Lachlan Thompson has been awarded the 2025 Costa Berries Scholarship in Horticultural Science at the University of Queensland, recognising his strong commitment to a future career in Australian horticulture.
For Lachlan, agriculture has been part of life from an early age. Growing up on citrus farms, where his father worked as General Manager across a number of properties, gave him firsthand exposure to the practical and management sides of running large horticultural businesses.
“Spending time alongside my father and meeting other growers, industry professionals and agronomists gave me firsthand exposure to the people leading the industry, and I’ve wanted to follow a similar career path ever since,” Lachlan said.
That early interest has continued to grow through Lachlan’s own experience working across citrus, macadamias, strawberries and chilli production, and helped shape his decision to study Agricultural Science and Agribusiness at UQ.
Receiving the Costa Scholarship is an achievement Lachlan says he is incredibly grateful for, and one that provides both recognition and practical support as he continues his studies.
“It’s rewarding to have my hard work recognised, and it gives me confidence that I’m on the right path,” Lachlan said. “The scholarship will also help support me throughout my studies and opens the door to opportunities to learn from one of Australia’s leading horticultural companies.”
Lachlan first heard about the scholarship through the University of Queensland’s scholarship page and was already familiar with Costa through previous work experience on a Costa avocado farm at Childers, as well as the company’s broader reputation across horticulture, including 2PH at Emerald and berry production in Coffs Harbour.
Looking ahead, Lachlan hopes to keep building his experience across the agriculture industry, with the long-term goal of managing a large-scale farm and potentially owning and operating his own farm in the future.
“Before that, I want to gain as much experience as possible within the agriculture industry, learning from experienced professionals and continuing to develop my skills,” he said.
Costa is proud to support emerging talent like Lachlan through university scholarships, the Costa Graduate Program and other early career opportunities.
Find out more about Early Careers at Costa