Rate My Professor Sarita Bennett

Professor Sarita Bennett is a Professor in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Curtin University. She serves as Discipline Lead for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Head of the School, and President of the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture. Bennett earned a double degree in Biological Science and Geography and a PhD in Pasture Ecology from the University of Birmingham, focusing on the ecogeography of ryegrass in Europe, including taxonomy, field trials, and molecular analyses. After moving to Australia in 1995, her career began with post-doctoral research at the Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) and subsequent roles at the University of Western Australia (2006-2010) through the Dryland Salinity and Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centres, funded by Grains Research and Development Corporation grants. These positions emphasized ecology of Mediterranean pasture and pulse species, saline land management, and sustainable grains. Earlier, she worked as a research agronomist on flax and hemp at Bangor University (2003-2005). Joining Curtin University in 2010, Bennett leads a teaching team of 16, delivering courses in sustainable agricultural systems, crop science and systems, precision agriculture, pasture science, and management. She founded the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) and leads the CCDM/GRDC project on agronomy and management solutions for Sclerotinia stem rot of canola and pulses.

Bennett's research specializes in farming systems research, agronomy and management of alternative crops, pasture and saline systems, and the impact of management and environment on plant pathology, particularly Sclerotinia sclerotiorum affecting canola, pulses, and over 500 crops globally. Her work explores resistance in wild lupins, co-infections with blackleg in canola, soil suppressiveness, and digital technologies for crop and pasture productivity. She has conducted plant collection trips to Turkey, Syria, and Italy and collaborates with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and breeding companies. Key publications include 'Narrow windrow burning canola (Brassica napus L.) residue for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary sclerotia destruction' (2018, Pest Management Science), 'Impact of Fungicide Application and Host Genotype on Susceptibility of Brassica napus to Sclerotinia Stem Rot across the South-Western Australian Grain Belt' (2021, Agronomy), 'Temperature and Isolate Are Important Determinants of Brassica napus Susceptibility to Aggressive Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Isolates' (2023, Agronomy), and 'Recombination and transposition drive genomic structural variation potentially impacting life history traits in a host-generalist fungal plant pathogen' (2025, BMC Biology). Bennett received a High Commendation for incorporating precision agriculture technologies. Her contributions bridge research, teaching, and industry for practical agricultural impact.