SEAOAK announces 10-year partnership with Agrisolar CRC to accelerate on-farm renewable energy adoption and protect productive agricultural land
- Ebony Greaves
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
7th of April 2025
SEAOAK Consulting is proud to announce a new 10-year partnership with the prospective Agrisolar Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), if federally funded in 2026, to drive the adoption of renewable energy solutions across Australian farms. This partnership aims to support farmers and agribusinesses in harnessing the economic and environmental benefits of agrisolar technology while safeguarding productive agricultural land and ensuring a sustainable future for regional communities.
“Australia’s agricultural sector accounts for 55% of our land use, with the industry feeding more than 27 million people. SEAOAK is taking a leading role in working with government and industry to drive climate solutions at scale across Australia, while protecting productive agricultural land and farmer livelihoods” - Ebony Greaves, Chief Executive Officer at SEAOAK Consulting. "We are excited to partner with the Agrisolar CRC, if funded, in advancing renewable energy adoption across Australian farms. By breaking down barriers and providing clear financial insights, we aim to empower farmers to make informed decisions that benefit both their businesses and the environment".
Under this partnership, SEAOAK will play a key role in overcoming barriers to renewable energy adoption by working closely with farmers, communities, and stakeholders. This includes conducting economic analyses to help landholders understand the financial viability of agrisolar projects and equipping them with tools to evaluate options that align with their long-term goals.
SEAOAK is deeply committed to ensuring that renewable energy development supports—not displaces—agriculture. That means helping farmers and regional / rural communities design agrisolar projects that preserve high-value agricultural land, strengthen local economies, and deliver meaningful, long-term benefits such as shared ownership models, job creation, and reinvestment in local infrastructure and services.
Our team will also contribute to the co-design of agrisolar projects that demonstrate how solar infrastructure can be integrated within working farms—enabling grazing, cropping, and horticulture to continue alongside clean energy generation. Beyond project implementation, SEAOAK will actively shape policies and communications that protect the integrity of agricultural regions and support the long-term viability of agrisolar initiatives in Australia. Through its growing network, SEAOAK will foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among industry leaders, policymakers, and landholders to ensure best practices are scaled nationwide.
“Agrisolar is already proving successful in countries such as France and Japan, where solar farms are coexisting with vineyards, grazing land, and crop production. This partnership is about bringing those proven models to Australia, ensuring farmers can tap into renewable energy without sacrificing productive land, making agrisolar a win-win for both agriculture and the clean energy transition” - Carli Davis, Chief Sustainability Officer at SEAOAK Consulting.
This partnership aligns with SEAOAK’s mission to promote sustainable agricultural practices and champion regional resilience. As the demand for renewable energy rises, this collaboration will provide community-led, scalable models that show how Australia’s farming regions can play a central role in the clean energy future—without compromising the land, livelihoods, and culture that sustain them.
“We are delighted to have impactful groups such as SEAOAK joining the bid consortium. As we put our best foot forward to the federal government in the upcoming CRC round, it’s our partners that will make the bid sing and overall, we are a sum of our parts. We hope to achieve funding toward a +$80M CRC that will make lasting impact on our agribusinesses and, ultimately, enable a new sector for agrisolar to emerge in Australia.” - Dr Liz Smith, Western Sydney University - Agrisolar CRC Bid Director.
For inquiries about this partnership, please contact:
Ebony Greaves
CEO SEAOAK Consulting
About SEAOAK
SEAOAK is a rural climate and sustainability consultancy headquartered in the Victorian High Country. With our roots grounded in the corporate and food and fibre industries, we use science-based strategies to help our clients manage exposure to climate risk and implement sustainable solutions that create long-term value for business, people, planet and biodiversity.
About Agrisolar CRC
The Agrisolar Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is dedicated to advancing the integration of solar energy within agricultural landscapes. Through research, collaboration, and demonstration projects, the CRC works to optimise land use, enhance farm productivity, and contribute to Australia’s renewable energy transition.
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