Celebrating Northen Territory innovation at TropAg 2025
The Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT DAF) recently presented at the TropAg International Agriculture Conference 2025 in Brisbane.
This conference is one of the world’s leading forums for tropical and subtropical agriculture. It brings together hundreds of researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across Australia and globally to share the latest advancements in crop improvement, sustainability, biosecurity, agritech solutions, and emerging challenges in tropical agriculture.
This year’s conference featured cutting-edge research presentations, interactive poster sessions, and opportunities to collaborate with experts working to strengthen agricultural resilience and productivity in tropical regions. It was an excellent platform for showcasing our work and connecting to the broader scientific community.
Dr. Edward Mwando, Cropping Group Leader at NT DAF
Delivered a presentation titled effect of cover crops on soil temperature during cotton establishment under rainfed conditions of the Northern Territory, this research explores how strategic use of cover crops can moderate soil temperature, improve cotton establishment, and enhance resilience in dryland systems – critical insights for sustainable cotton production in tropical environments. This work is funded by CRC for Developing Northern Australia as part of the cotton-grain-cattle program of research under the project addressing the fundamentals of cropping-systems that deliver sustainable growth of agriculture sector in the Northern Territory.
Dr. Induni Vijaya Kumar, Horticulture Scientist at NT DAF
Spoke on the evaluation of jackfruit for postharvest quality and market development. This work is part of the AgriFutures Australia funded project developing ready-to-market jackfruit products for Australian market growth, led by NT DAF in partnership with the University of Melbourne. With demand for jackfruit rising, the industry must expand production and processing capacity. This research identifies superior jackfruit genotypes based on postharvest and shelf-life performance to support future commercial development. The presentation generated strong interest, with many attendees engaging in discussion and posing insightful questions.
Dr. Induni Vijaya Kumar (left) and Dr. Edward Mwando (right) presenting at the 2025 TropAg Conference in Brisbane. Photo by Mrs. Jyothi Bhandari.
Mrs. Jyothi Bhandari, PhD Candidate
Research institute for Northern Australia in Charles Darwin University, presented a poster titled enhancing the resilience of Northern Territory’s rain-fed cotton: a comprehensive approach to yield prediction and water management. Her research focuses on improving cotton sustainability under rainfed conditions by integrating physiological measurements, isotopic analysis, and simulation modelling to predict yield and optimize water use. The study also evaluates mulching and soil amendments to maintain soil moisture and buffer temperature, offering practical strategies for growers to enhance crop establishment and resilience. This work, supported by the National Industry PhD Scholarship and NT DAF, is paving the way for a more sustainable cotton industry in Northern Australia.
Dr. Drew Portman, Cropping Scientist at NT DAF
Presented a poster titled industrial hemp product profiles development for Australia, showcasing research that defines the traits required to produce high-quality hemp fibre and grain across Australia’s agro-ecological zones. This work developed 6 product profiles, including a fibre descriptor tailored for Northern Australia using benchmarking varieties from the AgriFutures Australia Industrial Hemp Variety Trials. With global demand for hemp products projected to reach US$17.24 billion by 2030, these profiles provide a roadmap for growers, processors, and breeders to meet rising market needs and strengthen the sustainability of tropical farming systems.
Mrs. Jyothi Bhandari (left) and Dr. Drew Portman (right) presenting posters at the 2025 TropAg Conference in Brisbane. Photo by Mrs. Jyothi Bhandari and Dr. Drew Portman.
This year's conference was attended by over 700 delegates, providing fertile grounds for ideas to converge and collaborations to flourish. The future of farming is reimagined at events, and it was incredible to be a part of.
For information on the presentations contact us at plant.industries@nt.gov.au.
