A new Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub aims to develop and commercialise an innovative alternative to chemical fungicides, addressing industry challenges of fungicide resistance, chemical residues in food and environmental harm.
ARC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Sue Thomas, today welcomed the official launch of the ARC Research Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection to be led by The University of Queensland.
Professor Thomas said the Research Hub would receive $4.8 million in funding over 5 years under the ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP) to increase productivity, market access and enhance the environmental credentials of Australian food.
‘ARC’s Industrial Transformation Research Program engages Australia’s best researchers with issues facing new industrial economies and training a future workforce. It supports collaborative research activity toward strategic outcomes between industry and the Australian higher education sector,’ said Professor Thomas.
‘The Research Hub is taking on the global challenge of transforming crop protection technology by delivering and commercialising non-GM, non-toxic fungicides for specific fungal diseases of crops.
‘This is a great example of how researchers collaborate with industry to translate research into breakthrough products, new businesses and ideas to grow our economy and strengthen Australian research.’
The University of Queensland will lead the project and collaborate with 15 partners, including Griffith University, LaTrobe University, University of Tasmania and Curtin University.
The Research Hub also has strong links with: NUFARM Australia; Australian Wine Research Institute; Cotton Research & Development Corporation; Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Grains Research & Development Corporation; South Australian Research and Development Institute; University of California, Riverside; Australian Grape and Wine Authority; Horticulture Innovation Australia; Bioplatforms Australia and AUSVEG.
