- Naring local James McPherson will use the BASF Scholarship to pursue a Diploma of Applied Agronomy at Longerenong College
- BASF has supported agricultural education and hands-on training at Longerenong College for more than a decade
Melbourne, Australia – 22 September 2026 – Naring’s James McPherson has been named the recipient of the 2026 BASF Longerenong College Scholarship, supporting his ambition to build a career in Australian agriculture.
McPherson will undertake a Diploma of Applied Agronomy at Longerenong College, combining classroom learning with practical experience. Keen to build his skills in cropping, agronomy and precision agriculture, he hopes to pursue a career in the grains industry before eventually returning to contribute to his family farm.
“I’m particularly interested in the problem-solving side of agronomy, looking at soils, crop growth, pests, diseases and nutrition, and helping growers make decisions that improve yield and paddock performance,” said James McPherson.
“Receiving the BASF Scholarship will help me gain hands-on experience with crops, modern machinery and precision agriculture technologies while building the skills I hope to bring back to our family farm.”
For BASF, supporting students like McPherson is part of its commitment to building the skills and capabilities Australia’s agricultural industry needs for the future.
“Congratulations to James on being named this year’s BASF Longerenong College Scholarship recipient,” said Parvana Wali, Head of BASF Agricultural Solutions Australia & New Zealand.
“The future of Australian agriculture depends on attracting and developing the next generation of industry leaders and professionals. Investing in education is essential to ensuring our industry has the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
“James demonstrates the curiosity, enthusiasm and commitment we want to see in the next generation of agriculture, and we’re proud to support him as he begins in his career journey.”
BASF has supported Longerenong College for more than a decade, providing students with practical industry experience alongside their studies.
Each year, BASF team members mentor Diploma of Applied Agronomy students through hands-on canola field trials. This year, students are investigating how sowing dates influence flowering timing and duration across a selection of InVigor® and other commercial hybrid varieties.
"BASF has been an outstanding partner of Longerenong College for more than a decade, providing scholarships, mentoring and practical learning opportunities that help prepare students for successful careers in agriculture,” said Denise McLellan, General Manager, Longerenong College.
“We congratulate James on receiving this year's scholarship and thank BASF for their continued investment in agricultural education and the next generation of industry leaders."
For more information about BASF Agricultural Solutions, visit BASF Crop Solutions.
About BASF Agricultural Solutions
Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide sufficient and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. With €990 million in 2025, we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, and our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and stakeholders along the value chain. In 2025, our business generated sales of €9.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.
About BASF in Australia and New Zealand
BASF serves key industries in the agriculture, coatings, manufacturing and mining sectors, and posted sales of about €318 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2025. As of the end of 2025, the company had 319 employees and operated 6 production sites across Agricultural Solutions, performance products and functional materials and solutions. BASF has been active in Australia for over 100 years, and over 60 years in New Zealand. Further information is available on www.basf.com/au.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 95,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.