Dr Surya Bhattarai, a senior research fellow (Associate Professor of crop science), in CQU Institute for Future Farming System (IFFS), brings in his position a strong farming, agri- business, research and teaching background. Surya took up CQU research/academic position since 2006 after completing his PhD in 2005 from CQUniversity Australia. His position and program are largely funded through industry collaboration and engaged research with primary industries both in Australia and overseas. He brings valuable experience of participatory research and development. Surya is an experienced crop physiologist with extensive experience on crop abiotic stresses particularly for tropical broad- acre cropping and horticultural crops. His research focus on tropical high value crops for improving crop water productivity through integration of crop drought tolerance (smart genetics), smart irrigation, smart soil and fertilizer techniques. His research engagement for Australian northern cropping brings number of industry funded collaborative projects (e.g. rainfed rice, spices crops, dual purpose tropical legumes) in the northern Australian landscapes. Surya’s interests on interdisciplinary (e.g. bioengineering) and multidisciplinary research (crop water management, soil fertility, soil health, environmental agriculture, health crops), brings research projects and researchers together in the team from CQUniversity, and external collaborators (other universities, govt departments, allied businesses and industries, and growers) for projects and programs focused on developing solutions for complex problems of Northern Australian farming. Spices and condiments, drought tolerant crops such as sesame seeds and dual-purpose tropical food legumes and peanuts, and other high value crops for northern Australian farming systems are currently research active crops. Industry applied research, such as development of drought tolerant Mungbean (e.g. Green Dragon), application of hydrogen peroxide in irrigation has led to large scale adoption of these research creating impacts for Australian farming. Surya and his team is continuously building postgraduate cohorts in these thematic areas, supported by improved collaboration, stakeholders’ engagement and industry participation in R&D consistent to vision and mission of CQU Institute for Future Farming Systems.
Surya has in depth and wide experiences of agriculture research, extension, teaching, and agri-business development for both conventional and low-input sustainable farming operators. His work in different continents and culture bring significant strength for his research team. Surya brings wealth of practical, academic and industry experience in research and teaching in Agriculture. His down to earth approach for tropical agriculture through inter-disciplinary and multidisciplinary research in crop science makes real difference in the students learning and impacts to the collaborating industries.
Ph.D., Agronomy, 2005: Central Queensland University, Australia.
M. Sc., Crop Physiology, 1994: University of Essex, UK.
B. Sc., Agriculture, 1990: Tribhuwon University, Nepal.
2006- to date: Central Queensland University, Institute for Future Farming Systems Australia. Research (Crop Science), Teaching (Postgraduate-Agriculture, Undergraduate- Biological Sciences).
2007-2007: World Vegetable Centre (AVRDC), Taiwan. Research on physiology of crop abiotic stress.
1992-1993: Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), Kasetsart University Thailand, Vegetable breeding for abiotic stress tolerance.
1998-2001: Tribhuwon University Nepal, Department of Horticulture, Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research in Horticulture.
1984-1990: Lumle Agriculture Research Centre (LARC), Nepal, supported by Overseas Development Administration (ODA), of British Government. Horticulture and farming system research.
2012: Vice-Chancellor Award for Excellence in Research -mid career. CQUniversity Australia.
2010: Opal Award for Excellence in Research Innovation and Engagement, CQUniversity Australia.
2007-2008: DEEWR Australia Endeavour Research Fellowship, AVRDC Taiwan.
2001-2004: University Postgraduate Research Award (UPRA) for PhD study at CQU Australia.
1994-1995: British Council fellowship for Masters in Ag Science, University of Essex, United Kingdom.
1992–1993: DFID fellowship for Advanced Vegetable R&D from AVRDC, Kasetsart University, Thailand.
1987–1990: DFID fellowship for undergraduate studies in Ag Science, Tribhuwon University (TU) Nepal.
2022-1 Landline planned for Kalonji seeds/nigella (planned for October 2022)
2021-8 ABC, Channel 7, Rural news
2020-6 ABC, Channel 7, Rural news
2019-4 ABC, Channel 7, Rural news
2018: Landline documentary (Black sesame) by ABC television on 19 August 2018:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6434257703408926720
2014: Paddock to Parliament. Michelle Landry’s presentation to Australian cabinet in Canberra about the rainfed rice opportunities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x5hGktAOZQ
2014: Uninews (Minister for Ag Barnaby Joyce). https://www.cqu.edu.au/cquninews/stories/research-category/2017/agriculture-minister-views-cqunis-dryland-rice-field-trial
Professional Practices in Industry, in CQUniversity Australia (Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science and BSc Ag Science), 2014 –2017. Course coordinator, senior Lecturer.
Plants and Environment, in CQUniversity, Australia (Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science and BSc Ag Science), 2004 –2016. Invited Lecturer, Lecturer
Advanced Plant Physiology, in Tribhuwon University (TU) Nepal, coordinator (BSc Ag Science), 1998-2001. Lecturer
Plant Stress Physiology, in Tribhuwon University (TU) Nepal, coordinator (MSc Ag Science), 1998-2001, Lecturer
Advanced Pomology, in Tribhuwon University (TU) Nepal, coordinator (MSc Ag Science), 1998-2001. Lecturer
Commercial Vegetable Production, Tribhuwon University (TU) Nepal, coordinator (BSc Ag Science), 1998-2001. Lecturer
Scientific Writing & Seminars, Tribhuwon University (TU) Nepal, coordinator (MSc Ag Science), 1998-2001. Lecturer
Position | Year | Organizations | Research and teaching |
Associate Professor/ Senior Research Fellow | 2019 January – date | Central Queensland University (CQU), Australia | Tropical crops, drought tolerance, crop physiology |
Senior Lecturer/ Research Fellow | 2012 January – 2018 December | Central Queensland University (CQU), Australia | Farming system, Crop physiology, soil fertility |
Lecturer/ Snr Postdoctoral Fellow | 2009 January – 2011 December | Central Queensland University, (CQU), Australia | Irrigation, agronomy, soil fertility, drought tolerance |
Postdoctoral Fellow | 2006 January - 2008 December | Central Queensland University (CQU), Australia | Irrigation, agronomy, drought tolerance |
Endeavour Fellow | 2007 August - 2008 January | World Vegetable Centre (AVRDC), Taiwan | Tomato drought tolerance, molecular biology, irrigation |
Research Officer | 2005 January- 2005 December | Centre for Railway Engineering CQU, Australia | Bioengineering, erosion control, railway revegetation |
Research Officer | 2004 July – 2004 December | Centre for Plant & Water Sci CQU, Australia | Phytocapping of landfill sites, Phytoremediation |
Teaching Assistant (Part time) | 2002 January -2004 December | Centre for Plant & Water Sci CQU, Australia | Undergraduate course, Plants and Environments |
Lecturer Teaching(T), Research(R) | 1998 August -2001 September | Tribhuwon University (TU) Nepal, Dept of Horticulture | T-Crop physiology, Research methods, R-lemon, cucumber |
Agriculture expert (Part time) | 1997 August- 2000 December | Multidimensional Ag for Development (MADE) -Nepal | High value Ag for livelihood support (12 districts) |
Team Leader- Vegetable Research | 1995 November 1997 July | Lumle Ag Research Centre (LARC), Nepal | Vegetable research for western hills of Nepal |
Coordinator- Research Outreach | 1990 April - 1994 October | Lumle Ag Research Centre (LARC), Nepal | Horticulture RDE for the western hills of Nepal |
Research Assistant Agriculture | 1986 July- 1987 June | Lumle Ag Research Centre (LARC), Nepal | Coordinate Ag field trials, data collection and reporting. |
Field Assistant Socio-economics | 1984 July- 1986 June | Lumle Ag Research Centre (LARC), Nepal | Rural and market appraisal, preference analysis, HH survey, base-line & impact studies. |
School Teacher (Middle-high school) | 1984 January- 1984 June | Sangam Secondary School, Kaski, Nepal | Science and math teaching for middle and high school. |
Agronomy Society of Australia (ASA)
Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST)
Australian Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS)
International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS)
American Society of Agronomy (ASA)
Nepal Horticulture Society (NHS)
Nepal Society of Agricultural Scientist (NSAS)
Project lead: Dual-purpose peanut, PCA-Bega Food and CRCNA project (2022-2024). Evaluation, verification and commercialisation of dual-purpose (fodder and nuts) peanut varieties for northern Australia.
Project lead: Initial evaluation of high value tropical crops options, Agriventis Technologies and CQU project (2021-2024). Initial evaluation of seed lines for their performance and seed regeneration for field evaluation of elite lines in CQU, Rockhampton, QLD Australia.
Project lead: Aerobic Thermophilic Digestion Technology for organic wastes, President Biotech Ltd Taiwan and CQU project (2020-2022). Application of ATDT for rapid composting of organic wastes for developing alternative fertilizer options.
Postgraduate support: Nine PG supervision current in 2022. Search competitive and industry supported postgraduate scholarship, recruitment, supervision, and mention for successful completion.
Industry engagement: Manage industry relations. Five active industry R&D current in 2022. Search, develop, foster, and deliver successful industry involvement, engagement, and impacts through strong interdisciplinary, industry applied research.
Manager: Manage and maintain Plant Eco-physiology Laboratory that supports crops, soil and agricultural water analysis facilities for projects and PG students in cropping.
Manager: Manage and maintain plant growth facilities (garden raised bed, screen house, shed, glasshouse and field facilities) for crop research.
Teaching: Assist in undergraduate courses teachings, e.g. Plants and Environment (BIOL 13002), residential schools, guest lecture, support summer school and industry placement students, overseas exchange students, school /industry/funding agencies visitors
Supervision: Supervision of postdoctoral research fellows, research officers, research technicians, and research support casual staffs for the crop science projects
Collaboration: Engage and foster strategic interdisciplinary research collaboration within and outside the university for projects, program, and postgraduate supervision.
Funding applications: Seek opportunity for project and program fundings and prepare project funding application engaging team and collaborators
Publication: Publish project report, technical report, and scientific publications from project, research, and postgraduate data.
Leadership: Provide leadership to the team to advance and excel cropping research for northern Australia
Support university policy direction: Offer crop science related expertise and inputs for CQU senior management including IFFS for developing CQU image in Agriculture RDE and teaching.
Strategic industry engagement: Eg. Agriventis Technologies Ltd, Bega Foods- Peanut company of Australia, Mara Seeds, President Biotech, Agri-Fiber Ltd. for tropical cropping research.
Collaboration, linkage and network: expansion of intra university, inter-university (UQ, USQ), Department of Agriculture (QDAF, NTDITT, DPIRWA), Specialized services (RDO for Ag equipment, Allenden Seed for seed processing/grading, Agridry for postharvest grain moisture control), international collaboration (TAMU and TTU USA).
Cropping research infrastructures: Negotiation with industry (Agriventis) for procurement of ~$0.75M equipment for crop research planting, harvesting, spraying, and transport equipment that support CQU cropping research, and CQU university investment in analytical chemistry equipment (e.g. CN analyzer, fiber analyzer, infrared gas analyser).
Research impacts
Drought tolerant Mungbean varieties (CQU develops Agriventis Green Dragon covers 30-40% Australian Mungbean area in 2022/23 season.
Hydrogen peroxide for irrigation (CQU research funded by Evonik results into Netafim recommendation for worldwide use of H2O2 in drip irrigation)
Sesame research- National leadership through invitation by Australian Sesame Industry Development Association (ASIDA), to act as National secretary for ASIDA
Oxygation research and development, establish CQU lead for global expansion of this research and innovation adoption
Spice crop research awareness in Australia – establish CQU research lead in spices for Australia with a vision for developing Australian National Centre for Spices, Herbal, and Aromatic Plants (ANCSHAP) by 2030.
Genstat 22 for Agriculture research data analysis (https://vsni.co.uk/software/genstat)
SigmaPlot 14.0.3 for Graphical applications (https://systatsoftware.com/sigmaplot/)
The Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) application for tropical adaption of crops in northern Australia (https://www.apsim.info/)
Bhattarai S, Midmore, D & Dhungel J 2011, Aeration of irrigation water for improvements in pineapple crop health and yield, research report, Horticulture Australia Ltd., NSW.
Processing tomato aerated irrigation (oxygation) research report for HAL, 2015
Irrigation research report for National Program for Sustainable Irrigation (NPSI), 2014
Aerated irrigation report for cotton research and development cooperation (CRDC), 2011
Mara seeds compost report, 2015
PBI ATAD, rapid compost report, 2021
Caring for country- reef rescue research project report, 2014
RDA NA – compost innovation and application report, 2020
Agriventis : High value tropical crop reports, 2021
Evonik- H2O2 project completion report, 2020
Innovation connection project completion reports, (2019-2021)
APAInterns project (tropical rainfed soybean) completion report, 2021
Rice Research Australia Pty Limited (RRAPL) and AgriFuture- Rainfed tropical rice research report, 2021
CRCNA spice market reports, 2021
CRCNA spice crop technical reports, 2021-2022
Journal Water, Special Issue- Water and Nutrient Management for Spices Production-Guest Editor- 2022-2023
Journal Water, Special Issue- Water use efficiency in Agriculture -Guest Editor- 2017-2019
Journal of Agricultural Science, JAS, published from Canada, Member of the Editorial Board- since 2012
Invited reviewers for Journal of Agricultural Water Management, Irrigation Science, Irrigation and Drainage Science, Soil Sciences, Rice Science, Agronomy
Bhattarai, S. P. and Subedi, P. P. (1997). Production and marketing constraints for ginger and potato, in income generation sub-project areas of Kaski and Parbat districts of HMG/JICA: Community Development and Forest/Watershed Conservation Project, Pokhara, Nepal. A rapid marketing and production appraisal. Consultancy report prepared for JICA, Nepal
Bhattarai, S.P, and Midmore, D.J. (2012). Options and challenges for use of hydrogen peroxide in agricultural irrigation. Consultancy report for Evonik industries, Australia
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
Crop and Pasture Production - Agronomy
Horticultural Production - Horticultural Crop Growth and Development
Other agricultural, veterinary and food sciences - Other agricultural, veterinary and food sciences not elsewhere classified
Plant Biology - Plant Physiology