Lockyer scientist crunches code for the perfect chip
THE use of the Atlantic potato for making crisp chips can be tracked back to the beginning of Ken Jackson’s career in horticultural research.
The agricultural scientist spent much of his career in the field, testing agricultural crops – one of which was the Atlantic potato.
Commonly found in Kettle chips, it dates back to field work at the Gatton Research Station in the 1980s, where Dr Jackson helped release the potato for the crisping industry.
“It was an American import, but they had to understand how well it would do here, so we did a lot of field trials,” he said.
Dr Jackson’s career in agriculture and horticulture is expansive, which earned him an Order of Australia Medal this year.
After spending countless hours in the field, then at UQ Gatton as a lecturer, 75-yearold Dr Jackson said it was a “nice way to finish a career”.
“It’s a great privilege to be awarded a medal and to be recognised,” he said.
“I wasn’t aware of it at all and I wasn’t expecting it.”
Born and raised at Mount Whitestone on a dairy farm, you could say agriculture was instilled in his blood from a young age.
He acknowledges the sacrifices his parents made to provide for an education to enable him to pursue a career in agricultural research.
Dr Jackson started as a primary school teacher in Gatton before enrolling at the Queensland Agricultural College in 1968, and walking out with first class honours in 1971.
That degree took him to the Department of Primary Industries in Biloela for 14 years.
His experiences brought him back to Gatton in 1985.
In 2008, he received the prestigious Reg Miller Award, which recognises outstanding contributions to the Australian onion industry.