• Charles Sturt PhD student named one of five Groundbreakers by evokeAG
• The student’s research focuses on alternatives to treat mastitis in dairy cows
• The Groundbreaker program is an initiative of AgriFutures

A young Charles Sturt University researcher at the forefront of tackling antimicrobial resistance in the dairy industry has earned international recognition of her innovative work.

Ms Tiarna Scerri is a PhD student with the Charles Sturt Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment in Wagga Wagga and was named as one of five Groundbreakers by evokeAG, a flagship program within the AgriFutures organisation.

The Groundbreakers program is committed to delivering impact for Australia’s agrifood system, ensuring food security, nutrition and sustaining environmental and economic resilience.

Ms Scerri was recognised for her work in proactively addressing antimicrobial resistance, a growing sustainability challenge in the dairy industry.

“My research aims to design alternatives to antibiotic treatments that can be used to treat mastitis in dairy cattle,” Ms Scerri said.

“When antibiotics become practically redundant in Australia, the dairy industry needs to be prepared with alternative solutions.

“Mastitis is one of the biggest health, welfare and production problems within the dairy industry worldwide; the Australian dairy industry can’t afford to be lax in its management of antimicrobial resistance.”

Dairy Australia has estimated that mastitis costs up to $400 per infected cow in treatment and veterinary costs, discarded milk, lower milk yield, farm labour and risk of removal from the herd or death of the cow.

Between five and 10 per cent of the typical Australian dairy herd is infected by mastitis each year. Globally, mastitis costs the world’s dairy industry around US$32 billion each year.

Specifically, Ms Scerri is testing the viability of several nucleotide and protein-based treatments that she has designed to target key bacteria that cause mastitis. Her research is due to be completed in 2027.

evokeAG. promotes bold ideas, debates and emerging talent shaping the future of agrifood technology, providing hands-on experiences and real-world collaboration.

As part of the award, Ms Scerri will receive mentoring, support for professional storytelling and $3,000 to help foster lasting industry connections and accelerate meaningful change across the nation’s agrifood technology ecosystem.