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Professor Daniel Rodriguez
Professor

Daniel Rodriguez

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 535 15091

Overview

Background

Professor Dr. Rodriguez is a biophysicist trained at Wageningen University, specializing in crop ecophysiology and systems modelling to enhance adaptation in broadacre crops. His recent research focuses on trait physiology and high-throughput field phenotyping for drought tolerance in grain crops. He combines empirical research, crop modelling, and data analytics to develop more profitable, sustainable, and resilient crops and cropping systems. Dr. Rodriguez collaborates with institutions in Australia and various countries in eastern and southern Africa, Indonesia, Latin America, and China. He served as President of the Australian Society of Agronomy and organized the 2022 Australian Agronomy Conference. He has contributed to the Academic Board of the University of Queensland and its Research and Innovation Committee. Dr. Rodriguez is the founding editor-in-chief of Nature’s npj Sustainable Agriculture and serves as an Expert Advisor for the Independent Science for Development Council of CGIAR. He is also a member of the College of Experts at the University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute and sits on the Editorial Board of multiple academic journals.

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 annual invitations as a keynote speaker at international conferences. 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 full-time researchers. He has successfully graduated numerous 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 was President of the Australian Society of Agronomy (2019-22) and organiser of the Australian Agronomy Conference, Toowoomba October 2022. 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; he is member of the Editorial Board of Agricultural Systems, and was 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. He is the foundational editor in chief for Nature's journal npj Sustainable Agriculture, and serves as an Expert Advisor for the Independent Science for Development Council of CGIAR.

Works

Search Professor Daniel Rodriguez’s works on UQ eSpace

122 works between 1993 and 2025

41 - 60 of 122 works

2017

Book Chapter

Intercropping in sustainable maize cultivation

Temesgen, Abeya, Fukai, Shu and Rodriguez, Daniel (2017). Intercropping in sustainable maize cultivation. Achieving sustainable cultivation of maize - Volume 2: Cultivation techniques, pest and disease control. (pp. 203-225) edited by Dave Watson. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing.

Intercropping in sustainable maize cultivation

2017

Journal Article

Planting date and yield benefits from conservation agriculture practices across Southern Africa

Nyagumbo, Isaiah, Mkuhlani, Siyabusa, Mupangwa, Walter and Rodriguez, Daniel (2017). Planting date and yield benefits from conservation agriculture practices across Southern Africa. Agricultural Systems, 150, 21-33. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2016.09.016

Planting date and yield benefits from conservation agriculture practices across Southern Africa

2017

Conference Publication

Understanding the importance of matching sorghum hybrids and agronomy to site and seasonal conditions

Clarke, Simon J., McLean, James, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Eyre, Joseph and Rodriguez, Daniel (2017). Understanding the importance of matching sorghum hybrids and agronomy to site and seasonal conditions. 18th Australian Society of Agronomy Conference, Ballarat, VIC Australia, 24-28 September 2017. Australian Society of Agronomy.

Understanding the importance of matching sorghum hybrids and agronomy to site and seasonal conditions

2017

Book Chapter

Climate risk management in maize cropping systems

Rodriguez, Daniel, Roxburgh, Caspar, Farnsworth, Claire, Ferrante, Ariel, Eyre, Joseph, Irvine-Brown, Stuart, McLean, James and Bielich, Martin (2017). Climate risk management in maize cropping systems. Achieving sustainable cultivation of maize - Volume 2: cultivation techniques, pest and disease control. (pp. 227-245) edited by Dave Watson. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Burleigh Dodds. doi: 10.19103/AS.2016.0002.26

Climate risk management in maize cropping systems

2016

Journal Article

Interactions between the water and nitrogen economies of crops: physiological, agronomic, economic, breeding and modelling perspectives

Sadras, V. O., Hayman, P. T., Rodriguez, D., Monjardino, M., Bielich, M., Unkovich, M., Mudge, B. and Wang, E. (2016). Interactions between the water and nitrogen economies of crops: physiological, agronomic, economic, breeding and modelling perspectives. Crop and Pasture Science, 67 (10), 1019-1053. doi: 10.1071/CP16027

Interactions between the water and nitrogen economies of crops: physiological, agronomic, economic, breeding and modelling perspectives

2016

Journal Article

Interactions between intervention packages, climatic risk, climate change and food security in mixed crop-livestock systems in Burkina Faso

Rigolot, C., de Voil, P., Douxchamps, S., Prestwidge, D., Van Wijk, M., Thornton, P., Rodriguez, D., Henderson, B., Medina, D. and Herrero, M. (2016). Interactions between intervention packages, climatic risk, climate change and food security in mixed crop-livestock systems in Burkina Faso. Agricultural Systems, 151 (5), 217-224. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2015.12.017

Interactions between intervention packages, climatic risk, climate change and food security in mixed crop-livestock systems in Burkina Faso

2016

Book Chapter

Modelling dryland agricultural systems

Rodriguez, Daniel, de Voil, Peter and Power, B. (2016). Modelling dryland agricultural systems. Innovations in dryland agriculture. (pp. 239-256) edited by Muhammad Farooq and Kadambot H. M. Siddique. Cham, Switzerland: Springer . doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-47928-6_9

Modelling dryland agricultural systems

2016

Conference Publication

Updating the crop simulation model APSIM to predict yields of more specifically-adapted sorghum hybrids

Brider, Jason, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Broad, Ian, Eyre, Joseph, McLean, Greg, McLean, James, Skerman, Andrew and Rodriguez, Daniel (2016). Updating the crop simulation model APSIM to predict yields of more specifically-adapted sorghum hybrids. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 7-9 March 2016.

Updating the crop simulation model APSIM to predict yields of more specifically-adapted sorghum hybrids

2016

Journal Article

Energy from the foodbowl: associated land-use conflicts, risks and wicked problems

Everingham, Jo-Anne, Collins, Nina, Cavaye, Jim, Rifkin, Will, Vink, Sue, Baumgartl, Thomas and Rodriguez, Daniel (2016). Energy from the foodbowl: associated land-use conflicts, risks and wicked problems. Landscape and Urban Planning, 154, 68-80. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.01.011

Energy from the foodbowl: associated land-use conflicts, risks and wicked problems

2015

Journal Article

Agent-based simulation of pricing strategy for agri-products considering customer preference

Chang, Xue, Li, Jing, Rodriguez, Daniel and Su, Qun (2015). Agent-based simulation of pricing strategy for agri-products considering customer preference. International Journal of Production Research, 54 (13), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/00207543.2015.1120901

Agent-based simulation of pricing strategy for agri-products considering customer preference

2015

Journal Article

A bio-economic analysis of the benefits of conservation agriculture: the case of smallholder farmers in Adami Tulu district, Ethiopia

Tessema, Yohannis, Asafu-Adjaye, John, Rodriguez, Daniel, Mallawaarachchi, Thilak and Shiferaw, Bekele (2015). A bio-economic analysis of the benefits of conservation agriculture: the case of smallholder farmers in Adami Tulu district, Ethiopia. Ecological Economics, 120, 164-174. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.10.020

A bio-economic analysis of the benefits of conservation agriculture: the case of smallholder farmers in Adami Tulu district, Ethiopia

2015

Journal Article

Crop rotation model for contract farming with constraints on similar profits

Li, Jing, Rodriguez, Daniel, Zhang, Dongqing and Ma, Kaiping (2015). Crop rotation model for contract farming with constraints on similar profits. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 119, 12-18. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2015.10.002

Crop rotation model for contract farming with constraints on similar profits

2015

Journal Article

As the level of crop productivity increases: is there a role for intercropping in smallholder agriculture

Temesgen, Abeya, Fukai, Shu and Rodriguez, Daniel (2015). As the level of crop productivity increases: is there a role for intercropping in smallholder agriculture. Field Crops Research, 180, 155-166. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2015.06.003

As the level of crop productivity increases: is there a role for intercropping in smallholder agriculture

2015

Conference Publication

Adapting rain-fed sorghum agronomy to breeding progress - cropping system model parameterisation

George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Brider, Jason, Broad, Ian, Chenu, Karine, Eyre, Joseph, Ferrante, Ariel, McLean, Greg, McLean, James, Skerman, Andrew and Rodriguez, Daniel (2015). Adapting rain-fed sorghum agronomy to breeding progress - cropping system model parameterisation. Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 21-24 September 2015. Warragul, VIC, Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.

Adapting rain-fed sorghum agronomy to breeding progress - cropping system model parameterisation

2015

Book Chapter

Raising productivity of maize-based cropping systems in eastern and southern Africa: Step-wise intensification options

Dimes, John, Rodriguez, Daniel and Potgieter, Andries (2015). Raising productivity of maize-based cropping systems in eastern and southern Africa: Step-wise intensification options. Crop Physiology Applications for Genetic Improvement and Agronomy. (pp. 93-110) edited by Sadras, Victor O and Calderini, Daniel F. United States of America: Elsevier : Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-417104-6.00005-4

Raising productivity of maize-based cropping systems in eastern and southern Africa: Step-wise intensification options

2015

Conference Publication

High yielding wheat in the northern region: impact of nitrogen fertilisation on grain yield and quality in modern cultivars

Ferrante, Ariel, Eyre, Joseph, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, McLean, James, Chenu, Karine, deVoil, Peter, McLean, Greg and Rodriguez, Daniel (2015). High yielding wheat in the northern region: impact of nitrogen fertilisation on grain yield and quality in modern cultivars. Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 21-24 September 2015. Warragul, VIC, Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.

High yielding wheat in the northern region: impact of nitrogen fertilisation on grain yield and quality in modern cultivars

2015

Conference Publication

Maize yield determination in the Northern Region: hybrid by environment by management interactions

Ferrante, Ariel, Eyre, Joe, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, McLean, James, Chenu, Karine, deVoil, Peter, McLean, Greg and Rodriguez, Daniel (2015). Maize yield determination in the Northern Region: hybrid by environment by management interactions. Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart, TAS, Australia, 21-24 September 2015. Warragul, VIC, Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.

Maize yield determination in the Northern Region: hybrid by environment by management interactions

2014

Journal Article

Spatial estimation of wheat yields from Landsat's visible, near infrared and thermal reflectance bands

Potgieter, A. B., Power, B., Mclean, J., Davis, P. and Rodriguez, D. (2014). Spatial estimation of wheat yields from Landsat's visible, near infrared and thermal reflectance bands. International Journal of Remote Sensing Application, 4 (3), 134-143. doi: 10.14355/ijrsa.2014.0403.03

Spatial estimation of wheat yields from Landsat's visible, near infrared and thermal reflectance bands

2014

Journal Article

APSIM - evolution towards a new generation of agricultural systems simulation

Holzworth, Dean P., Huth, Neil I., deVoil, Peter G., Zurcher, Eric J., Herrmann, Neville I., McLean, Greg, Chenu, Karine, van Oosterom, Erik J., Snow, Val, Murphy, Chris, Moore, Andrew D., Brown, Hamish, Whish, Jeremy P. M., Verrall, Shaun, Fainges, Justin, Bell, Lindsay W., Peake, Allan S., Poulton, Perry L., Hochman, Zvi, Thorburn, Peter J., Gaydon, Donald S., Dalgliesh, Neal P., Rodriguez, Daniel, Cox, Howard, Chapman, Scott, Doherty, Alastair, Teixeira, Edmar, Sharp, Joanna, Cichota, Rogerio ... Keating, Brian A. (2014). APSIM - evolution towards a new generation of agricultural systems simulation. Environmental Modelling and Software, 62, 327-350. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2014.07.009

APSIM - evolution towards a new generation of agricultural systems simulation

2014

Journal Article

Designing sustainable agricultural production systems for a changing world: methods and applications

Dogliotti, S., Rodriguez, D., Lopez-Ridaura, S. and Tittonell, P. (2014). Designing sustainable agricultural production systems for a changing world: methods and applications. Agricultural Systems, 126, 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.02.003

Designing sustainable agricultural production systems for a changing world: methods and applications

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

    Designing Farming Systems with Whole Farm Models

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Hamish McGowan, Dr Dongxue Zhao

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Adam Komarek

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving the reliability and profitability of sorghum in north west NSW

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Drought tolerance in sorghum: the roots of the solution

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dongxue Zhao

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Overcoming the root phenotyping bottleneck in cereals

    Associate Advisor

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

  • 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

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

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Adam Komarek

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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