Professor Barlow has successfully brought science and technology to national and international policy negotiations through his membership of Australian delegations, national R&D boards and the Prime Minister's Science Engineering and Innovation Council.

His fundamental research in plant water relations and responses to elevated carbon dioxide have provided an excellent foundation for the determination of the potential impacts of climate change on Australia's food and fibre industries and the development of appropriate technological and national policy responses to ameliorate them.

Professor Barlow has also been a strong promoter of postgraduate research training though his leadership of faculties, schoos and postgraduate studies within universities and national R&D bodies.