QUEENSLAND has launched four new Nuffield scholars at the Nuffield Australia National Conference in Adelaide.
The four have been drawn from a wide variety of agricultural fields including cutting-edge technology in the prawn industry, robotics, sustainability and precision agriculture.
Each of scholars will undertake extensive and diverse agricultural and fisheries research across the globe each using their $30,000 bursary for a 16 week program of group and individual travel during 2017.
Scholarships were announced at this week’s national conference where over 300 delegates from primary industries have congregated to learn about the latest agricultural research findings.
The Queensland scholars are:
Alexander Nixon, Drillham, who will investigate how to make broad acre farming more sustainable, thereby avoiding many of the current issues faced by the industry. (Grains Research and Development Corporation North.)
Luke Bradley, Springsure, who will travel to world-best farming enterprises with the aim to reignite Australian leadership in precision agriculture. (Grains Research and Development Corporation North.)
Glenn Wormald, Guthalungra (near Bowen), who will travel to successful prawn nurseries throughout the world and bring their knowledge and experience back to Australia where nursery technology is yet to be implemented. (Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.)
Matthew Fealy, Mareeba, who will investigate how the use of robotics in horticulture has the opportunity to revolutionise the industry. (Woolworths.)
Queensland Nuffield chair Natalie Williams said so much variety within the research topics of the Queensland scholars, a very diverse range of findings would be presented following their global study tours.
“After returning from global study tours, Alex, Luke, Glenn and Matthew will share their diverse and insightful findings with other producers and stakeholders in their respective industries and communities,” Ms Williams said.
“Using this model, Nuffield Australia continues to build capacity for the nation’s food and fibre industries to be world-leaders in the adoption of the latest and most effective technology, best practice and innovation.
“Queensland has maintained strong participation in Nuffield, and these four Scholars join our group of 58 Queensland Scholars, who, by providing insights into world-wide agricultural production systems are benefiting our respective industries and communities.”
Nuffield Australia provides opportunities to Australian primary producers and managers between the ages of 28 and 40 to travel the globe investigating a research topic important to them and Australian agriculture. Scholars are provided with a $30,000 bursary to embark on a 16 week program consisting of both group and individual travel over a two-year period.
