Overview
Background
Professor Andries B. Potgieter is a Principal Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), University of Queensland, and an international leader in Digital Agriculture. With a career spanning over 35 years across government, industry, and academia, his research integrates remote sensing, climate forecasting, and crop–climate modelling to support resilient, data-driven decision-making in agriculture. He is currently a key research collaborator in the $36 million GRDC-funded Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI) initiative, where he leads digital analytics activities within UQ.
Professor Potgieter’s work focuses on developing predictive tools that combine satellite Earth observation, machine learning, and crop simulation to improve seasonal forecasting, crop monitoring, and risk management. He has pioneered widely adopted innovations such as the CropID tool, now commercialised via Data Farming Pty Ltd, and his models have influenced decision frameworks at Statistics Canada and the FAO. His 114 peer-reviewed publications have accrued over 4,000 citations, and his Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) places him in the top 5% of researchers globally.
He has built a thriving interdisciplinary research program and mentoring pipeline, supervising PhD, Masters, and MoDS students, and supporting postdoctoral researchers who now work at AWS, Sugar Research Australia, and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His leadership in global partnerships has positioned UQ as a preferred academic collaborator for international institutions tackling climate-smart agriculture.
Current projects
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Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI) – Digital analytics for yield forecasting and decision tools for grain growers (GRDC)
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CropVision – Satellite remote sensing and AI for field-scale crop production forecasting (ARC Linkage)
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RiskSSmart – Integration of Earth observation and climate models for sorghum risk mitigation (SmartSat CRC)
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Root Phenomics – Linking above-ground sensing to root system architecture to accelerate phenotyping of drought-tolerant cereals (GRDC; Chief Investigator)
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ARC Training Centre for Predictive Breeding in Agricultural Futures – Developing next-generation tools and training pathways for climate-resilient crop improvement (ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres; Collaborating Investigator)
Previous research highlights
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Late Maturity Alpha Amylase (LMA) Risk Modelling – National-scale risk prediction framework for wheat quality (GRDC)
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CropPhen – High-throughput phenotyping for crop type and growth stage detection via drone/UAV (GRDC)
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SIMLESA and YieldShield – Groundbreaking work in food insecurity mapping and climate risk insurance across eastern and southern Africa
Availability
- Associate Professor Andries Potgieter is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Southern Queensland
Research impacts
Transforming agricultural decision-making through digital tools My research has led to practical innovations that help farmers, government agencies, and agribusinesses make better decisions under climate uncertainty. By combining satellite imagery, climate data, and artificial intelligence, I have created tools that support crop forecasting, risk assessment, and sustainable farming practices at local, national, and global levels.
Real-world outcomes
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CropID, a remote sensing tool developed through my research, has been commercialised by Data Farming Pty Ltd and is now used across Australia to map and monitor crops—helping reduce fertiliser waste and improve land management.
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My seasonal yield forecasting models have been adopted by the Queensland Government and informed policy and logistics planning.
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Statistics Canada built their national crop forecasting system using frameworks I co-developed, showing international uptake.
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I co-developed YieldShield™, Australia’s first climate-based crop insurance product, which helped farmers manage drought risk.
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In 2024–2025, I was contracted by the FAO to adapt these models for use in low-income countries, supporting food security initiatives in Africa and Latin America.
Broader benefits
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Economic impact: My tools improve supply chain planning, reduce crop losses, and inform commodity trading and insurance.
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Environmental impact: Precision monitoring enables more efficient fertiliser use, reducing runoff and environmental harm.
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Social impact: My training and mentoring of students and early-career researchers builds long-term capability in digital agriculture, both in Australia and internationally.
Works
Search Professor Andries Potgieter’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Unmanned aerial vehicle phenotyping of agronomic and physiological traits in mungbean
Van Haeften, Shanice, Smith, Daniel, Robinson, Hannah, Dudley, Caitlin, Kang, Yichen, Douglas, Colin A., Hickey, Lee T., Potgieter, Andries, Chapman, Scott and Smith, Millicent R. (2025). Unmanned aerial vehicle phenotyping of agronomic and physiological traits in mungbean. The Plant Phenome Journal, 8 (1) e70016, 1-18. doi: 10.1002/ppj2.70016
2025
Journal Article
Multimodal sequential cross-modal transformer for predicting plant available water capacity (PAWC) from time series of weather and crop biological data
Nguyen, Dung, de Voil, Peter, Potgieter, Andries, Dang, Yash P., Orton, Thomas G., Nguyen, Duc Thanh, Nguyen, Thanh Thi and Chapman, Scott C. (2025). Multimodal sequential cross-modal transformer for predicting plant available water capacity (PAWC) from time series of weather and crop biological data. Agricultural Water Management, 307 109124, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109124
2024
Journal Article
Prediction accuracy and repeatability of UAV based biomass estimation in wheat variety trials as affected by variable type, modelling strategy and sampling location
Smith, Daniel T. L., Chen, Qiaomin, Massey-Reed, Sean Reynolds, Potgieter, Andries B. and Chapman, Scott C. (2024). Prediction accuracy and repeatability of UAV based biomass estimation in wheat variety trials as affected by variable type, modelling strategy and sampling location. Plant Methods, 20 (1) 129, 129. doi: 10.1186/s13007-024-01236-w
2024
Journal Article
Estimating aboveground biomass dynamics of wheat at small spatial scale by integrating crop growth and radiative transfer models with satellite remote sensing data
Hu, Pengcheng, Zheng, Bangyou, Chen, Qiaomin, Grunefeld, Swaantje, Choudhury, Malini Roy, Fernandez, Javier, Potgieter, Andries and Chapman, Scott C. (2024). Estimating aboveground biomass dynamics of wheat at small spatial scale by integrating crop growth and radiative transfer models with satellite remote sensing data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 311 114277, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2024.114277
2024
Journal Article
Mapping quantitative trait loci for seminal root angle in a selected durum wheat population
Kang, Yichen, Alahmad, Samir, Haeften, Shanice V., Akinlade, Oluwaseun, Tong, Jingyang, Dinglasan, Eric, Voss‐Fels, Kai P., Potgieter, Andries B., Borrell, Andrew K., Makhoul, Manar, Obermeier, Christian, Snowdon, Rod, Mace, Emma, Jordan, David R. and Hickey, Lee T. (2024). Mapping quantitative trait loci for seminal root angle in a selected durum wheat population. The Plant Genome, 18 (1) e20490, e20490. doi: 10.1002/tpg2.20490
2024
Conference Publication
Insights in the ability of high-resolution narrow band multispectral and thermal sensors to estimate cotton production in Australia
Devoto, F., Reynolds-Massey-Reed, S., Segura, Pinzon C., Bell, M., Mclaren, T., Awale, R., Camino, C., Bange, M., Woodgate, W., Chapman, S. and Potgieter, A. B. (2024). Insights in the ability of high-resolution narrow band multispectral and thermal sensors to estimate cotton production in Australia. 2024 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Athens, Greece, 7-12 July 2024. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/igarss53475.2024.10642663
2024
Journal Article
Seminal root angle is associated with root system architecture in durum wheat
Kang, Yichen, Rambla, Charlotte, Haeften, Shanice V., Fu, Brendan, Akinlade, Oluwaseun, Potgieter, Andries B., Borrell, Andrew K., Mace, Emma, Jordan, David R., Alahmad, Samir and Hickey, Lee T. (2024). Seminal root angle is associated with root system architecture in durum wheat. Food and Energy Security, 13 (4) e570. doi: 10.1002/fes3.570
2024
Journal Article
Seasonal dynamics of fallow and cropping lands in the broadacre cropping region of Australia
Xie, Zunyi, Zhao, Yan, Jiang, Ruizhu, Zhang, Miao, Hammer, Graeme, Chapman, Scott, Brider, Jason and Potgieter, Andries B. (2024). Seasonal dynamics of fallow and cropping lands in the broadacre cropping region of Australia. Remote Sensing of Environment, 305 114070, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2024.114070
2024
Journal Article
Fusarium wilt constrains mungbean yield due to reduction in source availability
Van Haeften, Shanice, Kang, Yichen, Dudley, Caitlin, Potgieter, Andries, Robinson, Hannah, Dinglasan, Eric, Wenham, Kylie, Noble, Thomas, Kelly, Lisa, Douglas, Colin A, Hickey, Lee and Smith, Millicent R (2024). Fusarium wilt constrains mungbean yield due to reduction in source availability. AoB Plants, 16 (2) plae021, plae021. doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plae021
2023
Journal Article
Featured cover
Van Haeften, Shanice, Dudley, Caitlin, Kang, Yichen, Smith, Daniel, Nair, Ramakrishnan M., Douglas, Colin A., Potgieter, Andries, Robinson, Hannah, Hickey, Lee T. and Smith, Millicent R. (2023). Featured cover. Food and Energy Security, 12 (6). doi: 10.1002/fes3.516
2023
Conference Publication
Advances in the study of biochemical, morphological and physiological traits of wheat and sorghum crops in australia using hyperspectral data and machine learning
Potgieter, A. B., Camino, C., Poblete, T., Zhi, X., Reynolds-Massey-Reed, S., Zhao, Y., Belwalkar, A., Ruizhu, J., George-Jaeggli, B., Chapman, S., Jordan, D., Wu, A., Hammer, G. L. and J, Zarco-Tejada P. (2023). Advances in the study of biochemical, morphological and physiological traits of wheat and sorghum crops in australia using hyperspectral data and machine learning. 2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Pasadena, CA USA, 16-21 July 2023. Piscataway, NJ USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/igarss52108.2023.10282230
2023
Book Chapter
Modelling the impact of climate change on agriculture in Australia and Oceania
Wang, Enli, Teixeira, Edmar, Zheng, Bangyou, Hughes, Neal, Chenu, Karine, Hunt, James, Ghahramani, Afshin, Potgieter, Andries B., Zhu, Junqi, Cichota, Rogerio and Huth, Neil (2023). Modelling the impact of climate change on agriculture in Australia and Oceania. Modelling climate change impacts on agricultural systems. (pp. 481-540) edited by Claas Nendel. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. doi: 10.19103/as.2022.0115.17
2023
Conference Publication
Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes
Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Global Sorghum Conference Sorghum in the 21st Century, Montpellier, France, 5-9 June 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Environment characterisation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) crops using climate, satellite imagery, and crop simulation modelling in Australia
Javier A. Fernandez, Hu, Pengcheng, Chen, Zhi, Gho Brito, Carla, Segura Pinzon, Camilo, Chen, Qiaomin, Smith, Daniel, Arief, Vivi, Zheng, Bangyou, Potgieter, Andries, Zhao, Yan, Ramakers, Jip, Hemerik, Jesse, van Eeuwijk, Fred and Chapman, Scott C. (2023). Environment characterisation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) crops using climate, satellite imagery, and crop simulation modelling in Australia. Global Sorghum Conference, Montpellier, France, 5-9 June 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Building a better Mungbean: breeding for reproductive resilience in a changing climate
Van Haeften, Shanice, Dudley, Caitlin, Kang, Yichen, Smith, Daniel, Nair, Ramakrishnan M., Douglas, Colin A., Potgieter, Andries, Robinson, Hannah, Hickey, Lee T. and Smith, Millicent R. (2023). Building a better Mungbean: breeding for reproductive resilience in a changing climate. Food and Energy Security, 12 (6) e467. doi: 10.1002/fes3.467
2023
Conference Publication
Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes
Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Reed, Sean, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13-15 March 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Understanding the genetics of mungbean senescence behaviour using longitudinal UAV data
Van Haeften, Shanice, Kang, Yichen, Douglas, Colin, Dudley, Caitlin, Ryan, Merrill, Smith, Millicent, Chapman, Scott, Robinson, Hannah, Potgieter, Andries and Hickey, Lee (2023). Understanding the genetics of mungbean senescence behaviour using longitudinal UAV data. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13-15 March 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Physiological insight to improve mungbean productivity
Smith, Millicent, Van Haeften, Shanice, Dudley, Caitlin, Kohl, Theresa, Douglas, Colin, Ryan, Merrill, Potgieter, Andries, Chapman, Scott, Robinson, Hannah, Dinglasan, Eric and Hickey, Lee (2023). Physiological insight to improve mungbean productivity. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13-15 March 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Using digital photography to monitor changes in biocrusts and ground cover in a savanna rangeland
Myint Swe, Than, Williams, Wendy J., Schmidt, Susanne, Potgieter, Andries, Cowley, Robyn, Mellor, Vincent, Driscoll, Colin and Zhao, Yan (2023). Using digital photography to monitor changes in biocrusts and ground cover in a savanna rangeland. The Rangeland Journal, 44 (6), 263-278. doi: 10.1071/rj22019
2023
Other Outputs
LMA Risk maps at Shire scale
Armstrong, Robert, Potgieter, Andries, Brider, Jason and Hammer, Graeme (2023). LMA Risk maps at Shire scale. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/1774e6f
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Andries Potgieter is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Insights into the associations between functional above ground plant traits and root function for drought adaptation in sorghum.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Dr Barbara George-Jaeggli, Dr Samir Alahmad, Dr Dongxue Zhao
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Doctor Philosophy
Determining the effects of abiotic stress on crop growth development, and yield under different nitrogen applications using remotely sensed data for cotton and wheat.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman, Dr William Woodgate
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Doctor Philosophy
On-ground management of soil nutrients by integrating proximal and remote sensing platforms in northern Australian savannas grazing lands
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yan Zhao, Professor Susanne Schmidt
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
New insight and tools to increase yield potential and reliability in mungbean
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Hannah Robinson, Dr Millicent Smith
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating biomass and radiation-use-efficiency in wheat variety trials using unmanned aerial vehicles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into designer root systems for durum wheat improvement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Emma Mace, Dr Samir Alahmad, Professor Lee Hickey
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2023
Master Philosophy
Crop sensing as a tool to assist data collection in maize agronomic trials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Joe Eyre, Professor Daniel Rodriguez
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Hyperspectral sensing methods and genome-wide association studies to improve photosynthetic capacity in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Graeme Hammer, Dr Alex Wu, Dr Barbara George-Jaeggli
Media
Enquiries
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