GRDC Podcast

James Manson’s pathway into agriculture has been anything but conventional. Growing up in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he spent his early years immersed in a cross-cultural environment before discovering agriculture through an internship with an agricultural development NGO working alongside hill tribe communities near the Myanmar border. What began as an adventure quickly became a passion, leading him to study agriculture and international development before building a career in applied crop research.

Today, James is a Crop Systems Researcher with CSIRO and the 2026 GRDC Emerging Leader for the Southern Region. His research has helped growers better understand faba bean yield formation and now focuses on developing critical period benchmarks for wheat and barley, helping bridge the gap between crop science and practical on-farm decision-making. Driven by a desire to understand how crops work and why they respond the way they do, James is passionate about turning complex agronomic theory into knowledge that growers can use to improve outcomes in the paddock.

In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, James reflects on the experiences that shaped his journey from Thailand to Australian agriculture, the lessons learned working alongside growers, and how curiosity continues to drive his research. He shares insights into crop yield formation, the science behind critical periods, and why understanding the way plants grow can help unlock better decisions across farming systems.

This episode explores:

- How growing up in Thailand shaped James’ curiosity, worldview and approach to agriculture

- The internship that introduced him to agriculture and sparked a passion for research and development

- Why working closely with growers helped shape his career and approach to communicating science

- The journey from Southern Farming Systems to completing a PhD focused on faba bean yield formation

- How critical period research is helping improve decision-making in wheat and barley crops

- The challenge of translating complex crop science into practical outcomes for growers

- What being named the 2026 GRDC Emerging Leader for the Southern Region means to him



Watch this episode as a video on YouTube

https://youtu.be/WW_5rd8DTK0

More information

https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2026/march/james-manson-farming-systems-research

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/awardsscholarships/young-researcher-wins-emerging-leader-award



GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties.

GRDC Project Code:

HAG2507-001SAX
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Welcome to GRDC’s National Variety Trials (NVT) new variety podcast series, where Australia's leading breeding companies share their latest releases for the 2027 growing season.

This podcast focuses on wheat. There is a separate podcast that focuses on barley, canola, chickpea, faba bean, field pea and lentil.

The NVT program is completely independent, funded and managed by GRDC to provide growers with trusted information to assist in variety choice. Note that seasonal conditions can have a more variable impact on variety performance than geographical location. For this reason, choose a variety with an established track record of at least two years of NVT performance data. The risks associated with choosing an untested variety are greater than sticking with one that has a proven track record. Always ask to see the official NVT results when talking to your seed seller.

Contacts:

- Australian Grain Technologies (AGT)

- InterGrain

- LongReach Plant Breeders



More Information:

You can find out more information about the varieties featured in this podcast at www.nvt.grdc.com.au, alongside individual breeder websites.
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Welcome to GRDC’s National Variety Trials (NVT) new variety podcast series, where Australia's leading breeding companies share their latest releases for the 2027 growing season.

This podcast focuses on barley, canola, chickpea, faba bean, field pea and lentil. There is a separate podcast that focuses on wheat.

The NVT program is completely independent, funded and managed by GRDC to provide growers with trusted information to assist in variety choice. Note that seasonal conditions can have a more variable impact on variety performance than geographical location. For this reason, choose a variety with an established track record of at least two years of NVT performance data. The risks associated with choosing an untested variety are greater than sticking with one that has a proven track record. Always ask to see the official NVT results when talking to your seed seller.

Contacts:

· Australian Grain & Forage Seeds (AGF Seeds)

· Australian Grain Technologies (AGT)

· Nufarm Seeds

· BASF Australia

· Advanta Seeds Pty Ltd

· AgriVentis Technologies

· AdelaideUniversity

· Agriculture Victoria

· Grains Innovation Australia



More Information:

You can find out more information about the varieties
featured in this podcast at www.nvt.grdc.com.au , alongside individual breeder websites.
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Alex Conway grew up surrounded by agriculture, machinery and problem-solving, watching his family business evolve from a small operation run out of a garage into a nationally recognised grain storage technology company. What began as helping program aeration controllers and fit GPS guidance systems as a kid has turned into a career combining agricultural engineering, grain storage extension and a passion for helping growers better manage risk and protect grain quality. Today, Alex balances his role at Control Unlimited with his work on GRDC’s Grain Storage Extension team, supporting growers across Australia through workshops, industry events and practical on-farm advice.

In this episode of GRDC In Conversation, Alex reflects on the experiences that shaped his pathway into agriculture - from harvesting across Australia and Canada to discovering a fascination with grain storage systems, monitoring technology and the evolving challenges facing growers. He shares insights into the importance of saying yes to opportunities, documenting lessons along the way and building a career by following curiosity rather than a perfectly mapped-out plan.

This episode explores:

- How Alex’s upbringing around machinery, technology and farming shaped his passion for agriculture

- The evolution of the Conway family business, Control Unlimited, from a home garage startup to a national agtechnology company

- Why grain storage became an unexpected but rewarding career pathway

- Lessons learned from harvesting across Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and Canada

- How international farming experiences exposed Alex to new approaches in grain handling, drying and monitoring systems

- The growing importance of on-farm grain storage in Australian agriculture

- Why curiosity, adaptability and “having a crack” have been central to Alex’s career journey

- How documenting experiences and reflecting on lessons helped reveal long-term passions and career direction

- The role of technology and engineering in improving grain quality, efficiency and decision-making

- Why supporting growers with practical, relevant solutions remains at the heart of the work Alex does today

Watch this episode as a video on YouTube
https://youtu.be/o9N5iKEtTuQ



More information

Alex Conway, Control Unlimited https://www.grainaeration.com.au/

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grower-stories/northern/two-young-guns-take-over-from-guru-of-grain-storage

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2025/11/managing-grain-quality-in-storage



GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties.

GRDC Project Code

HAG2507-001SAX https://grdc.com.au/grdc-investments/investments/investment?code=HAG2507-001SAX
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Young agronomists Anne Millar and Lachie Biglin share how the TRAIL Emerging Leaders program changed the way they think about leadership, relationships and their own potential. From hiking and camping without phones to honest conversations, journaling and building a nationwide network, both participants discovered that leadership isn't about having one particular style — it's about understanding yourself, recognising others and finding your own way to make an impact.

GRDC continues to invest in future grains sector leaders through six sponsored places in the 2027 TRAIL Emerging Leaders Program. The scholarships are valued at $15,000 per participant and are available to early-career grain growers, advisers, agronomists and researchers. TRAIL is delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and has developed more than 200 emerging rural leaders, who join a national ARLF alumni network.

Contacts:

Anne Millar

Elders

anne.millar@elders.com.au

Lachlan Biglin

Nutrien Ag Solutions

lachlan.biglin@nutrien.com.au

More information:

https://programs.rural-leaders.org.au/trail-grdc-application

https://rural-leaders.org.au/trail-emerging-leaders-program/

Project/Investment Code:

ARL2607-001FAX
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