Meet James Moloney: Digging deep into soil science

By  Kurtis Nagle 18 December 2025 3 min read

When you think of agriculture, you might picture crops swaying in the breeze or tractors rolling across paddocks. For Dr James Moloney, the focus is beneath the surface, on the hidden systems that sustain life above ground.

James is a soil scientist in the prediction and insight team at CSIRO’s Black Mountain site in Canberra. When he’s not mountain biking or rolling dice in a board game with friends, he’s in the lab studying how soil works and why it’s so vital for healthy crops.

The roots of a researcher

James began his research journey at the University of Sydney, studying environmental systems. He was drawn to the digital world, fascinated by how technology could transform environmental science.

“I really liked working in digital spaces - operating the interface of statistics and machine learning,” James said.

“Agricultural systems are great for that because they’re measurable. You have numbers coming out of the back of the season with how much yield you’re collecting.”

Turning passion into practice

His passion led him to a PhD exploring water distribution in soils across cropping systems in southern New South Wales. Supported by a CSIRO scholarship, James investigated how soil properties influence water movement - research that is critical for crop productivity.

After completing his PhD, James joined CSIRO as a postdoctoral researcher, using proximal sensors to quickly estimate soil properties. These sensors shine light onto soil and measure reflected energy, which reveals details like clay content, organic carbon, and acidity.

“It’s about finding faster ways to understand what’s happening beneath the surface,” James said.

James is now working on a project with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to develop a soil health framework for Australian agriculture. The goal is to benchmark sustainability and soil health while recognising the variety of challenges to soils across Australia.

“Australian soils are some of the oldest in the world, so building credibility for the unique nature of our production systems is really important – especially as market demands for sustainable food and fibre production grow,” James said.

Work in the Pacific

James’s work also extends past Australia’s borders. He’s part of the Pacific Soils Project, funded by the Australian Government’s Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR). The project spans activities in Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji, where James collaborates with local partners to build soil science capability.

“Pacific island soils are really unique,” James said.

“There’s a mixture of things you don’t find in many other places – soils built of corals or volcanic ash.”

These unique conditions mean there’s little global data to draw on, making local knowledge critical for sustainable farming.

“There’s a real need for more in-country expertise to assess the current state and how things like climate change or natural disasters are affecting these soils,” James said.

Collaboration is key

Working alongside Pacific Island partners and communities is as much about relationships as it is about science. Building trust is vital, and James says listening and respecting cultural boundaries is key.

“Every country is different, and every community is different,” he said.

“Openness is the first thing and very importantly, respect for culture.  The people in these communities are incredibly friendly and welcoming, so the most important thing we can do is to create a space where they feel comfortable contributing.”

Visiting Pacific Islands countries is one of the most rewarding parts of James’s work, giving him the chance to experience unique cultures and landscapes.

Why it matters

These trips remind James why his work matters, not just for science, but for people and their livelihoods. Whether he’s helping farmers in Australia or building soil knowledge in the Pacific, collaboration is at the heart of it.

“Make use of the knowledge of the people around you and the people who have come before you,” he said.

“That’s how you build projects that are meaningful.”