Award for commitment to research
Horsham scientist Joe Panozzo has won national acknowledgement for his commitment to Victorian grains research.
Dr Panozzo is the recipient of Australasian Grain Science Association’s FB Guthrie Medal.
Dr Panozzo, who works at Agriculture Victoria’s Grains Innovation Park in Horsham, and University of Sydney emeritus professor Les Copeland, were awarded medals.
Dr Panozzo started his career at Grains Innovation Park as a wheat scientist.
He has worked on breeding programs and quickly developed an interest in creating high-throughput tests determining quality traits in wheat. “Initial research into the field of near infrared spectroscopy was very basic compared with current technologies,” he said.
“I realised by applying non-destructive testing, plant-breeding efficiencies could be achieved and we could test thousands of samples each week.”
Dr Panozzo applied these techniques to test malting barley, oilseeds and pulses.
He has maintained the application of multi-spectral image analysis research and more recently Nirhyperspectral imaging.
“The development of image analysis and advancements in machine-learning languages has resulted in the ability to rapidly test seed for quality traits and defects,” Dr Panozzo said.
He said his laboratory research was on applying sensors to measure crop health and grain quality in fields, within grain-auger and storage systems.
“We now have a team of talented scientists, technicians and PHD students all working in this field,” he said.
“What was once a rudimentary instrument sitting on a bench in the lab is now a portable device that can be used in the field by scientists and growers.”
The association presents the award every three years.