Spotlight on NSW International Agricultural Researchers

March 12, 2024

Leading NSW agricultural researchers involved in Crawford Fund training and mentoring and ACIAR research have been highlighted in a series of articles by Hayley Warden in The Land newspaper and across Australian Country Media mastheads in other States digitally. Hayley met quite a few of the researchers at the Fund’s NSW Committee event late in 2023.

We are pleased to highlight this series, and the interest it has generated in the international for agricultural development space.

To date, the coverage has included:

• Eminent plant pathologist still working after six decades
  19 March 2024
  Many successful people cite mentors or teachers as the people who motivate them to succeed in their chosen field. Read about the great work of Crawford Fund Medal winner, Dr Lester Burgess, still contributing and, indeed, just back from Laos.
• International work critical to Australia’s wheat industry, says Dr Trethowan
  10 March 2024
  A love for the ‘Green Revolution’ story and its enormous impact on the livelihoods of farmers and communities in the developing world led Dr Richard Trethowan down the path of international research and development and ultimately became a world-leading plant breeder.
• Lemerle takes Australia’s hard-earned lessons to Laos
  6 March 2024
  Living abroad and immersing herself in other cultures has always been a significant part of acclaimed agricultural weed scientist Professor Deirdre Lemerle‘s life.
• Building trust with farmers central to scientist’s vital international work
  27 February 2024
  With a veterinarian father, Dr Matt Champness‘ earliest memories are of spending time counting cattle while he preg-tested in western NSW before the family later moved to South West Victoria.
• Learn how Dr Schouten is keeping bee diseases at bay in the Pacific
  21 February 2024
  From a young age, it never sat well with Dr Cooper Schouten that so many people globally go to bed hungry every night and don’t have access to basic things like fresh water, healthcare and education.
• Meet the Aussie vet dedicated to saving chickens and giving villages food security
  04 February 2024
  When Dr Robyn Alders was a young child, she wanted to be a drover and then a ballerina. However, when she was 12, her pony became unwell, and the vet was called, her career ambitions quickly changed trajectory.
• Lack of career pathways and long-term contracts driving a shortage of soil specialists
  29 November 2023
  A lack of career pathways and long-term contracts are driving a shortage of soil specialists in Australia, say industry experts [including Dr Jason Condon].
• Professor Lee Baumgartner earns the inaugural NSW Crawford Fund Medal
  26 November 2023
  A chance meeting in the Riverina town of Narrandera was the turning point for Professor Lee Baumgartner, which led him on the path to his important work in developing countries where food security for millions of people is under threat.

We are delighted to see the impact of the work of these passionate and dedicated Crawford Fund and ACIAR funded scientists, mentors and volunteers being highlighted for the broader community.

We provide examples of news coverage we generate across TV, radio and print outlets  here and currently have our Crawford Fund Food Security Journalism Award open.