Funding has been awarded to two new soil research projects at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) to help advance sustainable agricultural practices.
The funding was provided through the JM Roberts Charitable Trust, which was established in 2003 by the late John Roberts, a Tasmanian orchardist and farmer, to support environmental sustainability, agricultural innovation, and the education of young people about the importance of caring for the land.
Since 2020, the Trust has generously provided $120,000 of seed funding to TIA, supporting a total of 12 research projects that are directly supporting the sustainability and productivity of Tasmania’s agriculture sector.
This year, the funding has increased and a total of $30,000 has been allocated across another two projects.
“John devoted most of his life to farming, which instilled in him the importance of looking after the environment. He was a man before his time and certainly took sustainability to another level in establishing the trust during his lifetime,” said Brian Faulkner, Trustee of the JM Roberts Charitable Trust.
“He would be excited by the new research projects that will be undertaken by TIA researchers.”
The new projects are:
- Dr Tamieka Pearce, TIA Senior Research Fellow was awarded $15,000 to investigate ways to improve nutrient use with soil microbes.
- Dr Bianca Das, TIA Soil Scientist was awarded $15,000 to investigate soil nitrogen sensing technology.
Dr Pearce’s project will explore how soil microbes can improve nutrient use, reduce disease and build healthier, more resilient soils.
“I’ll be using cutting-edge technology to better understand the tiny microbes living in Tasmanian soils and how they can help improve soil health,” Dr Pearce said.
“The project will explore ways to make better use of nutrients already in the soil, helping farmers reduce their reliance on fertilisers while maintaining productive farming systems.
“It will also help create an important knowledge base that will support future soil health research and help develop more sustainable farming practices across Tasmania.”
Dr Das’s project will develop new sensor technology to monitor how nitrogen moves through the soil in real time, helping farmers apply fertiliser more efficiently while reducing environmental impacts.
“This approach will provide farmers with a better understanding of what is happening beneath the soil surface, helping them make more informed decisions about how much and when to use fertilisers,” Dr Das said.
“The project will lay the foundation for future tools that combine soil monitoring and data analysis to support more efficient, sustainable and environmentally responsible farming practices.”
The projects were chosen by a panel of judges. The funding is designed to support early to mid-career researchers and support new areas of research.
“This funding supports our emerging researchers by giving them greater flexibility to explore new and innovative ideas that have the potential to transform Tasmanian agriculture,” said TIA Director Professor Mike Rose.
“Their research supports healthier soils, smarter nutrient management and the long-term sustainability of Tasmanian agriculture, aligning with the Trust’s objectives.
“TIA extends its gratitude to the JM Roberts Trust for its continued generosity and support of TIA research. It plays a vital role in enabling new ideas, building research capability and delivering long-term benefits for Tasmanian agriculture.”
