Yumeng Chen

With a rich blend of academic excellence, industry experience, and global perspective, Yumeng Chen receives a Nuffield scholarship to study “Digital Twins: The Future of Australian Horticulture”.

From growing up on family farms, Yumeng has earned degrees in food engineering and supply chain management, and is currently pursuing a qualification in IT. Having spent over a decade working in Australian horticulture, Yumeng has become a passionate advocate for the industry. 

Yumeng plans to explore how virtual replicas of farms, known as digital twins, can revolutionise decision-making, resource allocation, and supply chain coordination. 

By integrating emerging technologies with advanced analytics, digital twins create dynamic virtual models of farm operations that bridge human expertise and data-driven insight. They enable real-time performance tracking, demand forecasting, yield optimisation, and smart resource allocation.

She aims to investigate global applications of digital twins by visiting innovation hubs to learn from farmers and researchers applying technologies in practical, sustainable ways. 

The research will focus on practical, cost-effective strategies for Australian growers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Yumeng’s outreach strategy includes delivering grower workshops, collaborating with industry organisations and launching a mentorship program to connect tech-savvy graduates with progressive growers.

She says this research comes at an important time, with Australian horticulture operating in an era of unprecedented challenges – from climate disruptions to labour shortages and tightening compliance requirements.

These pressures demand businesses deliver consistent, high-quality produce while navigating market volatility, all through more efficient operations and lower costs.

Digital twins are emerging as a critical solution to address the industry’s “perfect storm” of challenges, turning volatility into opportunity through smarter, connected decision-making.