IN BRIEF in good hands Jack Koci Recipient of the MLA Postgraduate Study Award Jack Koci (pictured) recently graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast where his PhD research focused on managing gully erosion in the rangelands of north‑east Queensland. He developed and applied new technologies such as drones to produce high‑resolution topographical and landscape information. This information can be used to identify erosion hotspots, target management interventions and monitor landscape condition improvements. Jack is now researching the effectiveness of gully‑remediation strategies in rangelands in partnership with the CSIRO, while working part‑time as a water quality scientist at Seqwater. I got to where I am today by pursuing my passion for sustainable agricultural production. My family had avocado farms on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, so I’ve always been surrounded by agriculture. I completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours at James Cook University before starting at the Australian CentreMy research is dedicated to developing valuable data and information to for International Agricultural Research intools and approaches to better support my research, while gaining Canberra in 2013. manage grazing landscapes for dual greater insight and exposure to the red I moved back to Queensland in 2016 environmental and production benefits. meat and livestock industry. to complete my PhD. Consumers place ever-increasing MLA’s post-graduate conferences were A typical day of research involved scrutiny on the red meat and livestock a highlight of my PhD experience as spending time on cattle stations for industry to demonstrate sustainable I interacted with other PhD students drone surveys, soil measurements and production. This creates potential working on diverse topics and met monitoring water quality. During this new market opportunities which could industry representatives to learn fieldwork, I spoke to producers regularlyreward producers who implement how my research fitted into other about the challenges and realities of strategies for these in their enterprises.MLA programs. land management. These discussions were extremely valuable to guide and My research can be used My advice for other young people inform my research. Of course, I also to support the positive involved in red meat research is to spent a lot of time analysing my data find a topic you’re passionate about and writing up the results. steps producers are taking and where there’s a real need for to achieve sustainable new knowledge, and to take every My research matters to red meat opportunity that comes your way. ■ producers because maintaining healthy production. grazing lands is critical to ensure the Jack Koci long-term productivity and profitabilityMLA’s support meant I could spend E: jkoci@usc.edu.au of grazing enterprises. lots of time in the field collecting 9