Novel genetic variation in domesticated species can be generated to address many of the needs of agricultural production. However, wild genetic resources remain a key resource especially for resistance to environmental stress and may be critical to adaption to climate change. Wild rice populations in Queensland have been found to represent a major untapped gene pool for rice. These species have potential for direct domestication and for use as a source of novel quality (functional and nutritional) and production traits. Recent progress in characterization of genetic resources for other species will also be discussed.
Professor Robert Henry
Director, QAAFI
Professor Robert Henry conducts research on the development of new products from plants. He is Professor of Innovation in Agriculture and Foundation Director of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), a Research Institute of the University of Queensland established in collaboration with the Queensland Government. His current research targets plant genome sequencing for the capture of novel genetic resources for diversification of food crops to deliver improved food products.
He is a graduate of the University of Queensland (B Sc (Hons)), Macquarie University (M Sc (Hons)) and La Trobe University (Ph D). He was awarded a higher doctorate (D Sc) by the University of Queensland for his work on variation in plants, is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and a recipient of the Guthrie Medal for his contributions to cereal chemistry. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. Robert Henry was foundation senior editor of the Plant Biotechnology Journal. He is a highly cited scientist (ISI) in agriculture.
Read more about QAAFI's work with wild rice:
From northern billabongs – a new future for rice
About Science Seminars
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation hosts science seminars across the disciplines of animal, horticulture, crop, food and nutritional sciences.
With a range of speakers from Australia and abroad, the series explores how high-impact science will significantly improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the tropical and sub-tropical food, fibre and agribusiness sectors.
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The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation is a research institute at The University of Queensland supported by the Queensland Government via the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.