Professor Mike Bell awarded 2026 C.M. Donald Medal
Agronomy Australia has awarded Professor Michael (Mike) Bell the prestigious 2026 C.M. Donald Medal, recognising more than four decades of outstanding research, leadership and contribution to Australian agronomy.
Presented at the 22nd Australian Agronomy Conference in Darwin, the award celebrates a career spanning 43 years and a remarkable breadth of research into plant–soil–environment interactions and productive, sustainable farming systems.
From his early work as a research agronomist in Kununurra and Kingaroy, through his career at The University of Queensland and the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Professor Bell has made significant contributions to soil fertility, nutrient and water-use efficiency, farming systems, biological nitrogen fixation and reducing agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.
His research has helped drive practical changes in farming practice across grains, cotton, sugarcane and other cropping systems. Over three decades, he has also delivered 73 GRDC Updates presentations across northern Australia, connecting research with the needs of growers and advisers.
Professor Bell’s contribution extends beyond research. He has supervised and mentored the next generation of agronomists and scientists, helping strengthen Australia’s agricultural research community.
Agronomy Australia President Adjunct Professor Muhammad Sohail Mazhar described Professor Bell as an outstanding scientist who consistently connects rigorous science with the realities of farming.
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