Overview
- Emerging researcher recognised: Amelia Sofra has been named the 2026 AgriFutures Gary Sansom Scholar, recognising her commitment to applied, industry‑relevant research that supports the long‑term success of Australia's chicken meat industry.
- Research with practical impact: Amelia's PhD research focuses on broiler breeder management, exploring feed and early‑life management approaches that support bird welfare, productivity and resilience across commercial production systems.
- Supporting industry priorities: Awarded at the 2026 PIX Conference, the Gary Sansom Scholarship continues to build a strong pipeline of future leaders whose work aligns closely with industry needs and continuous improvement across the chicken meat sector.
Emerging animal welfare researcher Amelia Sofra has been named the 2026 AgriFutures Gary Sansom Scholarship recipient, with her PhD research focused on advancing management approaches that support the welfare, productivity and sustainability of Australia's chicken meat industry.
Amelia was awarded the scholarship yesterday at the 2026 PIX Conference, joining a growing cohort of Gary Sansom Scholars recognised for their commitment to applied, industry‑relevant research that strengthens the chicken meat sector.
Broiler breeder management balances bird health, productivity and long‑term performance.
Feed management strategies are central to maintaining optimal body condition and supporting reproductive efficiency, while ongoing research continues to explore opportunities to further enhance bird wellbeing and resilience across production systems.
"Broiler breeders play a critical role in Australia's chicken meat industry, and my research focuses on how nutrition and early‑life experiences can further strengthen bird resilience across their lifetime," Amelia said.
"By understanding how birds respond to different early‑life management strategies, we can continue to optimise outcomes that support both welfare and productivity."
Amelia's PhD will investigate how early‑life nutrition and environmental complexity influence resilience, behaviour, and production outcomes in broiler breeder hens, as well as outcomes in their progeny. Her work aims to identify innovative, evidence‑based strategies that help optimise bird performance within modern production systems.
"Supporting bird resilience early in life helps maximise biological efficiency over time," she said.
"When birds can direct energy toward growth, immunity and reproduction, it contributes to strong welfare and productivity outcomes."
A staged, industry‑connected research approach
Amelia's PhD will be delivered across three stages, designed to ensure outcomes are scientifically robust and directly relevant to industry.
Stage one will examine the effects of dietary fibre inclusion and early‑life environmental complexity from hatch through to 37 weeks of age. This stage will assess impacts on behaviour, welfare indicators, growth and production to identify conditions that optimise lifelong performance.
Stage two will explore intergenerational effects, assessing the broiler progeny of birds from stage one to evaluate impacts on liveability, behaviour and production outcomes.
Stage three will validate the most effective strategies in a commercial production setting, delivered through an extended industry trial to ensure outcomes are practical, scalable and aligned with commercial requirements.
"The Gary Sansom Scholarship will allow me to work closely with industry to ensure the research translates into practical outcomes on farm," Amelia said.
"It provides an invaluable opportunity to connect experimental research with commercial realities and support continuous improvement across the sector."
Delivering outcomes for industry and the community
Amelia's research will enhance understanding of broiler breeder welfare, physiology and nutrition across both experimental and commercial systems. Expected outcomes include improved behavioural outcomes, strong reproductive performance, robust immunity and efficient productivity.
By supporting birds to perform optimally throughout life, the research contributes to a productive and efficient chicken meat industry that continues to meet expectations for ethically produced food while making best use of resources.
