Director of Murdoch University's Centre for Crop and Food Innovation and State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Professor Rajeev Varshney FTSE FAA FRS, is among 34 industry pioneers elected to Australia's leading tech and engineering Academy in 2026.

This follows his election to the Australian Academy of Science in 2025 and the Royal Society, the UK's national academy of sciences, in 2023, positioning him among a select few of Australian scientists to be elected as a Fellow of all three Academies, and the first Murdoch University researcher to hold all three. 

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering's (ATSE) new Fellows, announced today, have been elected for outstanding achievements in applied science and engineering across industry leadership, policymaking, research and commercialisation.

In its citation for Professor Varshney, the Academy noted his contributions in reshaping the global landscape of agricultural biotechnology and his efforts to translate genomic insights into practical tools for major crops. 

The Academy highlighted his contribution to the development of high-yielding and climate-resilient crop varieties for growers in Australia, Asia and Africa, adding that “In Australia, his breakthrough approach has created cost-effective and accessible genomic resources and breeding platforms for wheat, pulses and horticultural crops, accelerating precision breeding”.

The Academy also credited his work in strengthening Australia's biotechnology capability and supporting grower profitability, sustainability, and global competitiveness across the nation’s $100-billion agricultural sector.

Murdoch University Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Deeks said Professor Varshney's election to ATSE was a "remarkable achievement that reflects excellence across the full research spectrum, from discovery to application".

"Since arriving in Australia, he has been a driving force for agricultural research and productivity, working closely with the Federal Government and primary industries departments across the nation on broadacre and horticultural crops research," Professor Deeks said.

But while his contributions to Australian agriculture have been significant, his impact reaches well beyond our shores. His work has benefited millions of smallholder farmers across Africa and South Asia, andcontinues to inform and guide breeding programs across the globe.

Murdoch University Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Peter Eastwood said Professor Varshney's contributions extended beyond scientific discovery and pioneering genomics resources for Australian crops, into shaping critical agricultural policy and decision-making across the globe.

"This capacity to translate cutting-edge science into meaningful societal impact reflects Murdoch University's ambition to deliver research that changes the world,” Professor Eastwood said.

Professor Varshney said his election as an ATSE Fellow was an "immense honour and privilege".

"I believe the future of Australian agriculture will depend on how quickly we can translate technological innovation into on-farm impact, and ATSE plays an incredibly important role in shaping that process across industries," Professor Varshney said.

"Australia’s agriculture sector is a remarkable success story, and it’s clear that our growers, breeders and the wider industry are not short of good ideas. But what we do have is limited time to turn these ideas into tangible outcomes. ATSE is well placed to close this gap, and I look forward to playing a part in supporting the Academy’s efforts to utilise technology to solve complex challenges.”

Professor Varshney will join other newly elected ATSE Fellows at the New Fellows Showcase, held at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on October 28 2026.