Young agriculturalist hopes to bring global knowledge home

YOUNG agriculturalist Alex Barrios is headed to Spain to continue his journey and bring regenerative farming practices back to the Bellarine.

The Portarlington local, who is preparing to fly out on May 27, says his passion for agriculture grew from a lifelong love of the outdoors and a childhood spent travelling around rural Australia. “I’ve always had an interest with working with the outdoors and being surrounded by that sort of environment,” he said.

Alex, who is completing a traineeship with Farm My School, said his interest in agriculture became more serious in his later high school years, when he began a Certificate II in Agriculture, followed by horticulture and sustainable agriculture studies.

His path has since been shaped by a strong focus on innovation, soil health and food as medicine, with mentors and community supporters helping open doors along the way.

A presentation he delivered on sustainable agriculture at Deakin University led to a connection with Food and Mood Centre’s Felice Jacka, while scholarships and training opportunities helped build momentum.

Spain will now offer the next chapter.

Alex will spend three months working with the Institute of Agri-food Research and Technology near Barcelona, where he expects to be involved in field sampling, soil testing, water conservation research and lab work.

He said the region’s climate and research focus made it an ideal place to learn.

“They have a similar climate to us,” he said. “I would like to see how they are trying to solve their water conservation and water management.”

For Alex, the trip is about more than experience. He hopes to return with practical knowledge that could support more resilient farming systems in Australia, particularly around regenerative practices and reducing reliance on artificial inputs.

“It really all comes down to how we can become more resilient and more independent in our own farming,” he said.

The journey will also be a personal milestone, with Alex travelling to Europe for the first time.

While he described the trip as “daunting”, he said it also represented a valuable step toward independence and future study. He added that since his father is from Uruguay, he hopes to learn some Spanish whilst over there.

Back home, he is grateful for the support of his parents, James McLennan from Farm My School and the community.

“I’ve just been trying to help get some funding, and it’s been pretty comforting to know that a lot of people in the community have already chipped in,” he said.