Guest: Rakshith Gowda

Host: Mahnaz Afsar

In the final episode of Season 2 of Cultivating the Future, Mahnaz Afsar speaks with Rakshith Gowda, a PhD researcher in crop genetics and pre-breeding, about the race to develop heat-tolerant barley for a changing climate.

Originally from India, Rakshith completed his Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Master’s in Genetics and Plant Breeding before moving to Perth to pursue doctoral research focused on strengthening crop resilience. His work addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing grain production: rising temperatures and the increasing frequency of heat stress events that can significantly reduce yield and downgrade barley grain from malting to feed quality.

The conversation explores how advances in physiology, pangenomics and haplotype stacking are being used to identify valuable genetic modules and accelerate the development of superior barley lines. By delivering improved haplotypes and pre-breeding materials to industry, this research aims to support the creation of more heat-tolerant, high-quality barley cultivars suited to Western Australian growing conditions.

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Guest: Ben Camer-Pesci

Host: Tarkjot Kaur

In this episode of Cultivating the Future, host Tarkjot Kaur turns the microphone around to interview fellow Murdoch University PhD student Ben Camer-Pesci, exploring the interdisciplinary world of phycology and its emerging role in sustainable agriculture and bioproduct development.

Now in the second year of his PhD, Ben’s research spans multiple disciplines, bringing together marine ecology, chemistry, ruminant nutrition and bioproduct generation to investigate how algae-based systems can contribute to more sustainable production pathways. The conversation highlights how cross-disciplinary research is opening new opportunities to connect marine science with agricultural innovation, particularly in areas such as livestock nutrition and value-added bio-based products.

Alongside his research, Ben shares his passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists at Murdoch University, as well as the experiences that shape his life beyond academia, including diving and running.

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Guest: Tarkjot Kaur

Host: Ben Camer-Pesci

In this episode of Cultivating the Future, Ben Camer-Pesci speaks with Tarkjot Kaur, a PhD student at Murdoch University, about advancing grain yield potential in barley and oats through genetics and data-driven breeding.

Growing up in a Punjabi agricultural family in India, Tarkjot developed an early connection to farming systems and crop production, experiences that continue to shape her research perspective today. Her current PhD focuses on translating knowledge of grain-yield genetics from major cereal crops such as rice, wheat and maize into barley and oats, helping unlock new opportunities to improve productivity in these important grains.

The discussion explores how integrating genetic insights with machine-learning-based prediction models could enable breeders to more accurately identify high-yielding varieties and accelerate breeding progress. By combining traditional plant breeding approaches with advanced analytics, this work aims to support the development of more productive, resilient cereal crops for future farming systems.

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