The award, to be presented at the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast as part of the Australian Cotton Industry Awards, recognises outstanding contribution to the Australian cotton industry through research, development, or extension work, with an excellence in innovation, impact and commitment to advancement.
The 2026 finalists are:
- Dr Shiming Liu, principal research scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Narrabri NSW
- Dr Katie Broughton, research scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Narrabri NSW
- Dr Gunasekhar (Guna) Nachimuthu, senior research scientist (sustainable soils), climate and natural resources division of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and regional development, Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri NSW
Cotton Australia chief executive Adam Kay says the three finalists, all from Narrabri, have delivered significant contributions across different areas of the cotton research landscape, from plant breeding and climate resilience to soils and sustainability.
“Research is the backbone of Australia’s cotton industry,” Adam says.
“It underpins every advancement we’ve made in productivity, sustainability and fibre quality, ensuring our growers remain globally competitive in an increasingly complex environment,” he says.
“These finalists represent the very best in cotton research, and each of them has made a significant contribution in the past 20 years, delivering practical innovations that is not only advancing knowledge but making a tangible difference to crop performance, risk management and environmental outcomes.”
Adam says the Cotton Seed Distributor-sponsored award recognises the role science and research play in cotton production.
“This award shines a spotlight on the people driving innovation behind the scenes, the people in the background who don’t often receive the glory but without whom our cotton industry wouldn’t be where it is today,” he says.
“Australia’s cotton industry is recognised globally for its innovation, and that reputation is built on the calibre of researchers we have working alongside growers.
“All three finalists exemplify that spirit of collaboration and excellence, and they should be proud of the impact they’ve made.”
Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD) CEO Dr Ian Taylor said researchers in the Australian cotton industry are key to creating future solutions.
“At CSD we are a proud partner with researchers and their organisations both in Australia and across the globe,” Dr Taylor said.
“We are pleased to once again be supporting this award, as part of our focus on addressing key industry challenges and improving the competitiveness of Australia cotton.”
The Cotton Seed Distributors researcher of the year award will be announced on Thursday August 6.
The Bayer cotton grower of the year award, the AgriRisk high achiever of the year award, the CRDC Chris Lehmann young cotton achiever of the year award, and the John Deere service to industry award will also be announced then.
Registrations are currently open for the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference at www.australiancottonconference.com.au
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