This week, the WA Agricultural Scientist Spotlight turns its attention to Dr Dion Bennett, Wheat Breeder at Australian Grain Technologies (AGT).
From an unexpected start in suburban Adelaide to leading cutting-edge wheat breeding programs in WA, Dr Bennett shares his story, research focus, and vision for the future of plant breeding.
A journey from Adelaide to WA’s Wheatbelt
Dr Dion Bennett’s path to agricultural science wasn’t conventional, and growing up in suburban Adelaide, he had no direct connection to agriculture.
However, family camping trips to regional South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales sparked his interest in the land.
His formal introduction to the industry came in high school, where he attended a college that offered agriculture as an elective subject.
“I was fortunate enough to have teachers passionate about cropping and livestock, which fuelled my interest in agriculture,” Dr Bennett said.
“The concept of science constantly building on past research to deepen our collective understanding also appealed to me.”
Faced with the choice between economics and agricultural science after high school, he initially planned to transfer into veterinary science but soon found himself drawn to plant science.
“I quickly learned that plants were far easier to experiment on,” Dr Bennett said.
As he progressed through his studies at the University of Adelaide, plant physiology and genetics stood out as areas where everything ‘just clicked’.
Dr Bennett’s first hands-on experience with plant breeding came during his Honours research project, which examined how genotype-environment interactions influenced faba bean quality.
“That was my first real exposure to the inner workings of a breeding program,” he said.
“I saw firsthand the importance of seed purity, production, accurate data collection, and the logistics required to run a successful program.”
He later stumbled upon a PhD opportunity investigating drought and heat tolerance in wheat – an area that would shape his future career.
This project marked his first interaction with AGT, Australia’s largest wheat breeding company.
“It was a great mix of fieldwork, lab work, genetics, and physiology, which really appealed to me,” Dr Bennett said.
A career rooted in wheat breeding
As he neared the completion of his PhD, Dr Bennett was offered an opportunity to join AGT’s breeding team in Esperance.
As a test, he joined the team for three weeks during harvest to get a feel for what life in Esperance could be like.
It was his first time in WA and the scale of agriculture, not to mention the beauty of the south coast made a big impression on him.
“However, with almost 18 months left to finish my Phd, it would have been relatively isolating and difficult to complete from Esperance, so I stayed in Adelaide for the time being,” Dr Bennett said.
Within months, he accepted a role as a research scientist with AGT based at Roseworthy, where he managed a research project investigating heat stress tolerance for southern Australia, alongside completing his PhD.
Balancing research, fieldwork, and writing up his thesis was challenging, but it prepared him well for the multifaceted nature of breeding.
Despite the challenges, Dr Bennett graduated in 2012 with a university research medal – the first ever for a plant science thesis at the University of Adelaide.
“Another opportunity to become a wheat breeder came up, once again in WA but this time at AGT’s newly established Northam breeding centre,” he said.
Over the past 12 years, Dr Bennett has expanded his responsibilities to manage AGT’s WA Breeding Centre, overseeing wheat breeding programs and contributing to canola, lupin, and barley breeding efforts.
“We have an incredibly dedicated team, and our work is focused on delivering improved varieties that benefit WA growers,” he said.
“I’ve also proactively contributed to the broader industry.
“This includes being involved in organising international conferences, contributing to the GRDC Research Updates, participating in the GIWA Wheat Council, delivering guest seminars, and hosting field tours for WA university students.”
The role of a wheat breeder
For Dr Bennett, no two days are the same, and part of what he enjoys about his role is the variety.
One day might involve field trials, another could be spent analysing data, and another focused on logistical planning for the breeding program.
During peak seasons, much of his time is spent in the field, assessing trial plots and selecting promising lines.
“We’re constantly evaluating new varieties to ensure they meet the needs of growers in terms of yield, disease resistance, and grain quality,” Dr Bennett said.
Outside of fieldwork, his role involves data analysis, strategic planning, and coordinating with other research teams.
Dr Bennett finds great fulfilment in seeing his work translate into real-world benefits for farmers.
“Making an incremental but significant contribution to growers’ ability to produce food – both locally and globally – is incredibly rewarding,” he said.
“Being part of a scientific community that helps improve farmers’ productivity and contributes to food security is what drives me.”
His primary focus is developing improved wheat varieties for WA growers.
However, his research interests extend beyond this, particularly in heat stress tolerance – a topic he first explored during his PhD.
“Heat stress is a growing challenge for Australian farmers, and finding solutions to mitigate its impact is something I remain deeply passionate about,” Dr Bennett said.
He is also actively involved in the WAARC and Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Wheat Nitrogen Use Efficiency (WNUE) project, managed by Murdoch University.
“This project has the potential to help reduce input costs while improving the profitability of wheat production,” he said.
“By optimising nutrient use, we can help growers maintain productivity while reducing their reliance on fertilisers.”
Through his work at AGT and his contributions to broader agricultural research efforts, Dr Bennett remains committed to advancing the industry.
His journey from a suburban upbringing to becoming a leader in WA’s wheat breeding sector highlights the diverse pathways into agricultural science and the immense impact dedicated researchers can have on the future of farming.
Through the WA Agricultural Scientist Spotlight series, WAARC celebrates the contributions of researchers like Dr Dion Bennett, 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 the State remains at the forefront of agricultural research and sustainability.
