THREE leading scientists from Narrabri whose work is shaping the future of Australian cotton have been named finalists for the 2026 Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year award.

The award, to be presented at the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast as part of the Australian Cotton Industry Awards, recognises outstanding contribution to the Australian cotton industry through research, development, or extension work, with an excellence in innovation, impact and commitment to advancement.

The 2026 finalists are Dr Shiming Liu, Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Narrabri; Dr Katie Broughton, Research Scientist at CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Narrabri; and Dr Gunasekhar  Nachimuthu, Senior Research Scientist (Sustainable Soils), Climate and Natural Resources Division of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said the three Narrabri finalists have delivered significant contributions across different areas of the cotton research landscape, from plant breeding and climate resilience to soils and sustainability.

“Research is the backbone of Australia’s cotton industry. It underpins every advancement we’ve made in productivity, sustainability and fibre quality, ensuring our growers remain globally competitive in an increasingly complex environment,” Mr Kay said

“These finalists represent the very best in cotton research, and each of them has made a significant contribution over the past 20 years, delivering practical innovations that is not only advancing knowledge but making a tangible difference to crop performance, risk management and environmental outcomes.”

Mr Kay said the Cotton Seed Distributor-sponsored award recognises the role that science and research plays in cotton production.

“This award shines a spotlight on the people driving innovation behind the scenes, the people in the background who don’t often receive the glory but without whom our cotton industry wouldn’t be where it is today,” he said.

“Australia’s cotton industry is recognised globally for its innovation, and that reputation is built on the calibre of researchers we have working alongside growers.

“All three finalists exemplify that spirit of collaboration and excellence, and they should be proud of the impact they’ve made.”

Dr Katie Broughton in the field. Dr Broughton is one of three Narrabri finalists for the 2026 Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year award.

Cotton Seed Distributors CEO Dr Ian Taylor said researchers in the Australian cotton industry are key to creating future solutions.

“At CSD we are a proud partner with researchers and their organisations both in Australia and across the globe,” Dr Taylor said.

“We are pleased to once again be supporting this award, as part of our focus on addressing key industry challenges and improving the competitiveness of Australia cotton.”

The Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year Award will be announced at the Australian Cotton Industry Awards Dinner on Thursday 6 August 2026. The Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year Award, the AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year Award, the CRDC Chris Lehmann Young Cotton Achiever of the Year Award, and the John Deere Service to Industry Award will also be announced at the awards dinner, the final event of the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference.

Registrations are currently open for the 2026 Australian Cotton Conference at Australian Cotton Conference.

Finalists’ details

Dr Shiming Liu: Driving world-leading cotton varieties

Dr Shiming Liu has played a pivotal role in advancing Australia’s cotton breeding program over more than 20 years, contributing to the development of many of the industry’s commercial varieties.

His leadership in developing the new Sicala 320B3XF variety represents a major breakthrough, delivering both high yield and world-leading fibre quality – strengthening Australia’s position in premium global markets.

He has also pioneered innovative trial designs and developed a novel seed vigour assay, improving the accuracy of breeding decisions and helping growers achieve more reliable crop establishment.

Dr Katie Broughton: Strengthening climate resilience in cotton systems

Dr Katie Broughton has led groundbreaking research into how cotton systems respond to climate variability and environmental stress, helping growers better manage risk in a changing climate.

Her work over the past 19 years includes leading the world’s first integrated field-based climate change experiments in cotton, combining elevated CO₂, temperature and water stress to better understand real-world production conditions.

Her research has improved understanding of water-use efficiency, seasonal risk and crop management, while her current work on novel plant growth regulators is delivering new tools to improve yield stability in both irrigated and rainfed systems.

Dr Gunasekhar Nachimuthu: Advancing sustainable soils and farming systems

Dr Guna Nachimuthu is an internationally recognised soil and systems scientist whose work has transformed how soil health, carbon and climate resilience are managed in Australian cotton production.

His research over more than 20 years has delivered practical, long-term systems-based insights that improve productivity and sustainability, including soil carbon benchmarking, resilient crop rotations and more efficient use of water and nutrients.

These innovations have supported growers to improve profitability and manage climate risk, while strengthening the industry’s environmental credentials and global reputation.