L-R. Yumeng Chen, Hort Innovation Industry Communications Manager Sharon Watt and Jackson Boardman

Two rising stars in Australian horticulture – Yumeng Chen (vegetable industry) and Jackson Boardman (avocado industry) – were in September awarded prestigious Nuffield Scholarships, supported by Hort Innovation, to explore cutting-edge technologies and global best practices that could reshape the future of the Australian horticulture industry.

The Nuffield Scholarship program is a globally recognised initiative that empowers emerging agricultural professionals to undertake international research and bring back insights that strengthen Australian industries. For horticulture, it’s a vital investment in future-ready leadership, digital transformation, and sustainable growth.

Having grown up on family farms, vegetable industry scholar Yumeng has earned degrees in food engineering and supply chain management, and is currently pursuing a qualification in IT. Currently working at Fragapane Farms, Yumeng brings deep expertise in supply chain management, international logistics, and digital innovation.

Yumeng plans to explore how virtual replicas of farms, known as digital twins, can revolutionise decision-making, resource allocation, and supply chain coordination. By integrating emerging technologies with advanced analytics, digital twins create dynamic virtual models of farm operations that bridge human expertise and datadriven insight. They enable real-time performance tracking, demand forecasting, yield optimisation, and smart resource allocation.

Yumeng aims to investigate global applications of digital twins by visiting innovation hubs to learn from farmers and researchers applying technologies in practical, sustainable ways, and her scholarship will explore how virtual modelling can optimise production systems and decision-making in vegetable farming.

Jackson Boardman represents the next generation of avocado growers. He also runs his own drone business and will use his scholarship to investigate the expanded application of drone technology in avocado farming systems. His research will focus on how drones can enhance productivity, precision, and sustainability in orchard management – bringing cutting-edge tech to one of Australia’s fastest-growing horticulture sectors.

Brett Fifield, Chief Executive Officer, Hort Innovation, explained why programs like the Nuffield Scholarship are important for the industry: “The Nuffield Scholarship is a powerful way to build capability and encourage fresh thinking in horticulture. By supporting emerging leaders, we’re investing in the future of our sector – one that’s innovative, resilient, and globally competitive.”

“As Yumeng and Jackson prepare to embark on their Nuffield international journeys, we look forward to learning from the insights they bring back to strengthen Australian horticulture. Their work will help shape a smarter, more sustainable future for growers and the communities they support.”