The jump rope champion reimagining Australian fertiliser

School holidays are always a much-anticipated circle on the calendar, but no-one counted down the days like Tom Norman.  

The fifth-generation farmer from Illabo, on the Southwest Slopes region in New South Wales, grew up in Sydney but spent school holidays working on his grandparents’ farm, and promptly moved there once he finished school in 2019.  

Now working fulltime on the mixed farm with Merino sheep and broadacre cropping – primarily wheat, canola, and barley – Tom completed a Bachelor in Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga in 2023. 

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Tom is also a member of his local Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade, part of a Rural Management Strategies group for young people looking to be in leadership in family farms, a committee member on the Riverina Ag Network (organising local events for young farmers), and a member of his church community.  

And in 2023 Tom headed to the U.S. to compete in the International Open Tournament of the World Jump Rope Championships with the Australian Rope Skipping Team – and won.

Tom has racked up five jump rope world championship competitions, and next year is set to tick another accomplishment off the list – evoke^AG. 2025 Groundbreaker.  

Tom (right) with Pat Toohey, farm cropping manager.

Tell us about your vision for the future of Australian agriculture?

Agriculture is facing new challenges in the climate space. Both government and industry bodies are setting targets for reducing carbon emissions in Australian agriculture.  

In broadacre cropping, fertiliser input is the single biggest contributor to scope 3 carbon emissions, representing up to 22.5% of total emissions. If we can switch to green anhydrous ammonia that is carbon neutral, we can reduce our carbon emissions by up to 15% through that one change alone.  

Clean Green Ag, in partnership with FarmLink Research, is currently piloting this in field trials, to be able to underpin the practical application of the commercial use of green anhydrous ammonia in broadacre cropping. 

Can you share your background and what drives your passion for sustainability?

My family saw the 2030 targets approaching and the lack of viable solutions available and sought to provide a green option. On our farm we are always seeking to innovate and adapt to be ready for the future.  

My grandfather saw anhydrous ammonia in Queensland and in the U.S. in the 1980s and was a leader in bringing it to the Riverina, NSW. He has also adapted the air seeder to be able to apply high rates of ammonia which provides a viable method of using green anhydrous ammonia at a rate that will help meet the 2030 targets.  

My Dad is good at bringing people together and seeing connections between various groups.

I come from a family of innovators, and this is a way we can see ourselves contributing to future-proofing sustainable agriculture. 

What issue or gap does your innovation address?

Carbon emission reduction targets are a reality that will be coming to agriculture, with targets being set for 2030 and 2050. There is still much debate about what is possible, realistic, sustainable and effective. Green Anhydrous Ammonia is a viable solution to help meet the 2030 carbon targets for broadacre cropping, by reducing up to 15% of scope 3 carbon emissions.  

There are currently no commercial scale options available for green anhydrous ammonia for farmers. Our farm is the first commercial pilot in broadacre cropping.  

What was it that appealed to you about the evoke^AG. Groundbreaker program and what do you hope to get out of it?

I think that what we are trying to achieve through this green anhydrous ammonia pilot and project is very exciting for farmers – not only because it helps improve sustainable farming practices and cares for the land, but also because it is practical and achievable for everyday farmers, family farms and enterprises.  

I’m excited to share this idea and encourage other farmers to look to the future and how we can meet targets. I’m also really passionate about people – meeting new people, being with people and bringing people together.  

I’m keen to make the most of the networking opportunities that evoke^AG. provides and, through the Groundbreakers program, to grow in my persuasive public speaking skills. I also want to learn through the program and the mentoring provided how to synthesise my ideas and explain them clearly and succinctly. 

If you could give one piece of advice to other aspiring innovators in the agtech industry, what would it be?

Steve Jobs said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” You need to dream big and then put in the hard work to get there. 

What is the evoke^AG. Groundbreaker Program?

Formerly known as the evoke^AG. Future Young Leaders program, the evoke^AG. Groundbreakers program was renamed in 2024 to better reflect the innovative and impactful leadership of its participants.  

The 2025 program is sponsored by Coles and will empower five emerging leaders in agrifood and related industries, guiding them to present their innovations at the evoke^AG. 2025 event in Brisbane on 18-19 February. Participants receive mentoring and a post-event bursary, supporting their goals to enhance rural communities and advance Australian agriculture. 

Participants span Australia and New Zealand and are aged between 18-30.