Raymond Allen Hare PSM (born 6 October 1946) is an Australian wheat scientist mainly working to develop Durum (pasta) wheat varieties. He is "an award-winning scientist and is regarded as one of the best durum breeders in the world".[1]
Early life and education
editHare was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on 6 October 1946. He attended Normanhurst Public School and Normanhurst Boys' High School and subsequently joined CSR as a trainee chemist at Pyrmont. After completing a chemistry certificate course at the Sydney Technical College (now known as TAFE New South Wales Sydney Institute) and a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from University of Sydney, he began his PhD, "Genetic Analysis of Persistent Adult-Plant Resistences to Wheat Rust", with support from the Farrer Memorial Research Scholarship.[2]
Career
editIn 1976 he began as a wheat breeder with the New South Wales Department of Agriculture (now NSW Department of Primary Industries), helping grow durum wheat exports from around 8000 tonnes in the mid-1970s to more than 800,000 tonnes, approximately aud$100 million.[3][4] In addition to developing Australia's durum industry, Hare made significant contributes to durum wheat research,[5][6] including developing Kamilaroi, Yallaroi, Wollaroi and EGA Bellaroi varieties.[7][8][9][10]
Hare was recognised in the 2000 Birthday Honours list, receiving the Public Service Medal "[f]or outstanding public service in the Department of Agriculture, particularly to the Durum (Pasta) wheat programme".[11] A year later, Hare was awarded the Farrer Memorial Medal, delivering his Farrer Oration, entitled "Durum Wheat in Australia – Past, Present and Future".[12]
In 2003, Hare's hearing was found to have deteriorated to the profound range in both ears.[13] Over a period of nine months, he received bilateral cochlear implants and his hearing stabilised.[2][13] He retired in 2008, after 32 years of services as the Australian National Durum Wheat Improvement principle research scientist.
A 2018 media profile of Hare suggests he has contributed to an estimated 70 billion meals around the world.[14] He is currently a plant breeding consultant and an advisory board member at University of Sydney Plant Breeding Institute.[15][16]
Honours
edit- Public Service Medal[11]
- Rotary International Achievement Award
- Farrer Memorial Trust Medal, 2001 Farrer Memorial Trust[12]
- SHHH 2007 Libby Harrick's Award[2]
- Honorary Professor – University of Southern Queensland
- Triticum Award for Excellence in Wheat Improvement – Wheat Breeding Society of Australia Awards[17]
- Champion of the Royal Agricultural Society, 2018.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Landline - 15/10/2006: Farmer sets up multi-million-dollar pasta business . Australian Broadcasting Corp". www.abc.net.au.
- ^ a b c Ray Hare - Libby Harricks Award Winner, Hearing Matters, August 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Hocking, Jacqui (12 April 2000). "The boomerang crop - wheat's long journey - net grains". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Wahlquist, Asa (1991). "TIME TO MAKE PASTA PRESENT FUTURE SUCCESS". Sydney Morning Herald. John Fairfax Group.
- ^ O'Neill, Graeme (2007). "Salt of the earth". Australia Life Science. IDG Communications Pty Ltd.
- ^ "World breakthrough on salt-tolerant wheat". ScienceDaily.
- ^ "New Type Of Wheat For Pasta Masters". Newcastle Herald. John Fairfax Group. 1998.
- ^ "NSW - Australian wheat key to world's best pasta". Australian Associated Press General News. AAP. 2002.
- ^ Carthew, Natalie (1999). "New Durum Breeds Likely". Countryman. West Australian Newspapers Limited.
- ^ Agronomy of the durum wheats Kamilaroi, Yallaroi, Wollaroi and EGA Bellaroi, Prime Facts, April 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b Dr Raymond Allen HARE Australian Honours search facility. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Farrer Memorial Oration 2001". www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.
- ^ a b "Treatment ends years of silent suffering". Sunday Telegraph. News Ltd. 2009.
- ^ McArthur, Jacob (18 February 2018). "Faces of Tamworth: Calala's pasta master Ray Hare". The Northern Daily Leader. Australian Community Media.
- ^ "Plant Breeding Institute". The University of Sydney.
- ^ "Wheat research 60 years on". Namoi Valley Independent. June 7, 2018.
- ^ "Awards". Wheat Breeding Society Australia.
- ^ "Pasta master honoured". The Northern Daily Leader. March 24, 2017.