CSIRO scientist Dr Rick Llewellyn has received the 2026 Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Seed of Light – South award for his contribution to the grains industry.
GRDC's Seed of Light award recognises outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to communicating research outcomes to grain growers and others working across the grains industry.
Dr Llewellyn was presented the prestigious award at the GRDC Grains Research Update in Adelaide by GRDC Southern Panel Chair and Victorian grain grower Andrew Russell.
From left to right in photo: Nigel Hart (GRDC Managing Director); Andrew Russell (GRDC Southern Panel Chair); Dr Rick Llewellyn (CSIRO, 2026 GRDC Seed of Light - South recipient); Sharon Starick (GRDC Board Chair). Photo: GRDC
"Dr Llewellyn is one of those people whose name is synonymous with agricultural research and the movers and shakers of the southern region," said Mr Russell.
"The best researchers know how to communicate with growers – and that is Rick. He knows how to do the science, and he knows how to get a message across to growers without diluting the information.
Dr Llewellyn has been awarded the GRDC Seed of Light – South for his commitment and brilliance in engaging with growers, building extension expertise and sharing the results of his own research with growers. Whether you know him or not, you know his name – his legacy is huge – and he still has so much to give.
At CSIRO, Dr Rick Llewellyn is Senior Principal Research Scientist (Agricultural Systems). His research spans farming systems, weed and herbicide resistance management, strategies for technology adoption and agricultural economics. His research into cropping and mixed farming has helped grain growers improve their farming systems.
Dr Llewellyn has led and worked on multiple projects in which GRDC has invested, including the development and delivery of the widely used ADOPT model. ADOPT is a web-based tool designed to help researchers understand, evaluate and predict the likely level of adoption and spread of specific agricultural innovations. The tool has boosted the uptake of innovations by grain growers by improving how researchers think and plan extension.
Currently Dr Llewellyn co-leads GRDC's national risk management initiative RiskWi$e with Dr Lindsay Bell. His contribution has been central in coordinating dozens of partners Australia-wide. Using a participatory action research approach, RiskWi$e aims to improve risk and return outcomes for Australian grain growers by supporting better on-farm decision-making.
Dr Llewellyn has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Adelaide. Before starting his PhD in agricultural economics at the University of Western Australia, he worked in Cummins, South Australia, as a Landcare Officer. While there he supported the Focus Fields program – a grower-driven program that helped CSIRO (and the Cooperative Research Centre for Soils) bring the latest research directly to growers.
He has remained highly engaged across the industry working to support many organisations and initiatives. This includes as scientific advisor on the Board of Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc.; member of the GRDC Regional Cropping Solutions Network (2012-2016); GRDC Grains Weeds Advisory Committee (2016-current); Department of Agriculture Smart Farms Advisory Panel (2018-20) and Editorial Advisory Board member for Agricultural Systems (2020-current).
He has also worked in several international projects in the Philippines, Thailand and India in research supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
GRDC award recipients for the southern region are selected by the GRDC Southern Panel.
