Philip Brown

Professor Philip Brown is a horticultural scientist at CQUniversity's School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences. He leads the Institute for Future Farming Systems and holds a PhD from the University of Tasmania. His roles include Professor of Horticultural Science (2010-present), Director of the Institute for Future Farming Systems (2015-present), and former Head of the University of Tasmania's School of Agricultural Science (2009-2010). His research focuses on sustainable agricultural development, crop physiology, and horticultural systems in tropical/subtropical regions.

Education: BAgrSc(Hons) and PhD (UTas). Professional memberships include the International Society for Horticultural Science and Australian Society of Horticultural Science (past President). His work emphasizes collaboration with industry partners to address challenges in crop protection, organic farming, and food security in Pacific Island nations. Notable projects include the $5M Hinkler Regional Deal Agricultural Technology Facility and studies on sweetpotato cultivation in Papua New Guinea.

Research interests span plant-microbe interactions, soil health, and precision agriculture adoption. Over 20 years of field experience includes managing over $10M in grants, with recent focus on nematode control, nutrient management, and protected cropping systems. His publications address topics like sweetpotato root development, ginger biochemistry, and disease modeling in crops.

Teaching includes unit coordination in sustainable agricultural development, crop production systems, and agribusiness management at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He actively supervises research candidates in areas like climate change adaptation and value chain interventions in developing communities.