Queen’s Birthday honours list includes FVAS researcher

Professor Reeves was a pioneer of direct drilling and conservation agriculture in Australia in the 1960s and 70s. This method of planting crops which requires no cultivation of the land, is now the direct-drilling method used by 90 per cent of farmers across Australian cropping regions. He and colleagues in the Victorian Department of Agriculture also worked at that time on the introduction of new crops into farming systems, including lupins, canola and fababeans.

Living and working around the world, Professor Reeves was appointed to the role of Director General of the International Wheat and Maize Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), based in Mexico for seven years, helping developing countries with food and nutritional security. It has been stated that over a 50-year period, CIMMYT’s work has saved over 1 billion lives. He is the only Australian to have held this position.

Now Professor-in-Residence at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie Campus, he is heavily involved with passing on his knowledge to his academic colleagues and to both postgraduate and undergraduate students. Professor Reeves's academic writings include publishing more than 180 papers, book chapters, and articles.

Receiving the honour Professor Reeves said, “I’m overwhelmed. I feel so honoured and wish to also recognise the wonderful people that I have worked with – both farmers and scientists – here in Australia, and around the world. I also acknowledge my beautiful family without whom it would have not been possible.”

Professor Reeves has spoken to several news outlets about receiving this honour, including the Geelong Advertiser, The Weekly Times, Stock and Land, Country News, and ABC Country Hour.