The breadth and depth of agricultural research at The University of Western Australia, which stretched thousands of kilometres across WA and across the globe, resulted in more than 315 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in 2022.

From the labs and glasshouses on the Crawley campus, to the fields and facilities at UWA Shenton Park Field Station, paddocks of UWA Farm Ridgefield, across the grainbelt and South West and into the red dirt of the Kimberley – researchers affiliated with The UWA Institute of Agriculture contributed to hundreds of innovative research projects and initiatives throughout the year.

These achievements and more are celebrated in the Institute’s Annual Research Report 2022, which was released today.

The 16^th annual report provides an overview of UWA’s agricultural research, development and training in regional, national and international contexts.

Image: The front cover and select pages from the IOA Annual Research Report 2022.

The Institute’s Director Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique said collaborative and multidisciplinary research activities in 2022 were undertaken across the Institute’s six research themes, which serve as dedicated chapters in the report.

“The Annual Research Report 2022 shines a well-deserved spotlight on the hard work, dedication and accomplishments of our researchers and their collaborators,” Professor Siddique said.

“The Institute had an exceptionally positive and productive year, which included launching the new Best Practice Farming Systems Project at UWA Farm Ridgefield.”

UWA’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anna Nowak said UWA was proud to celebrate its impressive international reputation in the fields of agricultural science and related areas.

“This is a comprehensive publication that I believe will lead to information exchange, new collaborations and overall positive outcomes for the University and agricultural sector,” Professor Nowak said.

In 2022, Agricultural Science at UWA was ranked number one in Australia and 15^th in the world in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Among the 17 UWA researchers named in the prestigious worldwide Highly Cited Researcher list last year, more than half were working in agriculture and related areas.

“There is no doubt that The UWA Institute of Agriculture has played a significant role in achieving this global reputation,” Professor Nowak said.

“It brings researchers and leaders from across numerous schools at the University to focus on critical priorities such as agricultural and environmental sustainability, food and nutritional security, social impact, big data, understanding and overcoming the effects of climate change and more.” DVCR Professor Nowak

The Institute hosted and contributed to 15 events throughout 2022, including guest lectures and seminars, the Postgraduate Showcase and Industry Forum, which explored the topic ‘Navigating the Global Agricultural Marketplace in the Indian Ocean Rim: Spotlight on India and Indonesia’.

A highlight of the events calendar was welcoming more than 200 members of the public to the Shenton Park Field Station 2022 Open Day, which was co-hosted by the Institute and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment.

For more information, view and download the Annual Research Report 2022.