Thomas McCarthy

Thomas brings his expertise in agronomy, soil fertility, water quality, and nutrient use efficiency to his role at DairyNZ.

He is part of the team investigating the use of technology to measure pasture performance, as well as working on the Resilient Pastures Programme.

Thomas always wanted a career in agriculture after spending much of his youth on farms in Ireland, but it wasn’t until the final year of his bachelor’s degree that he became inspired to focus on research.

“I had to choose an area to specialise in for my final year dissertation and became interested in the interaction between agriculture and the environment,” says Thomas. “I like problem solving and getting to the bottom of data sets. You have to be interested in the area you're working in - for me, that was the key. The questions we're trying to answer are ones that are close to my heart.”

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and a PhD in Soil, Agronomy and Crop Science from South East Technological University, Ireland; he completed the latter at Teagasc Johnstown Castle. After graduation he continued to work as a researcher at Teagasc, supporting farmers to improve their nutrient management efficiency, and researching the development and use of the circular bioeconomy in the agricultural and forestry sectors in Ireland.