 of the Biological Farming RoundTable Podcast, Nakala continues her conversation with Gundi Rhoades in part two of The Microbe Solution. This episode dives deeper into Gundi’s exploration of the powerful connection between soil microbes and human health. We examine how synthetic compounds have disrupted microbial balance and how farmers play a critical role in restoring it. Gundi shar...

In this eye-opening episode of the Biological Farming RoundTable podcast, host Nakala Maddock sits down with regenerative vet Dr Gundi Rhoades to explore the profound ripple effects of historical decisions and technological advancements on soil biology and by extension, human and animal health. Gundi shares her remarkable journey of discovery, revealing how disruptions in soil microbes have led to...

In this special episode of the Biological Farming RoundTable, we’re turning the tables. Host Nakala Maddock swaps seats to become the guest, with NutriSoil’s communication coordinator, Shelley Scoullar, stepping in behind the mic. What unfolds is a candid and spirited conversation between two passionate advocates for healthy farming systems. From the marvels of microbes and nutrient-dense food to...

In this compelling continuation, Nakala and John Kempf delve into the concept of Active Immunity in plants—a state made possible by biologically active soils rich in diverse microorganisms. Discover how microbial compounds, such as lipids and phytochemicals, are transported into the plant, playing a pivotal role in fostering complete resilience against diseases and pests. Tune in to uncover how so...

In this episode, Nakala is joined by John Kempf, a pioneering voice in regenerative agriculture and a trusted mentor to farmers worldwide. Together, they delve into the transformative concept of the Plant Health Pyramid, an innovative framework developed through extensive research by John and the team at Advancing Eco Agriculture. The Plant Health Pyramid reveals the secrets to cultivating resilie...

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Kittredge, farmer, founder of the Bionutrient Association, and educator behind the world’s first Certificate-Level Masterclass in Nutrient-Dense Food. Dan is at the forefront of groundbreaking research, measuring and defining food quality—and linking it directly to how it’s grown. This conversation dives deep into the medicinal potential of food, exploring how...

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Kittredge, farmer, founder of the Bionutrient Association, and educator behind the world’s first Certificate-Level Masterclass in Nutrient-Dense Food. Dan is at the forefront of groundbreaking research, measuring and defining food quality—and linking it directly to how it’s grown. This conversation dives deep into the medicinal potential of food, exploring how...

In episode 39 of the Biological Farming Round Table, Nakala visits Don Jarvis, a dedicated dairy farmer from Towong near Corryong in the picturesque Snowy Valley. Don reveals his simple methods for transforming acidic, compacted soils into balanced, self-regulating ecosystems through the power of biology. Alongside his wife Denise and son Jamie, Don operates an organically certified dairy farm, wo...

In this episode we give you an inside view of what WORM FEST 2024 is about. How it came to be, why and what to expect! Joel Williams talks about his love of amino acids and biostimulants with nutrient delivery and how at WORM FEST 2024 he is going to be diving into the science of what powerful tools lie beneath these often-mysterious names. WORM FEST 2024 is likened to Ground Swell a UK, Festival...

In this episode of our podcast, Nakala and David offer a rare glimpse behind the scenes at NutriSoil headquarters. We’re introducing you to a key figure in our team, the ‘Worm Whisperer’ himself, Darren Maddock. While Darren might be a bit of a hidden gem in our operations, his contributions are vital to the NutriSoil business. Darren delves into his reasons for taking on the family worm business,...

In this inspiring episode, we delve into the story of Callum Lawson, a visionary who transformed a struggling 3000-acre grazing property in North Central Victoria into a flourishing ecosystem. Facing the challenge of an overstocked land, Callum embarked on a mission to revive the farm. This journey wasn’t just about restoring the land; it was a commitment to producing healthy food, fostering envir...

In Episode 35 host Nakala Maddock interviews three amazing guests about the importance of building networks and community ties for farmers and their families. During this podcast our special guests discuss tools for developing resilience to weather the next tough time when it comes along, and what you can do to help someone who might be struggling. A big thanks to Luke Harrington, Brad and Katie C...

In Episode 34 of the Biological Farming Roundtable, host Nakala Maddock and agroecologist David Hardwick from Soil Land Food speak with cropping farmer Brendan Pattison, from Marrer in NSW. Brendan discloses how he has managed transitional change in his farming system to reduce dependence on synthetics by activating and feeding soil biology while remaining profitable. Monitoring and observations a...

This month’s podcast takes the Biological Farming Roundtable podcast to Ingham QLD, for the Regenerative Cane Farmers Forum. Host Nakala Maddock is joined by agroecologist David Hardwick from Soil Land Food, they speak with cane farmer Ray Zamora from Tully about addressing soil compaction and declining soil health in the sugar cane industry. Ray shares his soil health learning journey, and how in...

In episode 32 of the Biological Farming Roundtable host Nakala Maddock is joined by Robin Tait an independent consultant in Tasmania, as they chat with Aiden and Sarah Coombes. Aiden manages Westmore a 3400 ha grazing property owned by Greenhams and is involved in implementing the Never Ever Beef Program, while Sarah manages properties owned by the Coombes. Located in the northwest of Tasmania the...

In episode 31 of the Biological Farming Roundtable Podcast, host Nakala Maddock is joined by Jane Slattery co-founder of natural intelligence farming. Nakala and Jane speak with cattle grazier Dale Retschlag from Biloela in Queensland. Dale is the president of Central Queensland Landscape Alliance, a farmer led regenerative restoration group and explains his journey to being at peace with a non-ne...

Jacob Wolki is an entrepreneur from Albury Wodonga. Treating animals with respect, family and medicinal food drive his quest to build a community where farmers and consumers are connected by shared values. He raises animals, processes them, sells online, has a self-serve butchery, and runs farm tours. He is changing the system of how farmers share their produce, which is what we discuss in this ep...

In Episode 28 of the Biological Farming Roundtable podcast Nakala and David Hardwick speak with Western Australian farmer Rob Hetherington from Lake King. Rob’s grandparents first moved to the region in 1927 battling scrub and deep sodic soils and managed to carve a future for the family of farmers when many others walked off the land. We follow the Hetherington’s amazing journey and discuss the c...

In episode 27 Nakala speaks to the experts on multispecies cropping and the role they play in improving soil, plant and animal health and reducing the synthetic inputs as costs continue to increase impacting farming profits. The post Episode 27 – Marvelous multispecies with Grant Sims and Simon Mattsson appeared first on NutriSoil .

Nakala speaks to agroecologist David Hardwick Soil Land Food and Luke Harrington from Re-Gen Farming about the skyrocketing Phosphorus prices and how to unlock the phosphorous reserves in your soil to protect your profit margin. The post Episode 26 – Optimising soil health can protect your business from increasing phosphorous prices appeared first on NutriSoil .