This week, the spotlight falls on Dr Ben Biddulph, Chief Scientist of Primary Industries at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
With a career spanning decades, Dr Biddulph shares his inspiring path to becoming an agricultural scientist, the transformative work he has contributed to, and his vision for the future of agriculture.
Discovering a passion for agriculture
Dr Biddulph’s journey into agricultural science began with a defining decision after completing high school and associated Tertiary Entrance Examination (TEE) studies.
He had been accepted into multiple university programs, including medicine, commerce, and agricultural science, but deferred his studies to work on his family farm and within the local community.
“After studying TEE – yes, showing my age – I took what is now trendily called a gap year,” Dr Biddulph said.
“Over the next 12 months, I worked on the family farm for seeding and harvest as well as around the district labouring with wool pressing, crutching and general sheep work, to save enough money for university and a reliable car to see me through my studies.”
During this time, conversations with farmers, shearers, contractors, and his family, including his grandfather, helped shape his decision to pursue agricultural science.
“I wanted to do something linked to agriculture but with opportunities to grow and expand,” Dr Biddulph said.
“Agricultural Science ticked all the boxes.”
Early curiosity and inspirational mentors
Growing up on a family farm instilled a natural curiosity in Dr Biddulph, which was further fuelled by inspiring teachers during his schooling.
In primary school, he was constantly explaining the work he did on the farm to new teachers from city backgrounds, often confusing them during spelling tests when he would ask which version of sowing/sewing, or plow/ploughing they wanted, or getting blank looks when asking how to spell other common farming words like shearing, roustabout/rousies, windrowing/swathing and raking.
His inquisitive nature was further nurtured by passionate science teachers in junior high school in Ravensthorpe and senior high school in Narrogin.
“Work experience in my junior high years also proved pivotal,” Dr Biddulph said.
“I spent a week at the Esperance ‘Agriculture WA’ office working on various projects, from biomass cuts in lupins to estimate impact of tree belts on susceptibility to wind erosion, labelling petridishes for rhizoctonia sampling to blood sampling cattle for tuberculosis freedom status at Young River, as well as animal welfare abattoir inspection.
“It was fascinating and expanded my understanding of the possibilities in agricultural research.”
Exceptional mentors during his undergraduate and postgraduate studies also played a significant role in shaping his career.
It was the passion for science and agriculture shared from eminent scientists like Hans Lambers, Tim Colmer, David Lindsey, Phil Vercoe, Graham Martin, Ian Williams and Wallace Cowling that was contagious for Dr Biddulph.
He was also inspired by applied Departmental researchers like Mike Ewing, Ross Kingwell, Bill Bowden, Chris Oldham and breeders like Robin Wilson, Reg Lance, Bevan Burchell and the applied environmental scientists like John Pate, Steve Hopper and Kingsley Dixon.
From research intern to renowned scientist
Dr Biddulph’s career began during his undergraduate years with a DPIRD internship.
This opportunity led to casual work and a supported honours project, culminating in his first publication.
After graduating in 2000, he joined DPIRD full-time as a graduate researcher working in the Cereal Physiology team with Dr Tim Setter after completing his honours on salinity in wheat with support from the same team in DPIRD.
His early work in the pre-breeding physiology team focused on drought tolerance mechanisms in wheat, as well as the role of aluminium, iron, and manganese in improving waterlogging tolerance in WA duplex soils as part of an international ACIAR-funded project, significantly improving commercial cereal varieties today.
Driven to address industry challenges, Dr Biddulph pursued a PhD on pre-harvest sprouting in wheat.
Supported by a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) stipend and study leave from the Department, he built national networks and conducted research across Australia.
Although studying at UWA, Dr Biddulph worked with DPIRD facilities at Katanning and Esperance, as well as with supervisors and colleagues at the University of Adelaide’s WAITE Campus.
He also spent a three-month stint at CSIRO’s Plant Industry in Canberra accessing specialist equipment for hormone analysis.
“These early collaborations shaped my career and continue to influence my work today,” Dr Biddulph said.
Across the course of his career, Dr Biddulph has been involved with numerous national and international research projects, with collaborators in universities, CSIRO, state departments, grower and farming systems groups nationally.
He has also led research on pre-breeding, as well as agronomy research on the physiology, genetics and agronomy of abiotic stresses, including frost, heat, drought, pre-harvest sprouting, late maturity alpha-amylase and phenology.
Leading research for WA’s agricultural future
Now in an executive role, Dr Biddulph leads DPIRD’s research teams working with the Directors across grains, horticulture, livestock, farming systems and aquaculture.
“My role involves strategy development and fostering national and international links to ensure WA’s primary industries remain competitive and adaptable in a changing climate,” he said.
A typical week sees him in meetings with industry stakeholders, researchers, and policymakers to align research priorities with industry needs.
“It’s a dynamic and collaborative environment,” Dr Biddulph said.
“I’m passionate about creating partnerships that ensure WA agriculture remains innovative and sustainable.”
For Dr Biddulph, the most rewarding aspect of his career is seeing industry adoption of research findings.
“It’s incredibly fulfilling when farmers, consultants and advisors tell me how much they value the advice and work stemming from years of research,” he said.
His GRDC supported work on reproductive frost has led to significant practice change in the frost prone areas of WA.
This has led to improved grower confidence in managing frost risk and better capacity to financially and emotionally deal with the impacts when they occur leading to significant productivity gains.
“The ability to make a tangible difference in the lives of producers is one of the key motivators in my career.”
Research driving sustainability and innovation
Another part of Dr Biddulph’s current focus is ensuring the sustainability of WA’s primary industries, with research addressing climate adaptation and mitigation to keep producers financially and environmentally sustainable in the long term.
This work includes understanding how climate change affects farming systems and finding ways to adapt and mitigate these challenges.
He is also involved with the development of WAARC to build research capability through the supported PhD programs.
“We are working on solutions that not only solve today’s problems but anticipate future challenges, ensuring WA remains at the forefront of agricultural innovation,” Dr Biddulph said.
Inspiring the next generation
For Dr Biddulph, the importance of networking and collaboration for aspiring scientists cannot be underestimated.
“Get involved in local conferences as a student representative, present your work, and join teams socially,” he said.
“The connections and friendships you build will be invaluable – teamwork really does make the dream work.”
He also encouraged students to seek diverse experiences and foster meaningful relationships in the scientific community, as every interaction can lead to an opportunity, whether it’s through a formal conference or an informal chat over coffee.
Dr Biddulph’s journey is a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and collaboration in advancing agricultural science.
Through his leadership and dedication, he continues to inspire the next generation of scientists to innovate and sustain Western Australia’s agricultural future.
His work ensures that WA’s agricultural industry remains resilient, adaptable, and sustainable for years to come.
By sharing his story, Dr Biddulph hopes to motivate others to pursue careers in agricultural science and contribute to a field that is vital to our future.
“There’s no better feeling than knowing your work is making a difference,” he said.
As WA continues to face agricultural challenges, leaders like Dr Biddulph are essential in driving the industry forward, ensuring innovation and sustainability for generations to come.
Through the WA Agricultural Scientist Spotlight series, WAARC celebrates the contributions of researchers like Dr Ben Biddulph, whose work exemplifies the dedication and innovation needed to advance agricultural science in Western Australia.
By sharing their stories, the series aims to inspire a new generation to pursue careers in this vital field, ensuring that the state remains at the forefront of agricultural research and sustainability.
