Agricultural scientist’s work hailed by colleagues
PROFESSOR Timothy Reeves has been awarded the William Farrer Memorial Medal by the Farrer Memorial Trust for distinguished service in agricultural science.
The Geelong resident and Cats supporter is the first professor in residence at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus.
In this role he provides mentorship to the 17 Master of Philosophy and PhD students based at the agricultural campus, and engages with the local community, industry and students on the importance of sustainable agriculture to global health and nutrition.
The medallist is chosen by trustees of the Farrer Memorial Research Scholarship Fund from those who have rendered distinguished service in agricultural science in Australia in the fields of research, education or administration.
Prof Reeves joined the University of Melbourne in 2018. He previously served as director-general of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre in Mexico from 1995-2002 and was a member of the United Nations’ Millennium Project Task Force on Hunger and senior expert for the Food and Agriculture Organisation.
He began his career as a pioneer of no-till and sustainable agriculture at the Rutherglen Research Institute northeastern Victoria.
He was awarded the CM Donald Medal from the Australian Society of Agronomy in 2017 for his career-long contributions to research, development and extension in the field of agronomy — the applied science of using plants for food, fuel, fibre and land reclamation.
Prof Reeves is only the second person to receive both the Farrer and Donald medals, folin lowing the CSIRO’s Dr Tony Fischer.
Professor John Fazakerley, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, said the Farrer Medal was recognition of Prof Reeves’ outstanding contributions to agricultural science, including his role at the Dookie campus.
He said his work was a continuation of his career-long leadership in sustainable agriculture and development of future generations of researchers.