The Horizon Scholarship program is designed to support the next generation of agricultural leaders by connecting university students with industry mentors, networks, and hands-on experiences. At Hort Innovation, we’re proud to champion this initiative and spotlight the scholars who are shaping the future of horticulture. 

One of our 2025 Horizon Scholars is James Haslett, a driven student with a passion for soil health and its impact on plant productivity. We caught up with James to learn more about his journey, his hopes for the industry, and what excites him most about being a Horizon Scholar. 

Thanks for joining us, James. Let’s start with the basics, can you tell me a bit about yourself and what sparked your interest in horticulture?    

I am from the Riverland, specifically a place called Murtho, where my family runs a horticultural farm growing almonds, wine grapes, stone fruit, and citrus. This background sparked my interest in agriculture.  

After finishing school in 2021, I took a gap year and worked on various harvests, including almond, sugar plums, citrus, and grain on a broadacre farm in Loxton. My schooling experience led me to the University of Adelaide, where I initially studied mechanical engineering but soon realised my career aspirations in agriculture. I switched my focus to agricultural science and have thoroughly enjoyed my studies, especially diving into more agricultural subjects recently.  

If you had to describe your horticulture journey in a few words, what would they be, and why? 

Generational - my grandfather started our family business, that my father now manages. Observing and learning from them from a young age has been invaluable. Through this I have discovered my passions and interests in agriculture.  

Awakening – throughout my schooling period I had more of an interest in engineering, however, I have realised that I am more passionate about having a career in agriculture which has prompted a switch of direction at university. 

What are you most excited about as part of your Horizon Scholarship? 

I have to say the industry placement opportunities are one of the experiences I am looking forward to most. I'm really excited about the chance to choose multiple areas within horticulture and soils (both familiar and not) and seeing firsthand some of the leading producers within Australia.  

What’s one innovation or trend in horticulture that really excites you right now? 

Precision agriculture is an area that really excites me currently. Big data collection has been around for some time. This gives farmers insight into possible inefficiencies within their crop. Previously, little has been able to be done about this due to technology or practicality limitations. I’m looking forward to the application and integration of new technologies which make it possible for farmers to be able to react to their environment to maximise yield and conserve resources.  

What role do you think emerging leaders, like yourself, will play in shaping the future of horticulture in Australia? 

Younger people typically won’t be able to bring much in terms of monetary value or years of the necessary wisdom to the table. However, I believe our biggest asset is time and energy. We can utilise emerging technologies that might face resistance or be unavailable to previous generations of farmers. These technologies take time and energy to adopt and perfect. That's where younger horticulturalists can really make a difference. It might not be an overnight thing and could take years to adopt a process or change the whole system but being able to devote ourselves to that and build on existing knowledge is crucial. There's always room for improvement somewhere. 

Imagine it’s 2035, what does the Australian horticulture industry look like, in your ideal world? 

Ideally, Australian produce will maintain its premium status in the global market by ensuring quality through innovative and advanced practices. I believe there will be a significant push towards automation due to high employee costs, especially during seasonal work when long hours and weekend shifts require higher pay. As automation becomes more accessible and available, it will be essential for farms to adopt it to remain profitable and competitive.  

Finally, what’s your go-to snack or meal made from fresh Aussie produce? 

I can't go past seasonal fruit as a snack. Apricots and cherries in summer are just amazing, and in winter, citrus fruits are my go-to. Their limited availability throughout the year makes their return even more enjoyable.