Researcher wins recognition
Horsham researcher Jason Brand has won a major Grains Research and Development Corporation Award.
Mr Brand, a senior researcher with Agriculture Victoria at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park, won the 2019 GRDC Southern Region Seed of Light Award.
Voted on by GRDC Southern Region Panel members, the award acknowledges outstanding outcomes from GRDC grains-research investments.
Panel member Kate Wilson presented the award at a GRDC Grains Research Update in Bendigo last week.
“When it comes to the extension of new knowledge and advice out of research into pulse crops in Australia’s southern cropping region, Jason is without peer,” she said.
“What this man does not know about pulse breeding and agronomy is not worth knowing.
“I speak about Jason’s worth not only on behalf of the grains industry in the south and beyond, but also from personal experience.
“Over many years I have been privileged to operate as a grower and an adviser in an industry that has benefited enormously from Jason’s dedication, enthusiasm and expertise.
“And while in essence he is a researcher – and a very good one at that – it is his particular efforts in communication and extension that this award acknowledges.”
As long-standing leader of GRDC’S Southern Pulse Agronomy Program – one of his many roles and responsibilities – Dr Brand’s influence has been profound.
“I would even suggest that Jason’s work has in some way or another found its way into just about every pulse crop sown, grown and harvested in the southern region over recent decades,” Mrs Wilson said.
“A passion of Jason’s, from which we all benefit, is working very creatively to attract young people into grains research as graduates, PHD students and technical staff.
“I know Jason puts an enormous effort into mentoring new students in the importance of understanding farming systems and the importance of working with growers and agronomists to ensure their research is relevant and can be easily accessed.”
Dr Brand’s career path in agricultural research began at an early age, having attended Urrbrae Agricultural High School in Adelaide before studying at the University of Adelaide where he completed his PHD in agricultural science in 1999.
He began employment as a Horsham-based pulse research agronomist with Agriculture Victoria in 2000 where he has remained, playing a role in promoting pulses and their improved management in farming systems in southeastern Australia.
Dr Brand has been responsible for developing management packages for new pulse varieties and has provided advice to Pulse Breeding Australia on traits suited to modern farming systems.
“In a nutshell, Jason brings genetics and management together and then extends the outcomes to ensure new traits are better utilised,” Mrs Wilson said.