WA Agricultural Research Collaboration

📰 The latest 'From the Director' e-newsletter is out now - and it’s a big one. WAARC Director Dr Kelly Pearce reflects on a milestone moment: the inaugural WAARC Showcase 2025. With about 150 people in the room, the Showcase captured what WAARC stands for - collaboration, capability and commitment - and set the scene for what comes next. Highlights include: 💡 Insights from Emeritus Professor Ross Kingwell on the future of agricultural R&D 💡 Updates from across WAARC’s research portfolio 💡 A “Next Generation” session showcasing WAARC postgraduate students leading the way in agricultural innovation 💡 A cross-sector collaboration panel with leaders from AROSE, Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), Centre for Advanced Technologies in Cancer Research (CATCR) and WA Agricultural Research Collaboration, exploring the future intersections of AI, mining, space, health and agriculture. Kelly’s reflections capture the pride, purpose and momentum building across Western Australia’s ag research community, and what it means to truly connect ideas, people and possibilities. Read the full piece and subscribe to the newsletter here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g-UmfMHa #WAARCShowcase2025 #FromtheDirector #Agriculture #Research #Innovation #Collaboration

A huge thank you to everyone who made the WAARC Showcase 2025 such a success 💚 What an incredible day of ideas, connection and collaboration - brought to life by the generous speakers, presenters and panellists who shared their time, expertise and passion for advancing agricultural research in WA. 🎤 Opening the day We began with a powerful Welcome to Country from Whadjuk Noongar Elder Vaughn McGuire, followed by opening addresses from WAARC Director Dr Kelly Pearce and Member for South Perth Geoff Baker MLA (on behalf of The Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC). We also extend our thanks to Emeritus Professor Ross Kingwell for his insightful keynote address on the agricultural R&D landscape in WA, and to Dr John Statton and Dr Kirsty Moynihan for providing the WAARC Strategic Research Manager overviews that set the stage for the day. 🌾 Project overviews Our gratitude to the research leaders who showcased WAARC’s portfolio of collaborative projects: Dr Caitlin Moore, Dr Ron Yates, Dr Clinton Revell, Geoff Thomas, Clint Hansen, Dr David Blake, Dr Andrew. Fletcher, Professor Daniel Murphy, and Professor Rajeev Varshney. Each presentation demonstrated the impact of partnership across institutions, industries and disciplines. 🎓 The next generation Thank you to Jenny Crisp, WAARC Capacity Building & Extension Program Lead, for highlighting the Needs Gap Analysis and facilitating the PhD Panel Discussion. And a special shout-out to our outstanding student presenters - Roberto Lujan Rocha, Georgia Welsh, Selassie Ahiakpa, Darcy Lefroy, Ben Camer-Pesci, and Sundara Link - along with Chloe Rout, Yunlong HUO and Mohitul Hossain for sharing their experiences on the panel. 🤝 Collaboration is key We closed with an inspiring cross-sector discussion on collaboration, led by WAARC Independent Chair Terry Hill AM, with panellists Leanne Cunnold (AROSE), Nicole Roocke (Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), Dr Jake Kendrick (Centre for Advanced Technologies in Cancer Research (CATCR), and Dr Kelly Pearce (WAARC). The insights shared, and the opportunities sparked, show just how powerful collaboration can be when industries unite around shared challenges and innovation. To everyone who took the time to contribute, thank you. Your expertise and enthusiasm made the Showcase a true celebration of WA’s agricultural research community. 🌱 #WAARCShowcase2025 #Agriculture #Research #Innovation #Collaboration #WAARC #AgResearch

WAARC Showcase 2025 is underway! What an incredible morning it’s been at The Maali at Perth Zoo - setting the tone for a full day celebrating collaboration, innovation and impact across Western Australian agricultural research 🌾 We began with a warm Welcome to Country from Vaughn McGuire, followed by opening addresses from WAARC Director Dr Kelly Pearce and Geoff Baker MLA (on behalf of The Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC). Emeritus Professor Ross Kingwell then delivered an insightful keynote on the evolving agricultural R&D landscape in Australia. Attendees have also heard updates across seven of WAARC’s flagship projects - HALO, Cropping Enabled Cattle, Lupin Disease Resistance, Transformative Aboriginal Agricultural Methods, N-ABLE, SMART SPRAYS, and Wheat Nitrogen Use Efficiency - showcasing the depth and diversity of research underway. This afternoon, the spotlight shifts to the WAARC Postgraduate Research Scholarship Program, with six students presenting their PhD projects, followed by a discussion on the realities of doing a PhD in 2025. We’ll round out the day with a cross-industry collaboration panel featuring AROSE, Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), Centre for Advanced Technologies in Cancer Research (CATCR) and WA Agricultural Research Collaboration. A huge thanks to all who’ve joined us - what a brilliant start to #WAARCShowcase2025! Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development CSIRO Grower Group Alliance Curtin University Murdoch University The University of Western Australia

It’s almost here! Tomorrow, the WAARC Showcase 2025 will bring together more than 150 people from across Western Australia’s agri-research ecosystem. With a packed agenda and a stacked lineup of speakers, panels, lightning talks and project highlights, the Showcase will celebrate how collaboration is driving impact - from soil to satellite, and from the lab bench to the paddock gate. Researchers, growers, and industry leaders will gather to share ideas, explore innovations, and connect on the future of WA agriculture. We can’t wait to see you there! #WAARCShowcase2025 #Agriculture #AgResearch #Innovation #Collaboration

Great to see our Strategic Research Manager Dr John Statton catching up with the team at the CCFI | SABC to check in on the Wheat Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) project.

💻 WA Agricultural Scientist Spotlight: Professor Ferdous Sohel 💻 Murdoch University’s Ferdous Sohel has built a career that bridges artificial intelligence and agricultural innovation. Originally from Bangladesh, his lifelong connection to the land has shaped his path - from growing up surrounded by rice fields and orchards to leading cutting-edge research in Western Australia. At Murdoch, he co-established the Digital Agriculture theme within the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, developing tools that use AI, autonomous sensing and imaging to make farming more precise, efficient and sustainable. A respected academic and mentor, Prof Sohel continues to inspire the next generation of agtech researchers and strengthen the role of technology in securing WA’s agricultural future. 📖 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gsmRsem8 #WAARC #AgriculturalScience #AgTech #MurdochUniversity #AI #AgriculturalTechnologies

Fantastic to see WAARC PhD scholarship student Ben Camer-Pesci and his supervisor Professor Navid Moheimani from Murdoch University featured in Farm Weekly recently. Thanks to Perri Polson for shining a light on this innovative research which is cultivating macroalgae for applications that reduce waste and promote sustainability in Western Australia’s agricultural sector.

🌾 Building confident, connected researchers Over the past month, WAARC Postgraduate Program participants took part in two Cohort-Connect workshops with CSIRO National Innovation Facilitator Maren Strachan - exploring how to engage industry with purpose and communicate research with impact. With more than 20 years’ experience leading strategy and design initiatives across purpose-driven organisations, Ms Strachan brings deep expertise in helping teams translate complex ideas into actionable strategies. In her current role at CSIRO, she works with cross-disciplinary teams to design and deliver innovation that supports national priorities. The first session, Industry Engagement Ready, focused on the practical side of collaboration helping researchers understand the “why” and “how” of networking, engage in problem-centred conversations, and plan discussions using the 5 Es framework. The follow-up session, Impact Thinking, encouraged participants to explore the why behind their science and communicate their personal and professional impact with clarity and confidence. The University of Western Australia PhD student Huyen Pham said the sessions offered valuable insight into real-world communication. “I learned a lot about demonstrating industry impact and refined my impact story map based on Maren’s suggestions,” Ms Pham said. Together, the sessions helped WAARC postgraduates strengthen the skills that bridge research and real-world application - connecting science, industry, and community. #WAARC #AgResearch #PhDProgram #ResearchImpact #CSIRO #Agriculture #Collaboration

A collaborative push for resilient lupins 🌱 In the heart of WA’s grainbelt, researchers are working together to strengthen the future of one of our most important crops - lupins. The Lupin Disease Resistance project is tackling four major diseases — phomopsis, anthracnose, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and sclerotinia — combining field innovation, genetic science, and cutting-edge technology. Led by the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (DPIRD), this co-investment between DPIRD, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC) brings together expertise from Curtin University, Murdoch University, and Australian Grain Technologies (AGT). WAARC Strategic Research Manager Dr John Statton joined a recent field tour at Shenton Park, where researchers demonstrated the remarkable progress being made across trial sites. “They’re like a delta force for lupin disease - targeted, coordinated, and highly effective,” Dr Statton said. From AI-based seed scoring and genomic prediction models to wild genetic screening and diversity core sets, the team’s work is building the foundation for the next generation of resilient lupin varieties. 👉 Read more about this collaboration and its impact on WA agriculture: https://lnkd.in/gQ2BhuMM #WAARC #Lupins #GRDC #DPIRD #CurtinUniversity #MurdochUniversity #AGT #Collaboration #DiseaseResistance

Branching out: how we might defeat shot hole borer 🌳🪲 Associate Professor Theo Evans from The University of Western Australia will share his insights on the fight against the polyphagous shot-hole borer at this year’s Raising the Bar Perth. On Tuesday 28 October, ten UWA researchers will transform five Perth bars into vibrant learning spaces - bringing big ideas and real-world impact to the public over a drink. 📍 Universal Bar, 221 William St, Perth 🕖 28 October | 7:00pm 🎟️ Free event Join A/Prof Evans for his talk “Branching out: how we might defeat shot hole borer” and learn how this WAARC project is helping protect our trees, ecosystems and urban landscapes from one of WA’s most invasive pests. Find out more about Raising the Bar Perth and secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gxav4455 #WAARC #UWA #RaisingTheBarPerth #PSHB