Learning from Victoria’s Grasslands: Insights from the Australasian Seed Science Conference

In September 2025, Associate Professor Paul Rymer represented the Cumberland Plain Research Program at the Australasian Seed Science Conference (ASSC) in Horsham, Victoria. The conference brought together researchers, industry practitioners, and government agencies working across seed science, conservation, and large-scale restoration.

Paul presented early findings from the RE-Clim experiment, highlighting how the research facility enables rigorous testing of diverse species and provenances under warming and drying conditions. The session opened opportunities for deeper collaboration and knowledge exchange, strengthening national connections with seed banks, Greening Australia, and Catchment Management Authorities.

A key highlight of the ASSC field day was a visit to long-running grassland restoration trials in Wickliffe, Victoria. Participants saw firsthand how scalping and direct seeding techniques have been applied over more than 15 years, with Dr Paul Gibson-Roy (NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) sharing outcomes and lessons. These methods are now being adopted by Landcare groups with academic support from the University of Melbourne, alongside growing investment in seed production areas for native grasses and forbs through the Glenelg Hopkins CMA.

The insights and partnerships developed during the conference provide valuable guidance for future restoration work under the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan, particularly in strengthening native seed supply and applying proven techniques to support threatened grassy ecosystems.

ASSC field day to grassland restoration in Wickliffe, VIC. (Photo credit: Paul Rymer)