March Director's message

2022 represents the fourth year since the launch of CEAT in 2018, and two years since CEAT was elevated to the status of an ANU Innovation Institute in 2020. Much has happened over those years, with CEAT having gone from a concept to a funded-initiative that harnesses the potential of the ANU community to address some of the most complex challenges facing the agri-sector. While ANU will never be a traditional agricultural research institution, there is extraordinary potential for ANU to “do ag differently”, particularly in areas that require interdisciplinary teams to work with industry on some of the most difficult, long-term problems facing the agri-sector.

Read Owen's message in full here

Research grant for CEAT director Owen Atkin

ANU Plant Science team win international grant

Wheat comprises 20 percent of all human calories and protein; it is of great importance for feeding the human population. Climate change continues to raise average temperatures, like most food production, wheat is threatened by the changing ecosystem.

Climate change impacts on food supply

A recent report 'The Fork in the Road' highlights the threat of climate change on our food industry and calls for more to be done to reduce carbon emissions. CEAT looks at the diverse ways we can adapt to, and mitigate the threat, and ways to strengthen the industry.

Wildlife Drones - an update on who they are and what they do

Hub member Wildlife Drones have had a very busy month! Wildlife Drones is a tech company that has developed radio-tracking drone systems for locating animals on the move. This technology can be applied to pest management, and conservation. This tracking technology is world leading and is revolutionising wildlife and environmental monitoring.

Future Ag-Innovation Panel Discussion reflection

On Monday the 7th of March CEAT ran a panel discussion on the future of Ag-innovation. The six-member panel brought together different and contrasting perspectives on the ag-tech system. This provided a great opportunity for provocative discussion that will help identify opportunities and challenges for the next CEAT strategic planning session.

New wheat varieties are needed to withstand warming trends

Some of Australia's most popular wheat varieties cannot withstand the global warming trend, and new varieties will be needed before too long, new University of Sydney research has found.

Next gen plant protein startup ready to scale pilot production

The Leaf Protein Co. is taking advantage of the rapid growth in the alternative protein sector, and wants to create protein ingredients from leaves to provide food companies with a clean alternative protein.

Broken bread — avert global wheat crisis caused by invasion of Ukraine

CEAT Fellow, Alison Bentley, highlights the wheat crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine, and outlines steps we can take to protect global supply to ensure food for the future.

Research to Value Workshop hosted by CEAT & CSIRO

CEAT and CSIRO are holding a Research to Value Workshop at ANU. It is a free half-day program designed for researchers of all stages that would like to maximise the impact of their research by developing practical industry engagement skills.

Canberra Workshop: Pre-2035 Agri-Food-Tech Oceania Summit

CEAT, along with Oceania 2035 and ACIAR, are holding a workshop to enable participants to share how their work is helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the agri-food production sector; and look at ways the industry can better address the existential threat of climate change.

Digital Agriculture PhD Supplementary Scholarship

CSIRO and ANU are partnering to offer exciting opportunities for PhD students to work with scientists and engineers at the cutting edge of research to address industry challenges, through the application of information science in the agricultural sector. This top-up Awards supports PhD candidates in Science, Engineering or Technology at the ANU to work with leading research scientists and engineers in first-class facilities.

To be eligible to apply for this top-up award, students must have applied for, or be the recipient of, a base PhD scholarship from the ANU and be completing an approved project. This is a unique opportunity to work with some of the best minds across these areas, and play an important role in the future of digital agriculture.

EOI's for 2022 will open soon, read more here.

Postgrad Opportunities in Phenotyping

Are you an enthusiastic, highly motivated postgraduate student who wants to be exposed to world-class, cutting-edge research technology and knowledge in plant science?

Applications for the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF) Postgraduate Internship Awards (PIA) are open. Successful applicants receive up to $10,000 for use of the APPF’s infrastructure and phenotyping capabilities, and a contribution to travel and accommodation.

Applications are assessed based on academic record, research experience and appropriateness of the proposed research topic, including rationale and reasons. Internships are offered at our Canberra Nodes (CSIRO or ANU), and at the University of Adelaide Node, for postgraduate students with a real interest in plant phenomics research and technology. Areas of interest can be anything from agriculture and plant physiology, genetics, biology, mechatronics, image analysis to bioinformatics and software engineering.

If you have a research question you want to answer, want experience working as an intern with the highly-skilled APPF team, want to learn about experimental design, image analysis, and data analysis in plant phenomics, start planning your application now.

To prepare your application, contact [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]. Applications close 31st March.

Find out more here.

CEAT Strategic Investment Program

CEAT is pleased to announce the Strategic Investment Program (SIP).

This funding opportunity is open to ANU researchers looking to engage with industry partners to translate their research into solutions that address agricultural sector challenges. The program has three different streams: Scoping, Engagement and Collaboration.

The Program is open to all ANU researchers and research students. For information about the application process please see the SIP website.

CEAT is an ANU Innovation Institute

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