National Committee for Agriculture and Food

The agricultural research community spans food, feed, and fibre production, including crop and animal production systems, genetic and agronomic improvement, environmental impacts, food security and sustainability, and food storage, processing and distribution.

• provide strategic evidence-based advice on agricultural science to the Academy and other bodies as required
• support scientific literacy and excellence in agricultural science by engaging with researchers, professionals and relevant national organisations
• liaise with relevant international bodies, ensuring Australian involvement in international activities
• promote interdisciplinary collaboration and take a multi-disciplinary approach in providing advice to the Academy

Reports and activities

• Submission - Critical Technologies Policy Coordination Office stakeholder consultation, April 2021
• Submission—Inquiry into growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030, October 2019
• Decadal plan for Australian Agricultural Sciences (2017–2026), published June 2017

Members

• Chair: Professor Peter Langridge FAA
  • The University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
  • Research expertise: Biological Science, agricultural and veterinary science
• Committee member: Professor Chris Blanchard
  • Charles Sturt University, Director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Functional Grains (Functional Grains Centre)
  • Research expertise: Molecular biology, food science
• Committee member: Professor Timothy Cavagnaro
  • Flinders University, Dean of Graduate Research
  • Research expertise: Soil ecology, plant-based systems to mitigate and adapt to environmental change, soil carbon sequestration
• Committee member: Associate Professor Caroline Hauxwell
  • Queensland University of Technology, School of Biology and Environmental Science
  • Research expertise: Microorganisms in food production
• Committee member: Professor Holger Meinke
  • University of Tasmania, Strategic Research Professor (Global Food Sustainability)
  • Research expertise: Agriculture and food systems, climate risk management, simulation modelling
• Committee member: Professor Geoff Grossel
  • Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Director, Biosecurity Research
  • Research expertise: Biosecurity and molecular medicine
• Committee member: Dr. Dominique Van der Saag
  • The University of Sydney, Sydney School of Veterinary Science
  • Research expertise: Animal behaviour, animal welfare science, livestock production and welfare.
• Deputy chair: Professor Barbara Nowak FAA
  • University of Tasmania, Deputy Associate Dean Research College of Science and Engineering
  • Research expertise: Agricultural science, Ecotoxicology, Biology
• Committee member: Dr Dianne Mayberry
  • CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Senior Research Scientist
  • Research expertise: Livestock production systems, agri-food systems, sustainable livestock production, agricultural research for development
• Ex-officio: Dr Anneline Padayachee
  • The Food and Nutrition Doctor, Nutritional Food Science
  • Research expertise: Processing technology, nutrient and food composition, digestive processes