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
-
Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI) – Digital analytics for yield forecasting and decision tools for grain growers (GRDC)
-
CropVision – Satellite remote sensing and AI for field-scale crop production forecasting (ARC Linkage)
-
RiskSSmart – Integration of Earth observation and climate models for sorghum risk mitigation (SmartSat CRC)
-
Root Phenomics – Linking above-ground sensing to root system architecture to accelerate phenotyping of drought-tolerant cereals (GRDC; Chief Investigator)
-
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
-
Late Maturity Alpha Amylase (LMA) Risk Modelling – National-scale risk prediction framework for wheat quality (GRDC)
-
CropPhen – High-throughput phenotyping for crop type and growth stage detection via drone/UAV (GRDC)
-
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
-
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.
-
My seasonal yield forecasting models have been adopted by the Queensland Government and informed policy and logistics planning.
-
Statistics Canada built their national crop forecasting system using frameworks I co-developed, showing international uptake.
-
I co-developed YieldShield™, Australia’s first climate-based crop insurance product, which helped farmers manage drought risk.
-
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
-
Economic impact: My tools improve supply chain planning, reduce crop losses, and inform commodity trading and insurance.
-
Environmental impact: Precision monitoring enables more efficient fertiliser use, reducing runoff and environmental harm.
-
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
2005
Journal Article
Three putative types of El Nino revealed by spatial variability in impact on Australian wheat yield
Potgieter, A. B., Hammer, G. L., Meinke, H., Stone, R. C. and Goddard, L. (2005). Three putative types of El Nino revealed by spatial variability in impact on Australian wheat yield. Journal Of Climate, 18 (10), 1566-1574. doi: 10.1175/JCLI3349.1
2005
Journal Article
Rainfall variability at decadal and longer time scales: signal or noise?
Meinke, H., deVoil, P., Hammer, G. L., Power, S., Allan, R., Stone, R. C., Folland, C. and Potgieter, A. (2005). Rainfall variability at decadal and longer time scales: signal or noise?. Journal of Climate, 18 (1), 89-96. doi: 10.1175/JCLI-3263.1
2005
Conference Publication
Spying on the winter wheat crop - generating objective planted area and crop production estimates using modis imagery
Potgieter, A., Apan, A., Hammer, G. L. and Dunn, P. (2005). Spying on the winter wheat crop - generating objective planted area and crop production estimates using modis imagery. National Biennial Conference of the Spatial Sciences Institute, Melbourne, Vic, September 2005. Melbourne: Spatial Sciences Institute.
2005
Journal Article
A simple regional-scale model for forecasting sorghum yield across North-Eastern Australia
Potgieter, A. B., Hammer, G. L., Doherty, A. and de Voil, P. (2005). A simple regional-scale model for forecasting sorghum yield across North-Eastern Australia. Agricultural And Forest Meteorology, 132 (1-2), 143-153. doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2005.07.009
2004
Journal Article
Using a general circulation model to forecast regional wheat yields in northeast Australia
Hansen, James W., Potgieter, Andries and Tippett, Michael K. (2004). Using a general circulation model to forecast regional wheat yields in northeast Australia. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 127 (1-2), 77-92. doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2004.07.005
2004
Conference Publication
Likely impact of climate change on wheat and sorghum production in central Queensland
Potgieter, Andries, Meinke, Holger and Doherty, Alastair (2004). Likely impact of climate change on wheat and sorghum production in central Queensland. The 4th International Crop Science Congress, Brisbane Australia, 26 September – 1 October 2004. Madison, WI United States: Crop Science Society of America.
2003
Journal Article
On measuring quality of a probabilistic commodity forecast for a system that incorporates seasonal climate forecasts
Potgieter, AB, Everingham, YL and Hammer, GL (2003). On measuring quality of a probabilistic commodity forecast for a system that incorporates seasonal climate forecasts. International Journal of Climatology, 23 (10), 1195-1210. doi: 10.1002/joc.932
2003
Conference Publication
The reliability of supply of feed grains in the northern region
Hammer, G. L., Potgieter, A. and Strahan, R. (2003). The reliability of supply of feed grains in the northern region. Versatile Maize - Golden Opportunities, City Golf Club, Toowoomba, 18-20 February, 2003. Dartlington Point, NSW: Maize Association of Australia.
2002
Journal Article
Spatial and temporal patterns in Australian wheat yield and their relationship with ENSO
Potgieter, AB, Hammer, GL and Butler, D (2002). Spatial and temporal patterns in Australian wheat yield and their relationship with ENSO. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 53 (1), 77-89. doi: 10.1071/AR01002
2001
Conference Publication
Understanding climate variability to improve agricultural decision making
Meinke, H., Pollock, K., Hammer, G. L., Wang, E., Stone, R.C., Potgieter, A. and Howden, M. E. (2001). Understanding climate variability to improve agricultural decision making. Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, January, 2001. Australia: Australian Agronomy Society.
2001
Journal Article
Advances in application of climate prediction in agriculture
Hammer, GL, Hansen, JW, Phillips, JG, Mjelde, JW, Hill, H, Love, A and Potgieter, A (2001). Advances in application of climate prediction in agriculture. Agricultural Systems, 70 (2-3), 515-553. doi: 10.1016/S0308-521X(01)00058-0
1998
Journal Article
Framework for forecasting the extent and severity of drought in maize in the Free State Province of South Africa
de Jager, J.M., Potgieter, A.B. and van den Berg, W.J. (1998). Framework for forecasting the extent and severity of drought in maize in the Free State Province of South Africa. Agricultural Systems, 57 (3), 351-365. doi: 10.1016/S0308-521X(98)00023-7
1997
Journal Article
A technique to evaluate ENSO-based maize production strategies
Singels, A. and Potgieter, A. B. (1997). A technique to evaluate ENSO-based maize production strategies. South African Journal of Plant and Soil, 14 (3), 93-97. doi: 10.1080/02571862.1997.10635088
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Andries Potgieter is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating biomass and radiation-use-efficiency in wheat variety trials using unmanned aerial vehicles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman
-
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
-
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
-
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
For media enquiries about Associate Professor Andries Potgieter's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: