Centre for Crop Science

A greater focus on roots during plant breeding could ensure staple grain crops continue to feed the world as recycled nutrients substitute conventional fertilisers in the future, a University of Queensland study has found.

A breakthrough in breeding hybrids of one of Papua New Guinea’s most culturally significant crops - Taro could solve growing problems caused by climate change in the Pacific nation.

Converting sugarcane waste to biofuel could become more environmentally friendly and cost effective, thanks to a joint project at The University of Queensland and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

A plant signalling gene has been identified as a promising target for breeding cereal crops to produce a steeper, narrower root system architecture, but with associated yield penalties in barley.

There’s no single road into agriculture. For some, it’s a career passed down through generations. For others, it’s a path they discover later, drawn in by the science, a desire for sustainability or a chance to make a real difference.