The Northern Hub welcome Dr Natalia Caliani to the team as the new Regional Soil Coordinator for the NT.
Natalia’s passion for agriculture started early in Argentina, where both sides of her family grew strawberries, tomatoes, and leafy greens on the sandy coastal soils of Coronda (Santa Fe, Argentina). A high school debate on herbicides, soil health, and waterways sparked a turning point that led her to pursue Agricultural Engineering and dedicate her career to resilient farming systems. Her research journey took her from Argentina to France—earning a specialisation in Land and Water Management at Montpellier SupAgro—and then to Australia, completing a Master of Agricultural Science in Genetics and Breeding at UWA, where she investigated soil and plant microbial ecology. and a PhD in Wine Microbiology at the University of Adelaide.
In her coordinator role, funded under the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and supported by Soil Science Australia’s Smart Soils Community of Practice, Natalia will bridge the gap between soil research and practical land management across the Territory and Northern WA.
"The wet-dry tropics and ancient soils of the Top End bring a distinct set of dynamics," says Natalia. "I’m really looking forward to getting out into the region, listening to local producers, pastoralists, and industry groups, and working together to support healthy, resilient northern soils."