There are many fascinating pockets of Aussie agriculture and Grace Griffiths is keen to explore them all.

A few years ago, Grace created 101 Ag Pathways to showcase the plethora of roles and career pathways into agriculture.

Grace is an agronomist, cotton grower, GIS specialist and part of her family business Data Ag, based in Goodiwindi QLD.

She chats about the chaos of juggling multiple roles, how her side passion project is opening doors to a new generation of ag professionals, and why Bayer's crop innovation is shaping a more sustainable and attractive cotton industry.

Takeaways

• Grace wears multiple hats: agronomist, cotton grower, and sustainability lead for Data Ag
• Traceability is crucial for the cotton industry
• Returning to her hometown of Gundawindi involves navigating community expectations
• Bayer's innovations have significantly reduced pesticide use in cotton farming
• 101 Ag Pathways aims to educate about diverse agricultural careers
• Networking with CEOs reveals the human side of corporate agriculture
• Resilience and innovation are fundamental to rural communities

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Grace Griffiths and the Cotton Industry

03:07 The Importance of Traceability in Cotton Production

05:52 Grace's Journey Back to Gundawindi

12:00 Innovations in Cotton Farming and Bayer's Role

15:07 The Evolution of Cotton Varieties and Sustainability

18:01 101 Ag Career Pathways: Bridging the Knowledge Gap

21:09 Exploring Overlooked Careers in Agriculture

Links:

• Check out 101 Ag Pathways and follow Grace's work on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
• Learn more about Bayer Australia and New Zealand, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
• More episodes at Humans of Agriculture

This is a sponsored series in partnership with Bayer Crop Science Australia, showcasing Bayer's commitment to innovation; supporting Aussie agriculture and backing rural communities.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and let us know your thoughts at hello@humansofagriculture.com. Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and leave a review!

RAS Rural Achiever
Applications are now open for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s 2026 Rural Achiever Award. If you’re in your 20s, making an impact in Aussie ag and your community, this is a HUGE opportunity. Eight finalists will head to the Sydney Royal Easter Show for a jam packed eight days — from Professional Development and Government House, to networking with the movers and shakers in agriculture, plus a share in $17,000 prize money. Entries close Friday 29th August and this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on — head to RASNSW.com.au and throw your hat in the ring

The biotech at the fingertips of farmers is super exciting. But is regulation keeping pace with scientific leaps?

Biotech like gene editing has the potential to revolutionise the industry - by not only enhancing crop yields, but supporting sustainable farming practices, and helping address global climate change and food security.

Michael Leader's job with Bayer is an interesting one - he's the bridge connecting the science labs and the regulators; translating complex new biotech innovation to policy makers.

In this chat Michael discusses the legislative hurdles for biotech, use of AI in new crop protection technologies, the new biotech in the pipeline for farmers, and the careers in agriculture that go beyond the paddock.

Michael Leader is the Regulatory Policy & Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the Asia region, for Bayer Crop Science Australia.

Takeaways

• Michael's background in law and molecular biology, and now working in regulatory policy in agriculture
• The opportunities in the Asian region for applying biotech, with policy stagnating ag innovation tools to date
• Biotechnology has evolved significantly over the past 30 years but GM breeding typically takes 16 years to get to market and $100m in research and regulatory costs
• Activism continues to challenge the acceptance of biotechnology
• There is a need for regulatory reform to accommodate new technologies
• The lack of distinction between the definitions of 'genome editing' and 'genetically modified' is inhibiting workable regulatory framework
• Future agricultural innovations could address climate change and food security
• Bayer is proactive with transparency, showing their biotech studies online and using Open Labs 360, a self-guided virtual reality tour of labs and fields to understand regulatory and safety data

Chapters

03:06 The Intersection of Law and Molecular Biology

05:58 Career Journey in Regulatory Policy

09:03 Current Work and Responsibilities at Bayer

12:08 Opportunities in Asian Agriculture

17:57 Challenges and Misconceptions in Biotechnology

23:55 Regulatory Hurdles in Biotechnology

26:58 Future of Agricultural Innovation

Links:

• Learn more about Bayer Australia and New Zealand, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
• More episodes at Humans of Agriculture

This is a sponsored series in partnership with Bayer Crop Science Australia, showcasing Bayer's commitment to innovation; supporting Aussie agriculture and backing rural communities.

RAS Rural Achiever
Applications are now open for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s 2026 Rural Achiever Award. If you’re in your 20s, making an impact in Aussie ag and your community, this is a HUGE opportunity. Eight finalists will head to the Sydney Royal Easter Show for a jam packed eight days — from Professional Development and Government House, to networking with the movers and shakers in agriculture, plus a share in $17,000 prize money. Entries close Friday 29th August and this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on — head to RASNSW.com.au and throw your hat in the ring

When Tim Felan was exploring career options fresh out of uni a decade ago, marrying his love for agriculture and finance together just made sense.

But he says 'falling into' a trial internship at Rabobank is what really fast-tracked his career to becoming National Manager of Major Agribusiness Clients.

He was pleased to see the Rabo Graduate Program formalised in 2023, exposing more uni graduates to the incredible possibilities open to young people in the food and agribusiness sector.

Hear how the 18 month bespoke grad program is tapping into the talent pool early, which Tim says is bringing fresh ideas to tackling global challenges in ag.

takeaways

• Agriculture offers diverse career opportunities beyond traditional roles
• Graduate programs at Rabobank attract high-caliber talent.
• Fresh ideas from graduates can drive positive change in the industry.
• There are various paths within the agriculture industry, beyond crops and livestock, including finance and technology.
• Networking and mentorship are crucial in career development.
• The Rabobank graduate program is a valuable opportunity for aspiring professionals.

chapters

00:00 Introduction and Career Path in Agribanking

06:17 The Value of Graduate Programs in Agribusiness

08:30 The Rabo Difference: What Sets Rabobank Apart

09:47 Opportunities in Agriculture for Future Generations

Find out more about the 2026 Rabo Graduate Program and get cracking as applications close 18th August!

This episode of Humans of Agriculture is brought to you by our Partners at Rabobank Australia.

You can hear more stories of Humans of Agriculture here.

If you enjoyed this chat with Tim, share with a friend and let us know your thoughts at hello@humansofagriculture.com. Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and leave a review!

RAS Rural Achiever
Applications are now open for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s 2026 Rural Achiever Award. If you’re in your 20s, making an impact in Aussie ag and your community, this is a HUGE opportunity. Eight finalists will head to the Sydney Royal Easter Show for a jam packed eight days — from Professional Development and Government House, to networking with the movers and shakers in agriculture, plus a share in $17,000 prize money. Entries close Friday 29th August and this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on — head to RASNSW.com.au and throw your hat in the ring