Novel genomic technologies to improve fertility in northern beef cattle. This project aims to develop new genomic technologies to enable accelerated improvement of cow fertility. Increased global demand for beef is driving northern Australian beef enterprises to develop innovative ways to increase productivity. A substantial industry challenge is poor fertility of cows, with weaning rates frequently less than 40%. The expected outcomes of this project are an improvement in weaning rates to enabl ....Novel genomic technologies to improve fertility in northern beef cattle. This project aims to develop new genomic technologies to enable accelerated improvement of cow fertility. Increased global demand for beef is driving northern Australian beef enterprises to develop innovative ways to increase productivity. A substantial industry challenge is poor fertility of cows, with weaning rates frequently less than 40%. The expected outcomes of this project are an improvement in weaning rates to enable accelerated genetic gain for fertility in these enterprises by delivering a low cost array, which assays thousands of DNA variants affecting fertility simultaneously. This should provide significant benefits such as a new genomic prediction method informed by gene expression data from a unique resource of Brahman cattle with exceptionally high fertility, generating significant industry benefits.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
Reducing environmental footprint by improving phosphorous use efficiency. While modern agriculture relies heavily on the use of phosphorous fertilizers, most of them are not used by plants and lost in runoff, resulting in a massive environmental damage through contamination of waterways (termed eutrophication). This project takes advantage of an untapped resource - a unique collection of Tibetan wild barley genotypes, to reveal key traits that confer superior phosphorus use efficiency in wild ba ....Reducing environmental footprint by improving phosphorous use efficiency. While modern agriculture relies heavily on the use of phosphorous fertilizers, most of them are not used by plants and lost in runoff, resulting in a massive environmental damage through contamination of waterways (termed eutrophication). This project takes advantage of an untapped resource - a unique collection of Tibetan wild barley genotypes, to reveal key traits that confer superior phosphorus use efficiency in wild barley and identify appropriate candidate genes and their position on chromosomes for further incorporating these traits into commercial barley cultivars. This will reduce the environmental footprint of modern agricultural practices on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems without compromising food security.Read moreRead less
Maximizing male fertility: the role of CRISP proteins. This project aims to investigate the function of cysteine rich secretory protein (CRISP) family members in fertility. It is expected to generate new knowledge on the role CRISP1 and 4 play in sperm competition in vivo, and thus, evolutionary processes; to define the role seminal plasma CRISPs play in fertility; and identify the mechanism underpinning their biological activities. This will be achieved using a range of innovative, state-of-the ....Maximizing male fertility: the role of CRISP proteins. This project aims to investigate the function of cysteine rich secretory protein (CRISP) family members in fertility. It is expected to generate new knowledge on the role CRISP1 and 4 play in sperm competition in vivo, and thus, evolutionary processes; to define the role seminal plasma CRISPs play in fertility; and identify the mechanism underpinning their biological activities. This will be achieved using a range of innovative, state-of-the-art approaches. Expected outcomes and benefits include an enhanced knowledge of the mechanisms underpinning fertility and infertility, enhanced collaboration and research knowhow, and an evidence base for future applied projects aimed enhancing fertility in agricultural species.Read moreRead less
Transaction Oriented Computational Models for Multi Agent Systems. Agent systems are a very promising technology for constructing complex, large-scale software. Australian researchers have made key
contributions in this area, particularly with reference to one mature and commonly adopted agent architecture known as BDI (Belief, Desire, Intention). To make this technology suitable for use in advanced applications, it has to be provided with robust and predictable behaviour. This project wil ....Transaction Oriented Computational Models for Multi Agent Systems. Agent systems are a very promising technology for constructing complex, large-scale software. Australian researchers have made key
contributions in this area, particularly with reference to one mature and commonly adopted agent architecture known as BDI (Belief, Desire, Intention). To make this technology suitable for use in advanced applications, it has to be provided with robust and predictable behaviour. This project will address that need by designing and implementing a novel agent language for BDI, based on contributions using transactional concepts for agents developed at The University of Melbourne. This will contribute to the development of robust and predictable agent software, that can be used in complex and large scale applications of the future.
Read moreRead less
A novel reversible male sterility system for hybrid seed production in canola, cotton and oilseed mustard. Demand for grains, fibre and other agricultural products has recently increased significantly. Hence, the security of food production is emerging as a critical global issue. We have identified a central component (AtMYB103) controlling tapetum and thus pollen development and designed a novel reversible male sterility system using AtMYB103. The efficient hybrid seed production systems develo ....A novel reversible male sterility system for hybrid seed production in canola, cotton and oilseed mustard. Demand for grains, fibre and other agricultural products has recently increased significantly. Hence, the security of food production is emerging as a critical global issue. We have identified a central component (AtMYB103) controlling tapetum and thus pollen development and designed a novel reversible male sterility system using AtMYB103. The efficient hybrid seed production systems developed in this project for canola, cotton and mustard will increase the productivity of the Australian oilseed and fibre industries. AtMYB103 gene is conserved among many crop plants. Hence, the new technologies and knowledge gained will be applicable to a wide range of crop plants and have important implications for the agricultural and food industries.Read moreRead less
Early Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IE230100648
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$472,027.00
Summary
Novel reproductive approaches to de-risk and transform barramundi breeding. Demand for Australian seafood outstrips supply. Farming of the iconic Australian barramundi is poised to play a major role addressing this shortfall; but innovative methods are needed to de-risk breeding processes and to provide precise control of maturation, spawning and genetic contribution of broodstock. This project, in partnership with the world’s largest barramundi breeding company, will develop, test and apply nov ....Novel reproductive approaches to de-risk and transform barramundi breeding. Demand for Australian seafood outstrips supply. Farming of the iconic Australian barramundi is poised to play a major role addressing this shortfall; but innovative methods are needed to de-risk breeding processes and to provide precise control of maturation, spawning and genetic contribution of broodstock. This project, in partnership with the world’s largest barramundi breeding company, will develop, test and apply novel breeding methods to obtain tight control over barramundi reproductive development and spawning. By combining cutting-edge genetic and applied breeding techniques, selective breeding programs will be more efficient and the genetic gains from breeding programs will be maximised.Read moreRead less
Maximising the essential oil yield of blue mallee plantations. Felton, Grimwade and Bickford Pty Ltd will collaborate with us to develop plant material and methods for establishing profitable plantations of blue mallee (Eucalyptus polybractea) for eucalyptus oil production. This is important because, as a result of recent legislation, the forest patches currently used in oil production will soon be unavailable to the company. We will also investigate the physiological and biochemical mechanism ....Maximising the essential oil yield of blue mallee plantations. Felton, Grimwade and Bickford Pty Ltd will collaborate with us to develop plant material and methods for establishing profitable plantations of blue mallee (Eucalyptus polybractea) for eucalyptus oil production. This is important because, as a result of recent legislation, the forest patches currently used in oil production will soon be unavailable to the company. We will also investigate the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying oil quality and quantity in blue mallee. This knowledge will assist the industry in the longer term by allowing them to improve and modify their products in response to changes in market demands.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the essential oil yield of clonal blue mallee plantations. Production of high quality eucalyptus oil in Victoria involves sustainable harvesting of foliage from public land. A recent review of land use by the Victorian Government has required that, over the next few years, oil producers move their harvesting operations into plantations on private land. This project will assist producers by developing methods for establishing plantations of eucalypts (blue mallee) with very high and e ....Enhancing the essential oil yield of clonal blue mallee plantations. Production of high quality eucalyptus oil in Victoria involves sustainable harvesting of foliage from public land. A recent review of land use by the Victorian Government has required that, over the next few years, oil producers move their harvesting operations into plantations on private land. This project will assist producers by developing methods for establishing plantations of eucalypts (blue mallee) with very high and economically viable yields of eucalyptus oil. This research will help restore Victoria's position as one of the major producers of high quality eucalyptus oil. Read moreRead less
Enhancement of Novel Flower Colours. The demand for novel colours and varieties of cutflowers is the most important driver for the floriculture industry. This project will increase the understanding of the factors that regulate flower colour and produce flowers with novel colours. This novelty is a consumer trait, and is likely to translate into increased sales and revenue to the Industry Partner, with income from these worldwide sales translating directly into the employment of research and dev ....Enhancement of Novel Flower Colours. The demand for novel colours and varieties of cutflowers is the most important driver for the floriculture industry. This project will increase the understanding of the factors that regulate flower colour and produce flowers with novel colours. This novelty is a consumer trait, and is likely to translate into increased sales and revenue to the Industry Partner, with income from these worldwide sales translating directly into the employment of research and development staff in Australia. This project will maintain Australian expertise in the production of horticultural commodities and provide research training to a post-graduate student with industry experience.Read moreRead less