Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,200,000.00
Summary
Advanced focused ion beam (FIB) / scanning electron microscopes (SEM) for nanometre scale characterisation and fabrication. These instruments are designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and fabrication of structures at nanometre length scales. These versatile platforms will support a wide range of projects covering three national research priority areas. These range from the characterisation of light alloys for improving and building ....Advanced focused ion beam (FIB) / scanning electron microscopes (SEM) for nanometre scale characterisation and fabrication. These instruments are designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and fabrication of structures at nanometre length scales. These versatile platforms will support a wide range of projects covering three national research priority areas. These range from the characterisation of light alloys for improving and building Australia's Aluminium, Magnesium and Titanium alloy industries, to the study of aerosol particles for improved pulmonary drug delivery for asthma patients, the development of advanced solar cells and the study of the integrated behaviour of the soil-microbe system for sustainable agriculture.Read moreRead less
Pathways to agri-food supply chains that co-benefit people and nature. This project aims to improve biodiversity outcomes of agricultural food production and consumption, and expects to generate new knowledge about impacts of interventions and shocks on the environment, human health and livelihoods in agri-food systems. This will be achieved using an interdisciplinary approach that accounts for uncertainties in links between farmers, suppliers, consumers and supply-chain outcomes. The expected o ....Pathways to agri-food supply chains that co-benefit people and nature. This project aims to improve biodiversity outcomes of agricultural food production and consumption, and expects to generate new knowledge about impacts of interventions and shocks on the environment, human health and livelihoods in agri-food systems. This will be achieved using an interdisciplinary approach that accounts for uncertainties in links between farmers, suppliers, consumers and supply-chain outcomes. The expected outcome is a value of information framework for identifying nature-friendly policies and actions with co-benefits for human well-being. Benefits include sustainability pathways with win-win outcomes for people and nature, and improved ways of meeting international commitments such as Sustainable Development Goals.Read moreRead less
The next generation rural landscape governance: the Australian dimension. The project team in collaboration with Industry and regional stakeholders will undertake innovative research to develop the next generation of natural resource governance in Australia. This project will focus on the reforms required to improve the sustainability performance of primary industries through reduced transaction costs, co-regulatory structures and stewardship.
Predicting the delivery of ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. The ecological sustainability of Australian agriculture relies on services (for example, pollination) provided by ecosystems. Service provision is threatened by environmental change, but there is no established approach for predicting the impact of change on services. This project will undertake the most comprehensive experimental examination of ecosystem-service delivery ever conducted in Australia, testing the predictive ....Predicting the delivery of ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. The ecological sustainability of Australian agriculture relies on services (for example, pollination) provided by ecosystems. Service provision is threatened by environmental change, but there is no established approach for predicting the impact of change on services. This project will undertake the most comprehensive experimental examination of ecosystem-service delivery ever conducted in Australia, testing the predictive capacity of an approach that links environmental change with variation in service provision through species’ traits. The major outcomes include greater capacity for agriculturalists to maximise ecosystem benefits and increase economic returns, and improved biodiversity conservation through recognition of its contribution to agriculture. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101319
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,857.00
Summary
Building a carbon neutral future for Australian agriculture . The aim of this research is to design an economically sound policy strategy for making the Australian agriculture sector carbon neutral by 2040. This strategy will provide policy makers with a menu of policy packages to improve the sector’s international competitiveness, in the context of growing demands from consumers and international markets for low emission products while meeting the challenges of a changing climate. To assist in ....Building a carbon neutral future for Australian agriculture . The aim of this research is to design an economically sound policy strategy for making the Australian agriculture sector carbon neutral by 2040. This strategy will provide policy makers with a menu of policy packages to improve the sector’s international competitiveness, in the context of growing demands from consumers and international markets for low emission products while meeting the challenges of a changing climate. To assist in developing this strategic knowledge a national-scale quantitative economic model will be developed. Given the absence of a clear national strategy for agricultural GHG emissions and the growing global urgency addressing climate change, this research fills an important gap and comes at an opportune time. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100010
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,000.00
Summary
A 5-D Correlative Imaging Platform: Combining the strengths of light and electron microscopy. This will be Australia's first dedicated five-dimensional multiphoton-microscopy platform, allowing observation of dynamic structures across different length and time scales under controlled temperatures, followed by high-resolution electron microscopy studies on the same samples. This platform will provide a unique characterisation tool to Australia's top-flight investigators, and so contribute to the ....A 5-D Correlative Imaging Platform: Combining the strengths of light and electron microscopy. This will be Australia's first dedicated five-dimensional multiphoton-microscopy platform, allowing observation of dynamic structures across different length and time scales under controlled temperatures, followed by high-resolution electron microscopy studies on the same samples. This platform will provide a unique characterisation tool to Australia's top-flight investigators, and so contribute to the nation's research priorities. It will enable: fundamental studies of cancer, neural diseases and immune disorders; the development of frontier technologies, such as smart nanomaterials, biosensors and targeted drug delivery; and applied research to help plants and soils adapt to climate variability, and to increase sustainable use of water.Read moreRead less
In situ desalination with membranes for climate resilient irrigation. This project aims to design a climate-resilient irrigation system that minimises evaporative losses and can operate on brackish groundwater without reducing crop yield or damaging soil structure. To do so, it will improve a sub-surface irrigation system that uses desalination membranes. The irrigation system is built on understanding water transport under tension caused by plant transpiration and identifying membranes that can ....In situ desalination with membranes for climate resilient irrigation. This project aims to design a climate-resilient irrigation system that minimises evaporative losses and can operate on brackish groundwater without reducing crop yield or damaging soil structure. To do so, it will improve a sub-surface irrigation system that uses desalination membranes. The irrigation system is built on understanding water transport under tension caused by plant transpiration and identifying membranes that can supply water and remove salt without cativation.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC190100033
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,852,568.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource. This Centre aims to bring together Australia’s leading biosolids researchers and key industry and government stakeholders to advance the management, transformation and reuse of biosolids in agriculture. The focus is: 1) capability and knowledge building, 2) research development, extension and training, 3) sustainable strategic partnerships. The expected outcomes of the Centre are to develop a group of new, highly-trained i ....ARC Training Centre for Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource. This Centre aims to bring together Australia’s leading biosolids researchers and key industry and government stakeholders to advance the management, transformation and reuse of biosolids in agriculture. The focus is: 1) capability and knowledge building, 2) research development, extension and training, 3) sustainable strategic partnerships. The expected outcomes of the Centre are to develop a group of new, highly-trained industry-ready researchers as well as advanced solutions in three major themes: improved technologies, enhanced products and sustainability. This will provide significant benefits in the economic value of new applications and market opportunities as well as deliver cost-savings – all in an environmentally friendly manner.Read moreRead less
Urban biochar: towards prescriptive biochar use for maximum economic productivity and sustainability benefits in urban environments. This project will develop a life cycle assessment of waste management options for green waste and biosolids based on a clear understanding of productivity benefits of urban biochar application to high value production systems.
Plasma-catalytic bubbles for sustainable ammonia. Ammonia is one of the world’s most important chemicals directly sustaining over 50% of our food supply. But the current means of its production is highly eco-destructive and responsible for over 1% of global CO2 emissions, a similar value to global air travel. This project aims to produce ammonia from renewable sources of water, electricity and air, which can provide farmers with a zero-carbon fertilizer under a decentralized and even farm-level ....Plasma-catalytic bubbles for sustainable ammonia. Ammonia is one of the world’s most important chemicals directly sustaining over 50% of our food supply. But the current means of its production is highly eco-destructive and responsible for over 1% of global CO2 emissions, a similar value to global air travel. This project aims to produce ammonia from renewable sources of water, electricity and air, which can provide farmers with a zero-carbon fertilizer under a decentralized and even farm-level approach. Moreover, if driven by renewables, ammonia offers an effective means of exporting hydrogen from Australia. Hydrogen has been highlighted by the federal government as a priority technology in its Technology Investment Roadmap with ammonia seen as the best approach for its exportation. Read moreRead less