USQ Professor named president of UN Commission for Ag Meteorology

UNIVERSITY of Southern Queensland Professor Roger Stone will provide strategic direction and guidance in agricultural meteorology for farmers and agribusiness around the world, in a global position with the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization.

Professor Stone was recently elected President of the WMO’s Commission for Agricultural Meteorology and is the first Australian to be selected for this role.

The four-year position will see Professor Stone lead the Commission, which will prioritise the need for better services for farmers and agribusiness, ranging from localised weather forecasts to seasonal climate outlooks, and better weather and climate risk management.

“There is a greater need than ever for the knowledge and expertise of agrometeorologists to assist farmers and the wider agricultural community and for more research and technology development in agrometeorology,” Professor Stone said.

“Now more than ever, we need to better prepare farmers for extremes of climate but also enable them to become more resilient.”

The Commission’s key areas of focus for 2018 to 2022 will include drought research and management, issues related to global food security, weather and climate services for agriculture and risk management associated with extreme weather and climate patterns.

Professor Stone is recognised as a global leader in climate science research and is also an expert team leader within the UN Commission for Climatology.