Now in his third year of a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Flinders University, Edison West is making strides toward his vision of a more sustainable agricultural future, supported by his AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship sponsored by Hort Innovation.

Having recently undertaken a placement at Tatura SmartFarm with Agriculture Victoria, Edison gained hands-on experience in progressive agricultural research. Tatura SmartFarm focuses on developing and demonstrating agricultural management practices and technology that help growers adapt to changing climate conditions while maintaining business profitability.

A significant part of this work involved agrivoltaics – the integration of solar energy with agriculture – a topic of keen interest for Edison.

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Edison explains, “There are so many different routes that could be taken and agrivoltaics is one such area that could prove very beneficial for the industry if more research is done on it.”

The Horizon Scholarship has opened doors that would otherwise have remained closed to Edison.

“It’s been huge – just being able to be in the room with people in the industry that I wouldn’t get the chance to be close to otherwise,” Edison reflects. These networking opportunities, combined with practical experience, are helping shape his future career aspirations in agricultural innovation and sustainability research.

Hort Innovation‘s decision to sponsor Edison was driven by his evident enthusiasm and curiosity for gaining practical experience to complement his academic knowledge. The organisation sees these qualities as vital for the future of horticulture, an industry that is growing and innovating at a rapid pace.

“We can only hope that enthusiastic and curious individuals like Edison are inspired to help us design the future of the industry,” said Bianca Cairns, Research and Development Manager at Hort Innovation.

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Looking ahead, Edison aims to leverage his scholarship experience to drive innovation in the industry, particularly in sustainability.

His background in viticulture, combined with exposure to various horticultural sectors through the scholarship program, is building a strong foundation for his future contributions to Australian agriculture.

AgriFutures Australia is committed to supporting the next generation of leaders that will drive the future prosperity of Australian rural industries and communities. The AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship is awarded to students studying an agriculture-related undergraduate degree or a Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths/Finance (STEM) degree with relevant majors which align to agriculture.

Applications for the 2026 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship are now open and close on Monday 26 January 2026.

Find out more about the Horizon Scholarship
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