Professor Andrew Robson (FRSN)
Director - Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre
Biography
Professor Andrew Robson (FRSN) has been involved in agricultural research since 1996, predominantly focusing on developing spatial applications (remote sensing/GIS) across many agricultural and horticultural farming systems both nationally and internationally.
Following an early career as a rice physiologist with NSW Department of Primary Industries, and subsequently many years of employment with the Qld Department of Primary Industries, Professor Robson established, and is now the Director of the Applied Agricultural Remote Sensing Centre (AARSC) based at UNE. He, with his team work on a diverse range of research projects that have developed and validated remote sensing technologies for many agricultural industries including peanut, grains, cotton, sugar, rice, avocados, mangoes, bananas, macadamias, olive, citrus, carrots, vegetables, pineapples and pastures. These research projects have attracted funding from many sources including state and federal government agencies, RDCs, CRCs and directly from industry.
Throughout his career Professor Robson has developed an extensive network of collaborators that together have set a new standard in the successful integration of industry, research and commercial partners for the delivery of multi-industry national strategies, producing outcomes that have to a large extent been adopted by industry. This has been demonstrated through the successful funding and delivery of projects such as the two national projects in Horticultural tree crops, funded by the Federal governments ’Rural R&D for profit’ scheme and Horticulture Innovation.
Academically, Professor Robson has achieved a high number of publications, presentations and awards relevant to the field of agricultural remote sensing and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales (FRSN). Professor Robson is considered by many peers to be a leader in the field of agricultural remote sensing as well as the development and delivery of national collaborative initiates in both agriculture and horticulture
Professor Robson is also the owner operator of Kooringal Oysters on Moreton Island Queensland, the President of the Queensland Oyster Growers Association (QOGA) and Chair of the Queensland Oyster Industry Network (QOIN).
“I have a strong passion for agriculture, not only in terms of delivering strong research, but also to ensure outcomes are of industry relevance. I am a strong believer of industry engagement from project inception through to the delivery of practical and adoptable outcomes. This engagement ensures the research is wanted, addresses an industry issue and as such worthy of receiving industry funds. I am also a strong believer of collaboration and the need to engage multidisciplinary teams with the skills, knowledge and proven track record for delivering solid research outcomes”.
