Centre for Crop Science

A year in reflection: QAAFI sees breakthroughs in innovation despite pandemic

The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) — a research institute at UQ that is supported by industry and the Queensland Government, and a Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ) member — has been a driving force in the agricultural science landscape for more than 10 years, with 2020 bringing further breakthroughs in innovation, as well as a chance to reflect on key highlights over the last 12 months.

Dr Samir Alahmad, discovered the two genes while investigating traits that durum wheat uses to survive in water-limited conditions.

Designer root systems to maintain durum wheat yields in drought

Published on: 10 February 2021

To help meet strong international demand for Australia’s premium durum wheat, new research has identified genetic solutions to maintain yields during drought.

Photosynthesis: our best bet to create a food secure world

Published on: 3 February 2021

Australian agriculture plays a key role towards providing food for the planet but it is also expected to be one of the world’s most impacted areas from climate change.

Harnessing asexual seed formation to save hybrid seed, and fix complex traits in sorghum

9 March 2021 12:00pm

in Science Seminars

Professor Anna Koltunow will present a science seminar titled 'Harnessing asexual seed formation to save hybrid seed, and fix complex traits in sorghum'.

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Opinion: But the voyage is just a small part of the story

Comment piece by QAAFI's Centre for Crop Science Director Prof Ian Godwin published in Farm Weekly. "We hosted the family Christmas dinner this year. For some reason - maybe because we are a bunch of scientists and engineers - we started talking about the mega-trends of the future, such as hydrogen cars, automation and carbon neutrality."

The University of Queensland's Professor Bhagirath Chauhan is part of a program assessing mungbean crops to control summer weeds.

Mungbean crops a new weapon against weeds

Growing a mungbean crop could be an excellent way to get on top of feathertop Rhodes grass, a highly competitive and difficult to control summer weed. With investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation, a team of researchers have shown that both windmill grass and feathertop Rhodes grass can greatly reduce yield in mungbeans, yet both weed species retain a large portion of their seed when the mungbean crop is ready for harvest.

Vice President Birgitte Skadhauge at Carlsberg Research Laboratory

Crops for the future - Tackling the challenges of changing climates

Published on: 15 January 2021

Climate change and increased population growth are challenging sustainable food production. Research led by the Carlsberg Research Laboratory with partners from the University of Queensland and the University of Copenhagen will develop climate-tolerant plants with higher yields and better nutritional value.

The ARC CoE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture

8 December 2020 12:00pm–1:00pm

in Science Seminars

Professor Christine Beveridge, will present a seminar titled 'The ARC CoE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture'. The ARC CoE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture will make significant advances in the emerging fields of evolutionary systems biology (how plants work and evolve) and predictive analytics (mathematics) to deliver novel strategies for improving ecosystem management, crop resilience and yield.

Lead researcher UQ’s Professor Robert Henry

Rice has many fathers but only two mothers

Published on: 11 November 2020

Researchers investigating the heritage of thousands of rice varieties have identified just two distinct maternal lineages, a discovery which could help address the issue of global food security.

Future food and the art of plant mechanics

Published on: 30 October 2020

Better understanding plants’ complex environmental and food-producing roles is the focus of a new global research program being led by The University of Queensland.