Dr Jackson leads programmes for Biocontrol, Pest Management and Microbial Product Development at AgResearch Lincoln. Early in his career, he recognised the possibility of developing microbial agents into biopesticides as safe alternatives to chemical pesticides and his research has focused on this area. 

He has discovered and described a number of unique new species and strains of insect-pathogenic microbes and nematodes and has worked on the integration of biological control into pest management, especially of soil dwelling insect pests. 

Dr Jackson has worked in all aspects of microbial product development, from strain selection, production and formulation to field testing. He has established an internationally recognised microbial products laboratory at AgResearch, which has fully developed commercial microbial products. The endemic bacterium Serratia entomophila was first developed as the biopesticide Invade^TM, for the control of grass grub (Costelytra zealandica) attacking New Zealand pastures. A second generation product, Bioshield^TM, was developed by his group as a thermostable granule allowing easier distribution and use by farmers. Dr Jackson has worked in biopesticide development with a wide range of commercial companies. Current research is focussed on stabilisation of a range of microbes into products for use as biopesticides, bioinoculants and probiotics for animal and human health.

Dr Jackson has published more than 120 papers in refereed scientific journals and books and is a regular contributor to, and organiser of, international meetings on pest management and microbial control. He is frequently involved in training courses and has undertaken consultancies and managed research projects in a range of countries, including Mexico, Ecuador, Malaysia, and Pacific Island states, with the aim of finding biocontrol agents and developing microbial control systems.

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