Mark Boersma

Background

About Mark Boersma

As a lifelong learner I am amazed at the sophisticated engineering of a plants; superior biomechanics, intricate and integrated physiological mechanisms, complex life strategies, and diversity that continues to defy the imagination. This passion to understand the life of plants has for the last 20 years influenced my academic pursuit in horticultural science, primarily to solve industry challenges that can be addressed through a mechanistic understanding of how plants work, with a view to providing science based applied outcomes.To understand the practical side of crop production, I purposely decided to work as a research agronomist for Field Fresh Tasmania, at the time Australia’s largest exporter of onions. My industry connection with the University of Tasmania led me to a PhD during which my supervisors and I elucidated the underlying cause of hollow stem in broccoli and cauliflower, a disorder speculated upon since the early 1920’s. Since finishing my doctorate in 2009 I have worked for the University of Tasmania conducting research and development on a broad range of topics, including onion skin loss, freezing tolerance in pyrethrum, the efficacy of biochar within vegetable cropping systems, greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogen fertiliser application, the effectiveness of nitrification inhibitors, remote sensing hardware with Sony Imaging and Product Solutions, vegetable production in lowland Papua New Guinea, pea crop establishment, broccoli harvest maturity and methane emissions from dairy effluent. Currently in addition to my research interests I coordinate an industry supported Diploma in Horticultural Business, am involved in the establishment of a similar course for the Dairy Industry, supervise for PhD candidates, and aid Research by Higher Degree candidates as a Graduate Research Coordinator. I am also a contributor to the Research Hub for Traditional Chinese Herbs.As an academic I have collaboratively attracted and delivered outcomes for 23 grants totalling $11.2M. I have authored 94 publications including 18 journal articles and 13 contract reports.