Internationally-renowned NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) senior plant pathologist, Kevin Moore, has been recognised for his stellar contribution to primary industries and the country’s valuable pulse industry.

NSW DPI Deputy Director General Agriculture, Kate Lorimer-Ward, congratulated Dr Moore who has devoted more than 50 years of hard work, research, development, innovation and extension to deliver sustainable farming systems.

“Dr Moore has made exceptional contributions in developing crop disease management strategies, diagnostics and extension in crop protection throughout Australasia,” Ms Lorimer-Ward said.

“His applied research, knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication to plant pathology has played a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing the lucrative NSW pulse industry.”

Dr Moore’s rapid development of integrated disease management strategies to assist growers to respond to a national outbreak of ascochyta blight in 1998 was critical to ensuring the industry’s continued viability.

The chickpea industry in northern NSW and southern Queensland expanded in the following seasons, and since that time Dr Moore has worked closely with DPI’s chickpea breeding team to develop disease resistant varieties.

“Adoption of Dr Moore’s research findings and his collaboration with the PBA Chickpea breeding program resulted in chickpea production in northern NSW exceeding that of winter cereals for the first time in 2016,” Ms Lorimer-Ward said.

“Dr Moore has contributed to disease management strategies for key pathogens, including phytophthora, botrytis and sclerotinia in chickpea and leaf rust in faba bean.
“Through his work with NSW DPI he has provided a comprehensive plant disease diagnostic service and regularly contributes to disease diagnostic workshops.

“Dr Moore is regarded as an international authority on diseases of winter pulses, particularly chickpeas and faba beans, and he has refereed numerous scientific papers for Australian and international journals.”

Dr Moore has received numerous accolades, including the 2002 GRDC Seed of Light, Lester Burgess Award for Diagnostics and Extension by the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Management Committee, a Pulse Australia award for outstanding service and the Brownhill Cup as part of the chickpea breeding team.