BEELBANGERA farmer Mark Groat has been awarded a Nuffield Scholarship that will see him study agriculture and fisheries around the world next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Groat is one of 23 young scholars from around the country and will undertake cutting edge research across the globe using a $30,000 bursary for a 16-week program.
"It is a great opportunity to be involved with incredibly inspiring people, it opens up a lot of doors around the world and gives you a chance to collaborate with people you otherwise would not have had the opportunity to work with," Mr Groat said.
"I look forward to bringing new knowledge back to the local industry and our community."
Mr Groat owns and manages a 350-hectare farm, which produces rice, winter cereals and sheep and he is supported by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s (RIRDC) Rice Research Committee.
As part of his scholarship he will investigate rice grown under aerobic or non-ponded conditions in both tropical and temperate zones.
In particular, his research will focus on how rice can be included in crop rotation, the challenges of production and agronomy, and the supply chain logistics necessary to combat the inefficiencies associated with rice production in small areas.
“Aerobic rice production in the temperate growing areas is a developing trend from both the research and grower level,” Mr Groat said.
“If combined with excellent irrigation layout and new ‘shorter season’ varieties, it opens up a whole new concept of rice production, rotation potential, double cropping, stubble management, and, most importantly, water efficiency,
“I believe this is the future of rice growing in Australia.”
Each year Nuffield scholars are given the opportunity to travel overseas and study a topic related to primary production. Mr Groat will use his scholarship to travel to the United States, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, India, South and Central America.
The winners were announced on Thursday during a gala event in Adelaide as part of Nuffield Australia’s annual two-day conference.