Australia recognises Thai agronomy professor for her outstanding
contribution to international research
Australia-Thailand agricultural research cooperation has been further strengthened with Dr Benjavan Rerkasem, an outstanding agronomy professor from Chiang Mai University, recently receiving a recognition medal from Australia’s Crawford Fund for her continued contribution to international agricultural research.
Professor Rerkasem was selected for the award for her leadership role in agricultural research and sustainable agriculture. Her advocacy and works cover a range of areas including: intellectual property rights and agricultural plant genetic resources; biotechnology and agriculture; and sustainability of agriculture in Asia. Professor Rerkasem is among the most cited scientists in Thailand in agricultural science. She is an alumnus of the University of Western Australia, where she studied with an Australian Government Columbo Plan scholarship. In 2008 she was also presented with a distinguished international alumnus award from the university.
Throughout her career, Professor Rerkasem has been called upon by agencies such as the Asian Development Bank and the Thailand Research Fund to assess research needs in south-east Asia. She has developed research programmes to address these issues with support from diverse donors including the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). A major legacy of Professor Rerkasem’s contribution to agriculture in the region has been her training of post-graduate students.
The Crawford Fund is a non-profit organisation in Australia dedicated to raising awareness of the international agricultural research benefits to developing countries and to Australia. The Fund supports the work of ACIAR, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and other international research centres.