Advanced plant breeding and food manufacturing for healthier bread. This project aims to generate bread containing high amounts of biologically available iron through targeted manipulation of plant-derived phytonutrients at several points along the wheat-to-bread supply chain. The project expects to generate new knowledge for developing healthier bread and address consumer demands for value-added food products. Anticipated outcomes are novel plant breeding and food manufacturing techniques that ....Advanced plant breeding and food manufacturing for healthier bread. This project aims to generate bread containing high amounts of biologically available iron through targeted manipulation of plant-derived phytonutrients at several points along the wheat-to-bread supply chain. The project expects to generate new knowledge for developing healthier bread and address consumer demands for value-added food products. Anticipated outcomes are novel plant breeding and food manufacturing techniques that enhance the nutritional composition of wheat grain and bread making products, resulting in higher-value agricultural commodities and breads. The project should benefit bread retailers and crop growers involved in Australia’s $4.7 billion bread market and reduce the environmental impacts of bread production.Read moreRead less
Tailoring smart film for energy efficient protected cropping. Cooling cost represents a major running cost for greenhouse, preventing the wide adoption of highly beneficial protected cropping technology. This project aims at solving this critical issue by developing a world-first tailored smart film that can simultaneously reject solar heat, cool down the greenhouse and maximise the yields of crops. This is made possible by advanced spectral engineering and light management with frontier nanostr ....Tailoring smart film for energy efficient protected cropping. Cooling cost represents a major running cost for greenhouse, preventing the wide adoption of highly beneficial protected cropping technology. This project aims at solving this critical issue by developing a world-first tailored smart film that can simultaneously reject solar heat, cool down the greenhouse and maximise the yields of crops. This is made possible by advanced spectral engineering and light management with frontier nanostructures combined with a scalable and low cost manufacturing process. Deliverables of the project include game-changing energy efficient solutions for protected cropping and marketable smart films readily integratable with existing greenhouse for dramatic energy saving and immediate economic and social benefits.Read moreRead less
Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. This project aims to build interactive software that simulates agrichemical spraying for multiple virtual plants reconstructed from scanned data. Mathematical modelling and computer simulation could offer an alternative to expensive experimental programs for agrichemical spraying of plants. This project will use contemporary fluid mechanics to bu ....Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. Mathematical and computational models for agrichemical retention on plants. This project aims to build interactive software that simulates agrichemical spraying for multiple virtual plants reconstructed from scanned data. Mathematical modelling and computer simulation could offer an alternative to expensive experimental programs for agrichemical spraying of plants. This project will use contemporary fluid mechanics to build practical mathematical models for droplet impaction, spreading and evaporation on leaf surfaces, and experimentally calibrate and validate the models. The software is expected to drive the development of agrichemical products that increase retention, minimise environmental impacts, and reduce costs for end-users.Read moreRead less
Developing a novel carbon negative fertiliser . Food security is vital to support our growing population. However, our increasing reliance on intensive farming systems necessitates increased fertiliser use, leading to increased water pollution and soil degradation - threatening both the Australian environment and food security. Increasing carbon storage capacity by soil and decreasing fertiliser use are two of the primary pathways for restoring the bio-support capacity of soils and reducing farm ....Developing a novel carbon negative fertiliser . Food security is vital to support our growing population. However, our increasing reliance on intensive farming systems necessitates increased fertiliser use, leading to increased water pollution and soil degradation - threatening both the Australian environment and food security. Increasing carbon storage capacity by soil and decreasing fertiliser use are two of the primary pathways for restoring the bio-support capacity of soils and reducing farming footprints. This innovative and first-of-its-kind project aims to develop a cost-effective, carbon negative fertiliser that reduces fertiliser inputs and increases soil carbon storageRead moreRead less
Industrial biotechnology for the manufacture of alkaloid pharmaceuticals. Drugs that treat opioid dependence and overdose are increasingly needed but their manufacture is difficult, inefficient and expensive. This project aims to develop enzymatic N-demethylation as a simpler and more sustainable approach to the manufacture and modification of opioid antagonists, alkaloids and other drug targets. It will increase our understanding of enzymatic N-demethylation and address engineering and biotechn ....Industrial biotechnology for the manufacture of alkaloid pharmaceuticals. Drugs that treat opioid dependence and overdose are increasingly needed but their manufacture is difficult, inefficient and expensive. This project aims to develop enzymatic N-demethylation as a simpler and more sustainable approach to the manufacture and modification of opioid antagonists, alkaloids and other drug targets. It will increase our understanding of enzymatic N-demethylation and address engineering and biotechnology challenges to improve yield and product isolation and concentration. Improvements in drug manufacturing processes will assist drug affected communities and industry will benefit from value adding, greater market share and flexibility, increased innovation and de-risked processes and new products. Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH180100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,995,391.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture . The ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture aims to transform the production of high quality plant-derived therapeutics into an integrated, national industry that spans primary producers and manufacturers. The Hub will establish a multi-disciplinary collaboration with industry. This Hub will address agronomy and cultivation, germplasm generation, novel extraction technologies and chemistries, through to the discovery and functional characterisation ....ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture . The ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture aims to transform the production of high quality plant-derived therapeutics into an integrated, national industry that spans primary producers and manufacturers. The Hub will establish a multi-disciplinary collaboration with industry. This Hub will address agronomy and cultivation, germplasm generation, novel extraction technologies and chemistries, through to the discovery and functional characterisation of novel lead compounds. This knowledge will be applicable across related industries and build the specialised workforce needed to underpin Australia’s developing medicinal agriculture industry.Read moreRead less
Agave; a new Australian crop with a resilient spirit. This project aims to set the foundations to establish Agave as a sustainable, versatile and climate-proof Australian crop, supporting production of a new high value spirit for domestic and global markets. Outcomes will include novel cultivation and sensor technology for agave harvest at the "sweet spot" and advanced spirit assessment technologies allied with consumer sensory testing. Product character and consistency will be optimised by holi ....Agave; a new Australian crop with a resilient spirit. This project aims to set the foundations to establish Agave as a sustainable, versatile and climate-proof Australian crop, supporting production of a new high value spirit for domestic and global markets. Outcomes will include novel cultivation and sensor technology for agave harvest at the "sweet spot" and advanced spirit assessment technologies allied with consumer sensory testing. Product character and consistency will be optimised by holistic integration and control of the production chain, encompassing plant growth, input materials, and fermentation and distillation steps for a complete plant to bottle pipeline. Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC230100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures. This Centre aims to develop the advanced capacity needed to secure Australia’s food and fibre production and export value into the future. Leveraging immense industry support, the Centre expects to develop and integrate cutting-edge plant and animal breeding technologies and deliver world-class training that addresses critical demand for highly skilled industry leaders. Expected outcomes include a future-ready predictive breedi ....ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures. This Centre aims to develop the advanced capacity needed to secure Australia’s food and fibre production and export value into the future. Leveraging immense industry support, the Centre expects to develop and integrate cutting-edge plant and animal breeding technologies and deliver world-class training that addresses critical demand for highly skilled industry leaders. Expected outcomes include a future-ready predictive breeding industry able to transform data into optimised decisions, and the human capacity to drive it. This should provide significant benefits to enhance the sustainability and profitability of all major Australian agriculture sectors, including livestock, grains, horticulture, cotton, wine, dairy, forestry and fisheries.Read moreRead less