farm to forkFood security InnovationsFrom strategies to controlweeds, to new hybrid“superfruits” and energy-efficientways to deliver produce tomarket, researchers from theSchool <strong>of</strong> Agriculture and Food Sciencesare fighting the threat to global foodsecurity from all angles.Weeds cost the Australian economy$4 billion every year, choking the country’swaterways, smothering native vegetationand robbing farmers <strong>of</strong> agricultural land.To combat this menace, AssociatePr<strong>of</strong>essor in Plant Pathology Dr Victor Galeais developing Australia’s first “home-grown”commercial bioherbicide.“By inserting a single gelatine capsulecontaining pathogenic fungi into the trunk <strong>of</strong>the perennial weed, we allow the fungi to killthe weed,” he said.This new biological agent is a sustainableand long-term solution for invasive woodyweeds such as parkinsonia, prickly acacia,mimosa and athel pine.Through the work <strong>of</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essor DarylJoyce, new varieties <strong>of</strong> the fruit red bayberry(Myrica rubra), which carries high levels <strong>of</strong>antioxidants and other potentially beneficialphytochemicals, is close to global marketlaunch following a licensing agreementwith Victorian-based grower-owned berryproduction and marketing company, Y.V.Fresh. UQ’s main research commercialisationcompany, UniQuest, facilitated the deal.UniQuest Acting CEO Dean Moss saidthe partnership between UniQuest, UQ,Y.V. Fresh and Horticulture Australia Limitedwould help establish the red bayberryindustry in Australia.“One advantage for consumers is thatthey will be purchasing a fresh product,whereas other recently commercialised‘superfruits’ have been almost exclusivelymarketed as relatively lower valueprocessed or dried products,” he said.As well as establishing new fruitvarieties, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Bhesh Bhandari andPhD student Binh Ho have developed atechnology that will dramatically improvethe safety, efficiency and effort involvedin the controlled ripening <strong>of</strong> fruit during itstransport to market.Currently, compressed ethylene gasis used extensively to control-ripen fruitsuch as bananas, mangoes, avocadoes,citrus and tomatoes, which are pickedat “commercial maturity” (a hard green butmature stage) before ripening has started.Bhandari said the gas was highly volatileand explosive accidents have occurred inthe past.“To avoid these disadvantages, wehave encapsulated the gas in various types<strong>of</strong> solid materials to create a safe andconvenient powder form, which is releasedwhen the temperature and humidity israised.”The powder is environmentally friendlyand could be placed in trucks transportingfruit from the farm, ensuring it arrives at themarket perfectly ripened, without the needfor energy-hungry coolrooms.All three <strong>of</strong> these research innovationshave been commercialised throughUniQuest. Recognised as one <strong>of</strong> themost successful university technologytransfer companies in Australia, UniQuestbenchmarks in the top 10 per cent globally.Researchers from other areas <strong>of</strong> the<strong>University</strong> are also addressing the globalissue <strong>of</strong> food security.A team led by UQ plant scientist Pr<strong>of</strong>essorIan Godwin and colleagues from the<strong>Queensland</strong> Alliance for Agriculture and FoodInnovation recently identified a sorghum genethat could lead to the development <strong>of</strong> moredigestible feedstocks for farm animals andmuch-improved nutrition for some <strong>of</strong> theworld’s poorest nations.Researchers for the Pacific AgriculturalResearch for Development Initiative,coordinated by UQ and funded bythe Australian Centre for InternationalAgricultural Research, are leading aresearch team in partnership with the FijianGovernment and local industry to identifyways to strengthen food production in theSouth Pacific.From farm to fork, outcomes fromUQ research are at the forefront <strong>of</strong> globalagricultural development. By workingtogether, researchers and producersare helping to find solutions to feed anincreasingly hungry world.For details on how you can contributeto the <strong>University</strong>’s research efforts,contact giving@uq.edu.au22 UQ Contact WINTer <strong>2013</strong>
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