Alison Bentley

Dr. Alison Bentley is an Associate Professor and Group Leader in Plant Sciences at the Research School of Biology, Australian National University (ANU). She also serves as Deputy Director of the Agrifood Innovation Institute at ANU. With expertise spanning fundamental plant processes to field-level decision support tools, Dr. Bentley leads interdisciplinary research addressing complex agricultural challenges.

Dr. Bentley's research focuses on plant genetics and crop improvement, with particular emphasis on wheat as a major staple food crop. Her work integrates genomics, breeding techniques, and data science to enhance crop productivity and sustainability. Key research areas include:

• Wheat genetics and breeding for improved yield and quality
• Genomic selection and marker-assisted breeding
• Integration of machine learning in predictive breeding
• Food security and agricultural economics
• Sustainable farming systems and decision support tools

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying advanced data analytics to traditional breeding challenges, with particular attention to economic and food security implications of crop improvement strategies. The research shows increasing integration of machine learning techniques with genomic data to improve breeding accuracy and efficiency.

Scientific awards:

• JBS Haldane Award (2024)

Dr. Bentley leads multiple research projects including "Modelling plausible impacts of Biological Nitrification Inhibition in Australian farming systems" and "Improving wheat yield through increases in heat tolerance of leaf carbon exchange." Her collaborative approach involves partnerships across multiple institutions to address pressing agricultural challenges, with funding extending through 2028.

As Deputy Director of the Agrifood Innovation Institute, Dr. Bentley plays a key role in translating research into practical applications for the agricultural sector, focusing on innovation that addresses real-world farming challenges and food security concerns.