Research
Agricultural science
Creating sustainable solutions to balance industry and community needs
Agricultural science focuses on the multidisciplinary nature of the challenges facing the global community. Rapidly growing population, changing climate and limited land and fresh water resources will impact on the ability of agriculture to meet demand. Science-based solutions are required to achieve worldwide goals of sustainability for industry and community development.
1st in Australia and 22nd in the world for Agricultural Sciences (ARWU 2023)
2nd in Australia and 38th in the world for Environmental Science and Engineering (ARWU 2023)
Key research areas
Our research is focused on five key areas:
- Animal production
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Our researchers investigate extensive rangeland systems and mixed crop-pasture systems in the quest for expansion and improvement opportunities and clean, green and ethical animal production.
- Genetics and breeding
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Research and student training in genetics and breeding spans traditional and molecular genetic approaches to improve economically important production traits in our crops, pastures and livestock. Our work has application in Australia as well as overseas countries including China, India, Bangladesh and Timor Leste.
- Crop and pasture production
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Research in crop and pasture production occurs across molecular and physiological processes, nutrition and disease control, and in-field agronomy, using traditional and state-of-the art technology.
- Soil science and plant nutrition
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Agricultural-based research and teaching in soil science and plant nutrition focuses on the influence of land management practices and climate variability on agricultural soils. By combining molecular, isotopic and spatial imaging techniques with information on changes in soil function, our researchers have gained detailed insights into the day-to-day life of soil and how best to manage and sustain this important resource.
- Farming systems
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Our work in farming systems integrates research knowledge across agronomy, soil, climate and livestock discipline areas. It is targeted towards developing new information, models and management strategies that enable more informed decisions so landholders can assess risk, maximise profitability and minimise impacts on the environment.
Centres
Our researchers contribute to advancing agricultural education and research through a range of groups, centres and programs focused on specialised areas.
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)
- Centre for Engineering Innovation - Agriculture and Ecological Restoration
- Centre for Plant Genetics and Breeding (PGB)
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture (IOA)
- Turf Research Program
- SoilsWest
Key staff
- Head of School
- Department Head Agricultural Science
- Academic staff
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- Associate Professor Dominique Blache
- Associate Professor Guijun Yan
- Associate Professor Ken Flower
- Associate Professor Louise Barton
- Associate Professor Megan Ryan
- Associate Professor Phillip Nichols
- Associate Professor Roberta Bencini
- Associate Professor William Erskine
- Professor Martin Barbetti
- Professor Phil Vercoe
- Professor Tim Colmer
- Professor Zed Rengel
- Research staff
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- Research Associate Kelsey Pool
- Research Fellow Paul Damon
- Senior Research Fellow Judith Lichtenzveig
- Senior Research Fellow Roberto Busi
- Senior Research Fellow Zakaria Solaiman
- Senior Research Officer Bradley Wintle
- Senior Research Officer Daniel Kidd
- Senior Research Officer Kevin Foster
- Senior Research Officer Mechelle Owen
- Senior Research Officer Roberto Lujan Rocha
- Senior Scientific Officer Ian Waite
- Emeritus, Honorary and Adjunct
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- Emeritus Professor Graeme Martin
- Emeritus Professor Steve Powles
- Senior Honorary Research Fellow Lynette Abbott
- Adjunct Research Fellow Felipe Albornoz Ramirez
- Adjunct Associate Professor Vivienne Anthony
- Adjunct Professor William Armstrong
- Adjunct Senior Teaching Fellow Biddulph Thomas
- Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Janine Croser
- Adjunct Professor Franck Dayan
- Adjunct Professor Mike Ewing
- Adjunct Associate Professor Mark Farrell
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer Todd Gaines
- Honorary Research Fellow Hendrik Greenway
- Adjunct Research Fellow Karen Holmes
- Adjunct Professor John Kirkegaard
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer Judith Lichtenzveig
- Senior Honorary Research Fellow David Lindsay
- Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Rick Llewellyn
- Adjunct Associate Professor Bruce Mackintosh
- Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Imran Malik
- Adjunct Professor David Masters
- Adjunct Research Fellow Dustin Severtson
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer Daniel Mullan
- Adjunct Professor Mikio Nakazono
- Adjunct Lecturer Dion Nicol
- Adjunct Professor Jairo Palta
- Adjunct Research Fellow Maria Pazos-Navarro
- Adjunct Professor Ole Pedersen
- Honorary Research Associate Michael Poole
- Adjunct Associate Professor Dean Revell
- Adjunct Research Fellow Federico Ribalta
- Honorary Emeritus Professor Alan Robson
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer Manisha Shankar
- Adjunct Professor Nils Stein
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer Gustavo Striker
- Adjunct Lecturer Lalith Suriyagoda
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer Martin Vila Aiub
- Honorary Research Fellow Christopher Walker
- Adjunct Senior Lecturer Philip Ward
- Adjunct Senior Research Fellow Rob Williams
- Adjunct Professor Ray Wills
- Adjunct Research fellow Zhenhua Zhang