Val has expertise in the development and application of various types of modelling, but primarily mechanistic or process-based modelling, of agricultural systems. Her expertise is applied from the background of primary training in soil physics and agricultural systems followed by experience in working in many different primary production systems including: sub-surface irrigated corn in the mid-west of the USA, plantation forestry utilising municipal effluents in southern Australia, various cropping systems in several regions of Australia, intensive vegetable production in New Zealand and in pastoral production systems in New Zealand.