Cultivating tomorrow’s ag leaders at University of Melbourne

From developing smart fertilisers, genetically modifying crops, and helping the wine industry navigate a changing climate agricultural researchers at Melbourne are trailblazers developing the frameworks and tools to support future farmers.

Inspiring the next generation of agricultural experts is vital and the Bachelor of Agriculture at Melbourne is an excellent first step.

Danielle Yidan Tang first enrolled in the Bachelor of Agriculture due to the University of Melbourne’s prestigious standing.

“What I didn't expect when I entered this degree was the diverse range of subjects that take a multidisciplinary approach, delivered by high-achieving scholars and industry professionals,” she said.

Danielle chose to deepen her interest through an honours year, exploring machine learning and its relevance to viticulture under the supervision of Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes, from the University’s Digital Agriculture, Food and Wine research group.

“The final outcomes of my honours project were pretty promising. Machine-learning models were developed to accurately predict sensory descriptors of chardonnay and shiraz wines from various inputs,” she said.

“With the involvement of advanced technology, this could help vineyard managers and grape growers adapt to the hotter and dryer environment brought about by climate change.”

She is now a PhD candidate working with Grains Research and Development Corporation, Agriculture Victoria and the University of Melbourne.

Danielle will be using sensory technologies such as sensors and satellite images to create in-season quality traits maps for growers to maximise their profits.

To learn more about the Bachelor of Agriculture, visit the University of Melbourne’s website: go.unimelb.edu.au/am98