Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Professor Daniel Rodriguez
Professor

Daniel Rodriguez

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 535 15091

Overview

Background

My research is focused on exploring the functioning of agricultural systems. My projects are often carried out in multidisciplinary teams and with the participation of multiple stakeholders e.g. farmers, private consultants, agribusinesses, policy. My aims are to understand how people make decisions and act, how those decisions can be informed, and how the final actions affect the performance of crops, animals, farm businesses, the broader environment and the social and food systems. I also provide science leadership to a multidisciplinary team of crop physiologists, agronomists, modellers and socio-economists i.e. QAAFI Farming Systems Research Group. The key mission of this group is to identify pathways for the sustainable intensification of agriculture in Australia and in low-income countries.

Availability

Professor Daniel Rodriguez is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Qualifications

  • Masters (Research) of Science, Wageningen University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Wageningen University

Research interests

  • Risk management in agriculture

    My research is focused on exploring the functioning of agricultural systems. My projects are often carried out in multidisciplinary teams and with the participation of multiple stakeholders e.g. farmers, private consultants, agribusinesses, policy. This presents unique challenges, including longer lead times to publication compared to disciplinary research. My aims are to understand how people make decisions and act, how those decisions can be informed, and how the final actions affect the performance of crops, animals, farm businesses, the broader environment and the social and food systems.

Research impacts

Evidence of his impact include, the development of whole farm simulation capacity within the APSIM model, which lead to UQ’s participation in a $40M project, resulting in the increased food security of 240,000 smallholder farmers in Africa; the production of evidence on how improved crop designs could deliver large profit gains (~$140 ha-1year-1) in Queensland’s 600,000 ha sorghum industry; and the identification of farm business designs that are more profitable, sustainable and resilient in face of increasing climate variability and change. He achieved this in partnerships with farmers, National and International donors and the private sector. His leadership in research is also evidenced by receiving 5 invitations as a keynote speaker at international conferences in the last 5 years. He annually present at industry forums, and he is active with government groups in the translation of his research into industry practice; and in informing policy. Prof Rodriguez leads and mentors a team of 5 full time researchers. He has successfully graduated 6 PhD students since starting at the University of Queensland in 2010, and mentored multiple Honours, MSc and MPhil students in collaboration with UQ Schools. He is presently the President of the Australian Society of Agronomy (2019-21) and organiser of the Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba October 2021. Prof Rodriguez was member of the Local Confirmation and Promotions Committee at UQ’s Faculty of Science (2014-2016); he is member of the College of Experts at UQ’s Global Change Institute; he was Editor-in-Chief of Agricultural Systems 2013-2018 (IF 3.19); he is member of the Editorial Board of Agricultural Systems, and Associate Editor of Field Crops Research; he is one of the permanent organisers of the International Symposium for Farming Systems Design since 2009, the Global Food Security Conference in 2015 and 2017, and the World Congress on Conservation Agriculture in 2011; and organiser of the 2021 Australian Agronomy Conference in Toowoomba Queensland.

Works

Search Professor Daniel Rodriguez’s works on UQ eSpace

114 works between 1993 and 2025

1 - 20 of 114 works

Featured

2024

Journal Article

Agronomic adaptations to heat stress: Sowing summer crops earlier

Rodriguez, Daniel, Serafin, Loretta, de Voil, Peter, Mumford, El, Zhao, Dongxue, Aisthorpe, Darren, Auer, Jane, Broad, Ian, Eyre, Joe and Hellyer, Mark (2024). Agronomic adaptations to heat stress: Sowing summer crops earlier. Field Crops Research, 318 109592, 109592. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109592

Agronomic adaptations to heat stress: Sowing summer crops earlier

Featured

2024

Journal Article

Sowing summer grain crops early in late winter or spring: effects on root growth, water use, and yield

Zhao, Dongxue, deVoil, Peter, Rognoni, Bethany G., Wilkus, Erin, Eyre, Joseph X., Broad, Ian and Rodriguez, Daniel (2024). Sowing summer grain crops early in late winter or spring: effects on root growth, water use, and yield. Plant and Soil, 504 (1-2), 625-642. doi: 10.1007/s11104-024-06648-0

Sowing summer grain crops early in late winter or spring: effects on root growth, water use, and yield

Featured

2023

Journal Article

A framework for the assessment of farm diversification options in broadacre agriculture

Adhikari, Lipy, Komarek, Adam M., de Voil, Peter and Rodriguez, Daniel (2023). A framework for the assessment of farm diversification options in broadacre agriculture. Agricultural Systems, 210 103724, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103724

A framework for the assessment of farm diversification options in broadacre agriculture

Featured

2022

Journal Article

3D characterization of crop water use and the rooting system in field agronomic research

Zhao, Dongxue, Eyre, Joseph X., Wilkus, Erin, de Voil, Peter, Broad, Ian and Rodriguez, Daniel (2022). 3D characterization of crop water use and the rooting system in field agronomic research. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 202 107409, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2022.107409

3D characterization of crop water use and the rooting system in field agronomic research

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Untangling genotype x management interactions in multi-environment on-farm experimentation

Rotili, Diego Hernán, de Voil, Peter, Eyre, Joseph, Serafin, Loretta, Aisthorpe, Darren, Maddonni, Gustavo Ángel and Rodríguez, Daniel (2020). Untangling genotype x management interactions in multi-environment on-farm experimentation. Field Crops Research, 255 107900, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107900

Untangling genotype x management interactions in multi-environment on-farm experimentation

Featured

2019

Journal Article

Understanding the diversity in yield potential and stability among commercial sorghum hybrids can inform crop designs

Clarke, S.J., McLean, J., George-Jaeggli, B., McLean, G., de Voil, P., Eyre, J.X. and Rodriguez, D. (2019). Understanding the diversity in yield potential and stability among commercial sorghum hybrids can inform crop designs. Field Crops Research, 230, 84-97. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2018.10.010

Understanding the diversity in yield potential and stability among commercial sorghum hybrids can inform crop designs

Featured

2018

Journal Article

Predicting optimum crop designs using crop models and seasonal climate forecasts

Rodriguez, D., deVoil, P., Hudson, D., Brown, J. N., Hayman, P., Marrou, H. and Meinke, H. (2018). Predicting optimum crop designs using crop models and seasonal climate forecasts. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 2231, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20628-2

Predicting optimum crop designs using crop models and seasonal climate forecasts

Featured

2017

Journal Article

To mulch or to munch? Big modelling of big data

Rodriguez, D., de Voil, P., Rufino, M. C., Odendo, M. and van Wijk, M. T. (2017). To mulch or to munch? Big modelling of big data. Agricultural Systems, 153, 32-42. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2017.01.010

To mulch or to munch? Big modelling of big data

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Ex-ante analysis of opportunities for the sustainable intensification of maize production in Mozambique

Roxburgh, Caspar W. and Rodriguez, Daniel (2016). Ex-ante analysis of opportunities for the sustainable intensification of maize production in Mozambique. Agricultural Systems, 142, 9-22. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2015.10.010

Ex-ante analysis of opportunities for the sustainable intensification of maize production in Mozambique

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Drivers of household food availability in sub-Saharan Africa based on big data from small farms

Frelat, Romain, Lopez-Ridaura, Santiago, Giller, Ken E., Herrero, Mario, Douxchamps, Sabine, Djurfeldt, Agnes Andersson, Erenstein, Olaf, Henderson, Ben, Kassie, Menale, Paul, Birthe K., Rigolot, Cyrille, Ritzema, Randall S., Rodriguez, Daniel, van Asten, Piet J. A. and van Wijk, Mark T. (2016). Drivers of household food availability in sub-Saharan Africa based on big data from small farms. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113 (2), 458-463. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1518384112

Drivers of household food availability in sub-Saharan Africa based on big data from small farms

2025

Journal Article

Guiding cultivar choice in smallholder agriculture: Identifying suitability hotspots for maturity groups of field crops

Grewer, Uwe, de Voil, Peter, MacCarthy, Dilys S. and Rodriguez, Daniel (2025). Guiding cultivar choice in smallholder agriculture: Identifying suitability hotspots for maturity groups of field crops. Resources, Environment and Sustainability, 20 100204, 100204-20. doi: 10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100204

Guiding cultivar choice in smallholder agriculture: Identifying suitability hotspots for maturity groups of field crops

2025

Journal Article

The plasticity of root traits and their effects on crop yield and yield stability

Zhao, Dongxue, de Voil, Peter, Sadras, Victor O., Palta, Jairo A. and Rodriguez, Daniel (2025). The plasticity of root traits and their effects on crop yield and yield stability. Plant and Soil 107914, 1-16. doi: 10.1007/s11104-024-07185-6

The plasticity of root traits and their effects on crop yield and yield stability

2024

Other Outputs

Assessing Pongamia growth, seed yield and economics in Central Queensland

Shaygan, Mandana, Anzooman, Monia, McIntyre, Neil, deVoil, Peter, Rodriguez, Daniel and Lane, Joe (2024). Assessing Pongamia growth, seed yield and economics in Central Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.

Assessing Pongamia growth, seed yield and economics in Central Queensland

2024

Journal Article

Irrigation with Artificial Intelligence: Problems, Premises, Promises

Wei, Hanyu, Xu, Wen, Kang, Byeong, Eisner, Rowan, Muleke, Albert, Rodriguez, Daniel, deVoil, Peter, Sadras, Victor, Monjardino, Marta and Harrison, Matthew Tom (2024). Irrigation with Artificial Intelligence: Problems, Premises, Promises. Human-Centric Intelligent Systems, 4 (2), 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s44230-024-00072-4

Irrigation with Artificial Intelligence: Problems, Premises, Promises

2024

Journal Article

Agronomic adaptations to heat stress: sowing summer crops early in late winter

Rodriguez, Daniel, Serafin, Loretta, de Voil, Peter, Mumford, Michael, Zhao, Dongxue, Aisthorpe, Darren, Auer, Jane, Broad, Ian, Eyre, Joe and Hellyer, Mark (2024). Agronomic adaptations to heat stress: sowing summer crops early in late winter. agriRxiv, 318 109592. doi: 10.31220/agrirxiv.2024.00243

Agronomic adaptations to heat stress: sowing summer crops early in late winter

2023

Journal Article

Incorporating environmental covariates to explore genotype × environment × management (G × E × M) interactions: A one-stage predictive model

Mumford, Michael H., Forknall, Clayton R., Rodriguez, Daniel, Eyre, Joseph X. and Kelly, Alison M. (2023). Incorporating environmental covariates to explore genotype × environment × management (G × E × M) interactions: A one-stage predictive model. Field Crops Research, 304 109133, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109133

Incorporating environmental covariates to explore genotype × environment × management (G × E × M) interactions: A one-stage predictive model

2023

Other Outputs

Early sorghum 2019-2022 data set

Rodriguez, Daniel and Zhao, Dongxue (2023). Early sorghum 2019-2022 data set. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/7924c5e

Early sorghum 2019-2022 data set

2022

Journal Article

Agronomic and on-farm infrastructure adaptations to manage economic risk in Australian irrigated broadacre systems: A case study

Monjardino, Marta, Harrison, Matthew T., DeVoil, Peter, Rodriguez, Daniel and Sadras, Victor O. (2022). Agronomic and on-farm infrastructure adaptations to manage economic risk in Australian irrigated broadacre systems: A case study. Agricultural Water Management, 269 107740, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107740

Agronomic and on-farm infrastructure adaptations to manage economic risk in Australian irrigated broadacre systems: A case study

2022

Journal Article

Sustainable intensification practices reduce food deficit for the best- and worst-off households in Ethiopia and Mozambique

Wilkus, Erin Lynn, deVoil, Peter, Marenya, Paswel, Snapp, Sieg, Dixon, John and Rodriguez, Daniel (2022). Sustainable intensification practices reduce food deficit for the best- and worst-off households in Ethiopia and Mozambique. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5 649218. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2021.649218

Sustainable intensification practices reduce food deficit for the best- and worst-off households in Ethiopia and Mozambique

2021

Journal Article

Application, adoption and opportunities for improving decision support systems in irrigated agriculture: a review

Ara, Iffat, Turner, Lydia, Harrison, Matthew Tom, Monjardino, Marta, deVoil, Peter and Rodriguez, Daniel (2021). Application, adoption and opportunities for improving decision support systems in irrigated agriculture: a review. Agricultural Water Management, 257 107161, 107161. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107161

Application, adoption and opportunities for improving decision support systems in irrigated agriculture: a review

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Pathways to Net Zero in Australian and Chinese Agriculture
    National Foundation for Australia-China Relations Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Root structure and function traits: Overcoming the root phenotyping bottleneck in cereals
    PROC-9176895 Phenomics methods and tools to enable improved resource capture efficiency in grain crops
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    North Queensland cotton-grains-cattle farming systems
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Frost and Heat Management Analytics (GRDC Grant administered by CSIRO)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Matching pulse crop designs to site and expected seasonal conditions to maximise yield and profit: a crop ecophysiology approach (GRDC project administered by CSIRO).
    CSIRO
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Assessing the suitability of Pongamia trees for bioenergy and food
    Stanmore Resources Limited
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Developing methodologies for crop and farm level alignment with Australian Sustainability Frameworks
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    A proof of concept for the proximal 3D sensing of plant available water capacity
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2022
    Scoping synergies between mining and agriculture
    Sojitz Green Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    De-risking broad acre cropping options for Northern Queensland
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Optimising farm scale returns from irrigated grains: maximising dollar return per megalitre of water (GRDC project led by University of Tasmania)
    University of Tasmania
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    The adaption of pulses (Chickpea and lentil) across the northern grains region (GRDC funded project led by CSIRO)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Optimising sorghum yield through agronomic management
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018
    SIMLESA agronomy trial data exploration/analysis
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    The inside edge to master Queensland‿s drought-prone climate or graziers and croppers
    Queensland Government Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Northern Farming Systems - integrating research solutions for profitable outcomes (GRDC grant administered by CSIRO)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Prolific maize genotypes for more sustainable, risk adverse and profitable low input farming systems
    International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    High yielding cereal agronomy in the northern grains region
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Tactical crop agronomy for sorghum and maize in the northern region
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Reviving soil health using summer legumes as green manure or grain crops
    Conservation Farmers Inc
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2019
    Sustainable intensification of maize-legume cropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa - Phase II (SIMLESA-2)
    International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Africa Food Security Initiative - whole farm modelling collaboration
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Piloting a mobile phone system for the delivery of information to farmers and agribusinesses to support the sustainable intensification of maize and legume farming systems in Africa and Queensland
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Integrating crop and livestock production for improved food security and livelihoods in rural Zimbabwe (ZimLESA; ACIAR project led by ILRI)
    International Livestock Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Sustainable intensification of maize-legume cropping system for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) - Ethiopian Extension
    International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Energy resources from the food bowl: an uneasy co-existence. Identifying and measuring cumulative impacts of mining and agriculture
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Developing climate change resilient cropping and mixed cropping/grazing businesses in Australia (DAFF project led by CSIRO novated from DEEDI)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    Sustainable intensification of maize-legume cropping systems for enhancing food security in eastern and southern Africa (SIMLESA; CIMMYT-led ACIAR Project novated from DEEDI)
    International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Daniel Rodriguez is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Optimising sorghum agronomy

    Background

    Australia’s climate has warmed by about 1.4 °C since 1910, leading to an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events and the frequency and intensity of water stresses. Climate trends and ongoing climate change provide clear focus on the need to increase crop adaptation to water and heat stresses.

    Here we propose that early sowing of sorghum could increase sowing opportunities and simultaneously avoid heat and water stress at flowering in some cropping systems and locations.

    Previous research identified that early sown sorghum crops show high yield potentials with increased downside risk due to (i) poorly emerged crops when sown in cold soils, (ii) the likelihood of frost damage, and (iii) stunted growth due to lower than optimum air temperatures. However, there is no clear information on the benefits and trade-offs of the practice. Particularly there is limited information on low temperature thresholds for frost damage, cold temperature impacts on crop establishment, growth and development, water use dynamics, water use efficiency, yield potential and yield components, and the effects on subsequent crops in the cropping system for winter sown sorghum agronomic packages.

  • Matching adapted pulse genotypes with soil and climate to maximise yield and profit, with manageable risk in Australian cropping systems

    Pulses can increase profits, diversify income and increase sustainability. Megatrends in global food markets favour consumption of plant-based protein. However, significant productivity gaps remain, driven by lack of understanding of pulse physiology and agronomy. This project focuses on chickpea in Queensland, and will deliver location, soil and season-specific management options that optimise production to better enable growers to (i) attain water limited yield potential, (ii) increase profitability and (iii) reduce risk.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving the reliability and profitability of sorghum in north west NSW

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    De-risking Broadacre Cropping Options in Northern Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Adam Komarek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    De-risking the Diversification of Northern Queensland¿s Farming Systems

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Adam Komarek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Designing Farming Systems with Whole Farm Models

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Hamish McGowan, Dr Dongxue Zhao

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving the reliability and profitability of sorghum in north west NSW

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Digital technologies to Increase the Sustainability of African Livestock systems under climate risks

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Adam Komarek

  • Master Philosophy

    Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) Germination in Cold and Drying Soil

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Yash Dang, Dr Joe Eyre

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Overcoming the root phenotyping bottleneck in cereals

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Alison Kelly, Professor David Jordan, Dr Dongxue Zhao

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Professor Daniel Rodriguez's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au