Dr Benjavan Rerkasem
, an Agronomy professor from Chiang Mai University who has been a major force in Agricultural Science research in Thailand suggested that practical experts who can work effectively with farmers is what Thailand needs, and that specific skills need to be taught in this field.
A distinguished international alumnus of
The University of Western Australia (UWA), Dr Benjavan has had an illustrious career with organisations such as Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Asian Development Bank.
Dr Benjavan graduated with a Bachelor in Agriculture and then a PhD in Plant Nutrition from UWA under the Australian Colombo Scholarship scheme. She said her experience in Australia broadened her vision as she was made part of her professor’s research group and saw firsthand how Australia’s agricultural scientists including university professors, worked with farmers.
“My professor, Alan Robson, who is now Vice Chancellor of UWA, set very good examples of always asking down-to-earth questions almost like a farmer would but with airtight scientific basis which is very important in Agricultural Science”, Dr Benjavan said.
Professor Tony O’Donnell
Like Thailand, the agriculture sector in Australia is imperative for the country’s economy and rural socio-economic infrastructure. Australia’s agricultural education and research has been highly supported and developed through national science agencies and universities. UWA in Perth is outstanding for Agricultural Science with research centres including the International Centre for Plant Breeding Education and Research that provides a good research environment for PhD students.
Professor Tony O’Donnell, Dean of Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at UWA pointed out that sustainable agriculture is a hot topic. He suggested that “changing climate, changing consumption patterns and changing expectations of food quality will be the challenge for the next generation of agricultural scientists” and that UWA is working on a sustainable agriculture paradigm to address this.
The School of Environmental and Rural Science at
The University of New England, Australia, has collaborative partnerships with leading Thai institutions such as Chiang Mai University and Maejo University. Collaboration includes a research project on organic and low-input farming in Thailand and a plan to develop innovative post-graduate training programs in Organic Agriculture expected to be the first of its kind in the Asian region.
Professor Julius Van der Werf, international leader in Animal Breeding and Genetics Research at UNE, said that agricultural issues in Thailand and Australia have many similarities such as climate, extensive agricultural activity and the need to identify sustainable solutions. This results in opportunities for close collaboration between Australian and Thai institutions, and a smooth transition of skills and knowledge and practical experience into the local context. For prospective students, Professor Van der Werf suggested that students contact the universities of their choice to identify a supervisor who can assist in the specific topic of interest to each student.
