Christopher Gardiner

Chris Gardiner is a Lecturer in Animal Production Systems specializing in tropical pastures with a focus on legumes for the semi-arid clay soil regions. The genus Desmanthus has been the focus of research and development with nine cultivars being released commercially in a JCU/Agrimix Pty partnership. Some 100,000 ha  (based on seed sales) have been sown to  Progardes Desmanthus enhancing grasslands and livestock productivity across Northern Australia. Stylosanthes and Clitoria species have also been granted Plant Breeders Rights (PBR).  In 2015 Chris was awarded the JCU Resperio award for commercial engagement, in 2021 a Crawford International engagement award, in 2023 the NABRC (Northern Australia Beef Research Committee) award for science, in 2023 the JCU citation (with colleague, Sandra de Cat) for outstanding contributions to student learning and in 2024 a National citation with Sandra de Cat for Outstanding contributions to student learning from the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).

Major research grants in recent times have included the CRC "Legumes for northern Australia" a $2.7million Australian Government  grant plus grazier partner contributions. Other research activities include; collaboration with CSIRO/Agrimix/JCU's  MERiL (Methane Emission Reduction in Livestock) Project; ongoing selection of drought resilient legumes for northern Australia;  multipurpose trees and shrubs for shade, shelter. drought fodder and ecosystem services, and investigations of sterile Leucaena. In 2025 Peer to Peer pasture/grazing demonstration and research sites have been established with northern graziers, NQ Dry Tropics and the QDPI.

Chris's early career was focused on agricultural development in SE Asia and Eastern Africa with the United Nations Development Program (in West Papua), World Bank (in Somalia), AusAid (West Java, Indonesia). Much of this work was related to building resilience and economy for smallholder farmers.