Novel oxygen sensing tools for monitoring the effects of dredging on Australian seagrass communities. Seagrass meadows sustain marine biodiversity and the fishing industries on Australian coasts. Dredging of ports and shipping channels is contributing to their rapid global decline. The project will use state-of-the-art technologies in bio-optics and genomics to create a toolkit for seagrass managers to make informed decisions to safeguard seagrass meadows.
Understanding the koala microbiome: unlocking the secrets of koala health and dietary specialisation, and successful husbandry and translocation. This project aims to discover how the composition and function of koala gastrointestinal microbial communities differ in space and time in response to the varying nutritional quality and chemical composition of koala diets. Using detailed chemical analysis, cutting edge metagenomic and bioinformatic pipelines and powerful approaches to study enzyme fun ....Understanding the koala microbiome: unlocking the secrets of koala health and dietary specialisation, and successful husbandry and translocation. This project aims to discover how the composition and function of koala gastrointestinal microbial communities differ in space and time in response to the varying nutritional quality and chemical composition of koala diets. Using detailed chemical analysis, cutting edge metagenomic and bioinformatic pipelines and powerful approaches to study enzyme functions in the koala’s gut, the investigators aims to reveal the role of microbes in detoxification of plant toxins and degradation of recalcitrant fibre fractions. The outcomes aim to facilitate the use of faecal transplants to improve digestive function for translocated and rehabilitated koalas, enhancing options for koala management and conservation.Read moreRead less
Using photosynthesis to power fine chemical production. This project aims to develop robust, solar driven, enzyme-based biocatalysts to synthesise complex metabolites and biopharmaceutical molecules in single-cell micro-algae. The significance of this project is that solar energy is used to drive challenging chemical reactions inexpensively via photosynthesis. Expected outcomes include sustainable, solar driven production of high-value molecules that are difficult or impossible to synthesise che ....Using photosynthesis to power fine chemical production. This project aims to develop robust, solar driven, enzyme-based biocatalysts to synthesise complex metabolites and biopharmaceutical molecules in single-cell micro-algae. The significance of this project is that solar energy is used to drive challenging chemical reactions inexpensively via photosynthesis. Expected outcomes include sustainable, solar driven production of high-value molecules that are difficult or impossible to synthesise chemically. Benefits include proof-of-principle demonstration of new, light-driven green-chemistry processes for the production of biochemicals, biopharmaceuticals, agricultural and industrial chemicals, extending the diversity of molecules we can make while reducing cost and environmental impact of their production.Read moreRead less
Development of novel pest management tools for major insect pests. The project will provide new options for environmentally sustainable control of some of the world's worst pests. Cost effective systems will be developed that prevent crop damage, using chemicals identical to naturally occurring plant compounds, combined with tiny quantities of insecticides, to lure and kill adult moths before they lay eggs.
The Integrated Bio-economy Project and the Controlled Biosphere. This project aims to develop advanced controlled environment production systems (Controlled Biosphere) that exceed the industry standard for profitability, sustainability and climatic resilience. It will generate new knowledge and innovations in technology integration through a highly multi-disciplinary approach. The project outcomes will yield Techno-Economic and Life-Cycle Analyses, designs of the Controlled Biosphere and support ....The Integrated Bio-economy Project and the Controlled Biosphere. This project aims to develop advanced controlled environment production systems (Controlled Biosphere) that exceed the industry standard for profitability, sustainability and climatic resilience. It will generate new knowledge and innovations in technology integration through a highly multi-disciplinary approach. The project outcomes will yield Techno-Economic and Life-Cycle Analyses, designs of the Controlled Biosphere and supporting policy frameworks. The benefits of this project address worsening resource constraints (e.g. available fresh water, arable land, nutrients); By 2050 we will require 70% more food, and 80% greenhouse gas emissions reductions, to maintain economic, social, political and climate security.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
Seafood safety: high throughput diagnostics for ciguatoxin risk assessment. This project aims to develop a novel, high throughput platform for rapidly assessing ciguatoxins. Species of the marine microalgae Gambierdiscus produce ciguatoxins, which accumulate in fish through marine food chains to cause the often debilitating human illness called ciguatera fish poisoning. Ciiguatera fish poisoning is a growing and substantial risk for the $2.2 billion Australian commercial fishing industry. This s ....Seafood safety: high throughput diagnostics for ciguatoxin risk assessment. This project aims to develop a novel, high throughput platform for rapidly assessing ciguatoxins. Species of the marine microalgae Gambierdiscus produce ciguatoxins, which accumulate in fish through marine food chains to cause the often debilitating human illness called ciguatera fish poisoning. Ciiguatera fish poisoning is a growing and substantial risk for the $2.2 billion Australian commercial fishing industry. This serious illness is increasingly impacting more southerly areas of Australia due to environmental changes. The outcomes of this project include new knowledge of the risk of ciguatoxins at Australian 'hot spot' sites, extensively field tested methods for detecting Gambierdiscus and ciguatoxins in situ and key data to inform policy to safeguard the seafood industry and consumers.
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eSorghum as a bio-fuel feedstock for arid environments. Increasing fuel costs, finite resources and the need to develop more carbon neutral and cleaner fuels have created a need for renewable sources. Ethanol and future generation biofuels (butanol and more energy-rich alcohols) can be extracted from biomass sources. Sorghum is an ideal bioenergy feedstock in the hotter, drier areas of Northern Australia, where starch (grain), sugar and lignocellulose (stover) can be amassed in this water effi ....eSorghum as a bio-fuel feedstock for arid environments. Increasing fuel costs, finite resources and the need to develop more carbon neutral and cleaner fuels have created a need for renewable sources. Ethanol and future generation biofuels (butanol and more energy-rich alcohols) can be extracted from biomass sources. Sorghum is an ideal bioenergy feedstock in the hotter, drier areas of Northern Australia, where starch (grain), sugar and lignocellulose (stover) can be amassed in this water efficient plant. Identifying and manipulating the genes to enable the improvement of sorghum as a dedicated bioenergy crop, will enable the increased efficiency of the Australian biofuels industry and create sustainable rural industries.Read moreRead less
Eco-friendly pesticides for crop protection. The aims of the project are to develop robust methods for measuring bioactive pesticidal molecules in butterfly pea cultivars, characterise their modes of action, determine the exposure and persistence of these molecules in field runoff and waterways and, in the longer term, develop butterfly pea cultivars with optimised bioactivity and safety. The major outcome of the project is the generation of new knowledge that will contribute to the development ....Eco-friendly pesticides for crop protection. The aims of the project are to develop robust methods for measuring bioactive pesticidal molecules in butterfly pea cultivars, characterise their modes of action, determine the exposure and persistence of these molecules in field runoff and waterways and, in the longer term, develop butterfly pea cultivars with optimised bioactivity and safety. The major outcome of the project is the generation of new knowledge that will contribute to the development of novel antifungal and insecticidal agents. This outcome is significant as there is a huge need for new pesticidal agents that exhibit wide safety margins, reduce problems associated with resistance to existing treatments, and that are safe for the environment.Read moreRead less
Robotics for zero-tillage agriculture. This project will develop small agricultural robots to increase broad-acre crop production and reduce environmental impact. These robots will have advanced navigation capability, will cooperate to cover large areas and resupply themselves, while causing less soil damage and applying herbicide more intelligently.