What’s Happening?
Reuben Mah from Soil CRC and the University of Tasmania was announced as the winner of Cooperative Research Australia’s Early Career Researcher (ECR) Competition for developing a portable, pocket-sized 3D-printed device that pairs with smartphone apps to allow farmers to quickly and accurately test their soil.
Why It matters
The research will help reduce the expenses and facilitate the timely process of current laboratory testing with farmers and agronomists (plant and soil scientists) already witnessing the benefits of the device, which optimises their soil fertility interventions for the best crop growth.
By The Numbers
High calibre entries from all five ECR Competition finalists suggested a strong pool of next-generation research experts for Australia.
Earlier this evening, more than 200 delegates joined Cooperative Research Australia at the Collaborate Innovate conference Gala Dinner in Brisbane which celebrates emerging industry-focused research superstars.
Zoom In
This year’s winner, Reuben Mah from Soil CRC and the University of Tasmania was selected from a pool of almost 70 entries.
Reuben’s research has led to developing a portable, pocket-sized 3D-printed device for in-the-field soil testing.
Fluid sustainability is a real threat to Australian farmland.
One mitigating solution is to improve and sustain soil fertility for crop growth.
However, soil nutrients are often unpredictable, so farmers carry out frequent soil tests that involve sending samples to laboratories for analysis.
This can be a timely, costly, and inaccurate process, with results not necessarily capturing any recent changes in the soil.
Reuben led the development of a portable, pocket-sized 3D-printed device paired with smartphone apps that enable farmers to perform multiple measurements quickly, in the field, and in real-time while still obtaining lab-accurate results.
Growers and agronomists have already reviewed the device, which allows them to optimise their soil fertility interventions for the best crop growth.
Ways to further upskill the production of this device are now being explored.
What They Said
“We are excited to see first-hand how Reuben’s research is progressing and how it is already delivering a quick and innovative solution to essential soil testing in the agriculture sector,” said Jane O’Dwyer, CEO of Cooperative Research Australia.
“We congratulate Reuben on this enormous feat, along with our four other competition finalists, whose work all points to a promising future of research for Australia. On behalf of Cooperative Research Australia, we are delighted to be able to offer such an opportunity to those Early Career Researchers who operate within our member organisations/associations – an opportunity that we hope will continue to highlight the value of R&D investment to industry and thus encourage further industry-research collaboration across the nation.”
