Our research efforts across four broad, interdisciplinary themes create a range of long-term outcomes both in Australia and abroad.
Improving crop productivity and profitability
Projects include:
improving the management of banana systems for landholders in the Great Lakes region of Africa
developing sorghum with more feed grain energy through bigger grains and higher starch contents
improving the efficiency of fertiliser use and placement within soils
developing novel next-generation bio-fertilisers
examining teak-based agroforestry systems to enhance and diversify smallholder livelihoods in Lao PDR
identification of the peptide hormones controlling legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation
sustaining soil fertility in support of intensification of sweet potato cropping systems in Papua New Guinea.
Understanding disease resistance and defence mechanisms
Projects include:
the development of a simple and reliable diagnostic assay that will enable the detection of Bogia Coconut Syndrome for use in Papua New Guinea
examining how banana systems can be managed with Fusarium wilt
regeneration of a soil food web to improve soil health and reduce crop losses from soil-borne pests and pathogens
understanding rust resistance and grain dormancy in wheat.
Decreasing adverse environmental outcomes from agriculture
Projects include:
improving water quality outcomes in the Great Barrier Reef through better on-farm management of nitrogen
improving the efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser use in agricultural systems impacting on the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
Understanding plant growth in degraded soils and landscapes
Projects include:
understanding why plant root growth is inhibited in acid soils
investigating the environmental impacts of the increasingly widespread use of metallic nanoparticles
quantifying the costs soil constraints on grain production across Australia
improving wheat yields on sodic, magnesic and dispersive soils.
Research outcomes and impact
Our major research outcomes include:
crop improvement strategies that include delivery platform technologies to enhance crop resilience to biotic/abiotic stresses and resource use efficiency
high-yielding, environmentally and economically sustainable crop production systems
novel crops and products for future bio-economies
development of robust, adaptable nutrient and water management practices to maximise soil fertility, productivity, profitability and long-term sustainability of agricultural systems
innovative soil remediation and land rehabilitation strategies
derivation of scientifically-validated assessments of potential environmental risk or future impacts on soil productivity.
