Overview
- AgriFutures Australia has announced the 2026 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship cohort, welcoming 18 high performing university students who are building the skills, networks and industry understanding required to support the long term success of Australian agriculture.
- The AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship supports students in the final two years of a full-time undergraduate degree at an Australian university, helping ensure Australian agriculture has access to a capable, future focused pipeline of talent.
- Each Scholar recieves a bursary of $5,000 per year, tailored professional development workshops, annual industry placement and opportunities to build networks.
AgriFutures Australia has announced the 2026 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship cohort, welcoming 18 high‑performing university students who are building the skills, networks and industry understanding required to support the long‑term success of Australian agriculture.
The AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship supports students in the final two years of a full-time undergraduate degree at an Australian university, helping ensure Australian agriculture has access to a capable, future focused pipeline of talent.
Since its inception in 2010, the Horizon Scholarship Program has supported more than 259 students and played a key role in addressing workforce challenges across the sector, with several scholars going on to start their own ventures.
Backed by industry sponsors, the scholarship focuses on translating study into impact by strengthening leadership capability, fostering innovation and aligning graduate skills with real workforce needs. Through practical experience and industry connection, the program contributes to the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australia's rural industries.
Each Horizon Scholar receives:
- a bursary of $5,000 per year
- tailored professional development workshops
- an annual industry placement aligned with their field of study and sponsor sector
- opportunities to build networks through national events and industry connections.
The 2026 cohort reflects the diversity and complexity of modern agriculture, with scholars studying across grains, fibres, horticulture, poultry, aquaculture, livestock, marine bioproducts, agricultural economics, plant and soil science, genetics, veterinary science, and emerging areas such as agtech and sustainable production systems.
Skills that matter
AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, Brianna Casey AM, said the 2026 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship cohort reflects the strength of emerging leaders stepping into Australia's rural industries.
"The AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship is a long-term investment in people, building the capability, leadership and industry connection to support strong and sustainable sectors," Ms Casey said.
"These scholars are developing the skills that matter, but just as importantly, they are building relationships with industry that will carry through their careers. That connection ensures their knowledge is applied on farm, in businesses and across supply chains."
"It's this combination of capacity building and connection that underpins the long-term success of our rural industries and the communities that support them." Ms Casey said.
For 2025 scholar Marcus Attard, the scholarship highlighted the breadth of careers supporting Australian farming systems.
"Learning directly from agronomists, researchers and growers in the Riverina was invaluable," Marcus said.
"It showed how many different skills, across engineering, technology and research, sit behind productive and resilient agriculture."
Fellow scholar Grace Hoey said industry placements provided real‑world insight into how research is applied across diverse production environments.
"Completing a placement in Western Australia showed how climate and soil variability shape on‑farm decision‑making," Grace said.
"It reinforced the value of practical, sustainable solutions that are grounded in industry needs."
The 2026 AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship cohort is supported by AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program, AgriFutures Emerging Industries Program, Australian Eggs, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Hort Innovation, Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre and Meat & Livestock Australia
The Scholarship sponsors help scholars gain meaningful experience that aligns with sector priorities and workforce demands, while building connections that support long‑term industry capability.
About AgriFutures Australia
AgriFutures Australia is the trading name for the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC), a statutory authority of the Federal Government established by the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989.
AgriFutures invests in research, innovation and leadership to grow the long-term prosperity of Australian agriculture. We support 13 levied industries driving growth through targeted research, development and extension that strengthens industry productivity, sustainability and competitiveness.
AgriFutures also delivers national programs that address industry-wide challenges and opportunities, connects global agrifood innovation networks, and builds leadership across the agricultural sector.
Research investments made or managed by AgriFutures Australia, and publications and communication materials pertaining to those investments, are funded by industry levy payers and/or the Federal Government.
