Diving into the opportunities presented by aquaculture and marine bioproducts

No longer a fish out of water when it comes to diverse industries in agriculture, Imogen Morison, the Brisbane-based recipient of a 2023-24 Horizon Scholarship, sponsored by AgriFutures Australia, has begun to make a splash in the area of aquaculture and marine bioproducts.

Imogen is the first to acknowledge that her journey into this field has been unexpected, yet the experiences and opportunities that she’s gained in the process have been nothing short of incredible.

“I was in shock when I got the call,” said Imogen. “I had never really considered it as something I could do because when you think of agriculture, you think of traditional land-based agriculture like livestock and crops, not aquaculture and marine.”

Limited background knowledge of the marine sector, however, has not stopped her from diving headfirst into it.

Having recently returned from an internship with Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm in the Kimberly where she was introduced to the pearl farming process, Imogen has gained invaluable hands-on experience and insight into the intricacies of aquaculture.

“It was such an amazing opportunity,” she said. “I got to go to the Kimberley in Western Australia, where I experienced working on pearl boats, cleaning boats, and diving boats. I also worked in the lab, learning about oyster health, life cycle changes, and the value chain.”

While aquaculture hadn’t always been on her radar, the value chain in agriculture had always been something that had piqued Imogen’s interest, ever since her dad had introduced it to her as a young girl in his agribusiness firm.

“I’m really interested in value chain management and finding ways to make it more efficient,” explained Imogen. “I’m starting to build more of an understanding of all the different inputs and outputs within a value chain and how they all work together to improve traceability and sustainability,” she said.

In an industry besieged by innumerable challenges, Imogen’s receptiveness and inquisitiveness caught the attention of her sponsor, the Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MBCRC).

“The agricultural industry, not just in Australia but worldwide, is facing enormous challenges,” stated Kirsten Heimann, Education and Training Manager at MBCRC.

“We must produce high quality food on less arable land, in unpredictable weather patterns, and contend with emerging diseases and pests.”

Imogen’s open-mindedness resonated with MBCRC’s future-focused ethos.

“At MBCRC, we look to the horizon, aiming for sustainability and improved outcomes across all industry sectors,” she explained.

This horizon-oriented perspective involves addressing critical issues such as soil and plant health. MBCRC believes that marine life compounds hold promise in bolstering terrestrial production by providing new sources of protein and fish oil replacements.

Despite her uncertainty about where her experiences might take her in the future, Imogen is excited to further explore the depths of aquaculture and marine bioproducts, with plans to return to the pearl farm later in the year.

“Imogen really flourished and matured during her placement,” said Kirsten.

“She doesn’t have to make up her mind now as to what she wants to do. She can just go and explore, which is something we would really encourage her to do.”

Applications for the 2025 Horizon Scholarship are now open and close Sunday, 12 January 2025.

Find out more about the AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship