Caspar W. Roxburgh

Oikoi Pty Ltd

Increasing agricultural productivity, sustainability and resilience through technological innovation is a key mandate of ACIAR. Since 1982, ACIAR has organised and funded research to inform agricultural development programs that are applied to the wide range of cultures, resources, growing conditions, political climates, food and livelihood needs o...

A series of simple protocols for rapid soil analysis that have been adapted specifically for use by local extension officers in Eastern and Southern Africa. Includes protocols for: Site Characterisation, Soil texture, Soil Colour, Soil Bulk Density, Soil gravimetric water content, Soil pH, Electrical Conductivity, and Soil Mineral Nitrogen (Nitrate...

Research design is arguably the most important and genuinely powerful skill a scientist can have. It is here, where problems arising in the real world can be addressed. And yet instead of occupying the primary focus of our working lives, research design is too often left on autopilot. This opinion article discusses the factors driving a overlooking...

It has been suggested that during the first half of the 21st century food production will need to increase by 50-70% using nearly the same amount of land, and under increasing pressures of climate change, to meet the demand of an increasingly crowded world. The challenge is significant, though there are also opportunities, particularly in sub-Sahar...

The adoption of mobile acquired data (MAD) technologies can be a transformative undertaking for international agricultural research projects. However, the success of MAD adoption is highly dependent on project scope, activities, support, and (of course) management. To help understand what makes a project suitable for MAD, and how that it is success...

Sorghum production is a major cropping activity in Australia's northern grain region. The Darling Downs is one of the most important agricultural areas of this region. Between 2005 and 2015, average on-farm sorghum yields in the Eastern Darling Downs were 4.15 t ha-1 , but yields can be as high as 12 t ha-1. We conducted interviews with 12 highly-e...

Climate variability affects the lives and livelihoods of farmers in many diverse ways, directly it affects farmers levels of food security, income and poverty; indirectly it affects farmers’ behaviours and decisions, as well as prices and markets. On the one hand climate variability it presents farmers with risks and challenges; however during the...

Food production research in rangelands depends heavily on the National Agricultural Research System for its research and development outcomes. Future outcomes are uncertain as funding sources are limited and much of the expertise is entering the retirement phase without a succession plan. Private research investment has contributed to some extent b...

Grasslands research depends heavily on the National Agricultural Research System for its R&D outcomes. Future outcomes are uncertain as funding sources have contracted and much of the expertise enters the retirement phase without a succession plan. Private funding has contributed to some extent but there remains a need for governments to continue t...