We’re excited to announce the sixth and final recipient of the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC) and Grower Group Alliance (GGA) Honours Partnership Program, completing the 2026 cohort.
Congratulations to Murdoch University student Jewel Pivac, who joins five Honours scholarship recipients announced earlier this year.
The WAARC-GGA program connects Honours students with grower groups to tackle real-world challenges in WA agriculture – building research capability, industry-ready skills and the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Jewel will begin her research in Semester 2, partnering with the Oil Mallee Association of Australia (BioResourcesWA) to investigate the effects of salinity on long-term carbon plantings and review site selection standards.
“I chose this topic because there’s a disconnect between federal carbon models and the real impact of dryland salinity in the WA Wheatbelt,” she said.
“Carbon developers are investing in marginal land, but without clear salinity limits, they face risks of tree mortality and credit shortfalls.
“I wanted to tackle this issue by studying long-term carbon plantings already established in these landscapes.”
Jewel’s research aims to identify the soil salinity and groundwater thresholds where carbon plantings struggle to survive, helping inform more effective site selection.
“My goal is to use data from established tree stands to better define these limits and provide clearer guidance on where long-term plantings are viable.”
Through the program, Jewel will gain more than financial support – joining a strong WAARC postgraduate cohort, building grower and industry networks, and accessing valuable professional development opportunities.
“Receiving this scholarship allows me to focus on the project and reduces the financial pressure of undertaking fieldwork in the Wheatbelt,” she said.
“Being part of the cohort is also reassuring as I’m new to this research space – it connects me to a broader network and helps ensure my work stays relevant to industry.”
Jewel is excited to partner with the Oil Mallee Association of Australia (BioResourcesWA), which brings decades of planting records to the project.
“They offer valuable long-term data showing how trees respond to salinity over 20 years, rather than just my Honours timeframe,” she said.
“Their grower network will also help ground the research in real farming conditions across different soil types, making the project more practical and industry connected.”
Jewel’s project forms part of a broader initiative funded by Australian Forest and Wood Innovations.
Learn more about the WAARC-GGA Honours Partnership Program and meet the full cohort: Honours Partnership Program 2026 | WA Agricultural Research Collaboration