The Farrer Memorial Trust was established in 1911 to perpetuate the memory of William James Farrer, Plant Breeder, and to provide encouragement and inspiration to those engaged in agricultural science in cropping. One of William Farrer’s ideals was “aiming high and making an impact”. He was one of the pioneers of agricultural cropping research and development in Australia.

The Trust provides the following annual awards and scholarships:

• The Farrer Memorial Medal - awarded annually to a person with a distinguished career in agricultural science in Australia in the fields of research, education or administration. The award is presented at an event linked to the award winner's career and research and includes an oration to provide encouragement and inspiration to others in the same fields.

All Farrer medallists and their memorial orations since 1936 are available by clicking here.

• The Farrer Memorial Mid-Career Award - created in 2024, this award recognises exceptional achievements in Australian agricultural science made by a mid-career professional. A mid-career professional is “a professional with the equivalent of 10-20 cumulative years’ experience in agricultural science. Professionals may be in research, development, practice, communication, or policy. The award is $15,000 to continue the education, research and development of the winner.
• Farrer Memorial Travelling Student Scholarships - awarded to support international travel and/or other learning and development by postgraduate students enrolled for a PhD on any aspect of agricultural cropping research. As a guide, travelling scholarships will normally be awarded up to the value $7,500.
  

Prof. Robert Park announced as 2025 Farrer Memorial Medal Recipient

The Farrer Memorial Trust is delighted to announce that Professor Robert Park has been awarded the 2025 Farrer Memorial Medal, honouring his exceptional contributions to agricultural science in Australia.

With a career spanning 37 years, Professor Park has led groundbreaking research into cereal rust diseases, significantly advancing the protection and productivity of Australia’s cereal crops. His work has deepened our understanding of fungal pathogens and strengthened the resilience of vital food systems.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Park has been a dedicated mentor, shaping the next generation of researchers. Many of his former students now hold key roles in agricultural R&D across Australia and around the world.

This medal celebrates his enduring legacy of innovation, leadership, and service to plant pathology and crop protection.

🎓 Join Us to Honour Professor Park
The University of Sydney will host a special evening on Thursday, 27 November 2025, featuring the traditional Farrer Medal Oration delivered by Professor Park. The event will include light refreshments and a chance to connect with others in the agricultural science community.
📍 Location: The University of Sydney
🎟️ Cost: Free
✅ Registration essential for catering
👉 Register here

Scholarship Applications

Application for the Farrer Memorial International Travelling Scholarships for 2025 have closed with applications for 2026 to open in November 2025.

For further information contact the Secretary via email farrer.memorialtrust@dpird.nsw.gov.au.

Professor Andrew Barr announced as the 2023 Farrer Memorial Medal winner

Congratulations to South Australian grain grower and former plant researcher Andrew (Andy) Barr for being awarded the prestigious Farrer Memorial Medal for 2024, recognising his outstanding contributions to plant breeding and agricultural research in not only Australia, but across the globe.

The Farrer Memorial Medal has been awarded annually to people with distinguished careers in agricultural science since 1936, and Andy certainly has had an amazing career where he continues to inspire and encourage others engaged in agricultural research.

Amongst his achievements, Andy has released 25 varieties of oats, barley and wheat, and has over 200 scientific, technical, conference and extension publications.

Andy was presented with his medal at the Australian Crop Breeders Ltd Week Event Dinner on Tuesday 4 March 2025 in Melbourne where he also provided an oration of his work.

You can read more about Andy's career here.

Dr Angela Van de Wouw awarded the inaugural $15,000 Farrer Memorial Mid-Career Award in 2024

A/Chair of the Farrer Memorial Trust Ms Kate Lorimer-Ward has announced Dr Angela Van de Wouw as the first recipient of the Farrer Mid-Career Award for her extraordinary contributions to blackleg disease of canola.

The new Farrer Mid-Career Award was introduced in 2024 by the Farrer Memorial Trust to acknowledge exceptional achievements in Australian agricultural science made by a mid-career professional.

“The inaugural award is an exciting development for the Trust, with many mid-career professionals deserving acknowledgment for having already contributed significantly to the Australian agricultural sector,” said Ms Lorimer-Ward.

“The award consists of a $15,000 prize for travel and/or further education to promote Australian agricultural science and to deepen and widen the awardee’s knowledge of the agricultural sector, as well as the opportunity to meet and network with the alumni of Farrer Memorial Medal winners that can help to mentor and open doors for continued career growth.

“The Trust were impressed with the caliber of nominations for this new Award, and we look forward to continuing this acknowledgement in future years as part of the suite of Farrer Memorial Trust activities including the Farrer Memorial International Travelling Scholarships and the distinguished Farrer Memorial Medal that has been awarded annually since 1936.

“Dr Van de Wouw is most certainly a worthy recipient of the inaugural award, being an internationally recognised expert on blackleg disease of canola,” Ms Lorimer-Ward said.

Dr Van de Wouw was nominated for the award by her post-doctoral supervisor, Professor Barbara Howlett from the University of Melbourne, who highlighted Dr Van de Wouw’s impressive range of skills in classical and molecular genetics, plant pathology and agricultural extension, that few at her career stage possess.

“Her excellence in innovation is evident by her outstanding record of publications and grant successes, and the numerous invitations she receives to international conferences and industry meetings,’ said Professor Howlett.

“Her rural background has enabled her to communicate her findings readily and coherently to farmers and agronomists.

“Dr Van de Wouw has discovered new ways to control blackleg disease of canola through a multi-disciplinary approach which includes identifying the blackleg resistance genes in Australian canola varieties, using molecular markers to detect blackleg resistance genes in canola and disease management strategies such as rotation of blackleg resistance genes.

“The multi-disciplinary approach has been adopted across Australia and prevents millions of dollars of crop losses each year.

“The resistance groupings corresponding to particular blackleg resistance genes in canola that Angela developed are now routinely used in breeding strategies, and by agronomists and grain growers for selecting cultivars for sowing,” said Professor Howlett.

Dr Van de Wouw has received various accolades for her work, including being one of only 25 successful applicants to receive an Australian Research Council mid-career Industry Fellowship and the only one in the field of agriculture.

“Receiving the first Farrer Mid-Career Award is a special honour,” said Dr Van de Wouw.

“William Farrer has a special place in Australian agriculture as a pioneer of agricultural research in this country and to know I have received an Award in his name is a privilege.

“I would like to thank Professor Barbara Howlett for the nomination.

“Receiving this award highlights the importance of having great mentors in your life that support you through your career, and I encourage all younger researchers out there to establish those connections and make the most of them,” Dr Van de Wouw said.

Dr Van de Wouw is currently focusing her research towards understanding fungicide resistance and how growers can minimise the risk of it evolving and how to manage it when it does.

She is planning to use the $15,000 received as part of this award to spend time abroad with other fungicide resistance groups to gain insight into the research being done in this field and establish collaborations for future research.

Donations to the Trust

The Farrer Memorial Trust welcomes donations from those with a commitment to the Australian rural industry to help it fund:

• the Farrer Memorial Travelling Scholarships
• the Farrer Memorial Research Scholarship postgraduate award for study or research in agriculture
• the annual award of the Farrer Medal.

The Trust is required by an Act of Parliament to fund these activities totally from investment income, and not from capital. Escalating costs, however, are making it difficult to keep the awards at an acceptable level and continue the medal presentations.

Cheques in favour of the Farrer Memorial Trust may be sent to the Secretary, Farrer Memorial Trust, GPO Box 5477, Sydney NSW 2001.

For more information about donating to the Farrer Memorial Trust, contact the Secretary.

Trustees of the Farrer Memorial Trust

• Chair Ms Kate Lorimer-Ward, Chief Executive Officer Local Land Services, NSW Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development
• Professor Alex McBratney, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney
• Dr John C Radcliffe, AM.

Non-Official Trustees

• Geoffrey Mason, AM
• Rohan Wilson
• David Davidson

Secretary

Vicki Priest, Manager - Programs, Boards & Committees

Annual Reports

• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2019 (PDF, 3.9 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2018 (PDF, 4.6 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2017 (PDF, 6.4 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2015 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
  
• Farrer Memorial Trust Annual Report 2014 (PDF, 3.0 MB)
  
• Farrer memorial Trust Annual Report 2020 (PDF, 2.3 MB)
  

Older annual reports for the Farrer Memorial Trust can be found on the DPIRD web publication archive.