Kirkegaard wins coveted science prize

Understanding soil-plant interactions to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability of dryland farming systems was a hallmark of Dr Kirkegaard’s career, said NSW Primary Industries Department director general Scott Hansen, also Farrer Memorial Trust chairman.

“Dr Kirkegaard’s extensive and distinguished career with CSIRO is providing significant agricultural research that has led to many benefits for Australia’s farmers,” Mr Hansen said. “His active integration of farmers and advisers into his research teams has undoubtedly led to more rapid adoption and impact in agriculture,” he said.

Dr Kirkegaard is currently a chief research scientist with the CSIRO agriculture and food based in Canberra and an adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia and Charles Sturt University. Dr Kirkegaard with his research teams and collaborators have investigated aspects of improved crop sequence, rotational benefits and productivity of canola and other Brassica species, improved sub-soil water use, development and integration of dual-purpose crops and improved productivity in conservation agriculture. 

In his oration titled “Farming systems agronomy – it is rocket science”, Dr Kirkegaard drew parallels between the teamwork and multi-disciplinary approach needed to achieve ambitious space exploration goals and the challenges of sustained increases in global food production. The Farrer Memorial Medal is awarded to perpetuate the memory of William James Farrer, a plant breeder, in recognition of distinguished service in the fields of research, education or administration for Australian agriculture.