Current projects

  • All
  • Program 1
  • Program 2
  • Program 3
P2-013
Active
Smart Glass film impacts on energy use and productivity in greenhouse lettuce

Modifying the spectral performance of glasshouses by use of smart glasses or retrofitted films can deliver significant increases in both production and energy and water efficiency.

P3-006
Active
Bioactive components for value-add to Australian artichokes

This project will apply chemical fingerprinting technology based on a combination of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) together with chemometric data analysis to better understand the natural chemical compounds in various Australian artichokes.

P3-011
Active
Improving the functional properties of plant-based food products

The project aims to improve the properties of a range of products, including the functionality of Barista plant-based milk (Alternative Dairy Company), by developing a comprehensive understanding of the effects of processing parameters on the desired product properties.

P3-010
Active
Towards scaling up the production of functional Mg-based particles via spray drying for nutraceutical applications

The project will support the establishment of a large scale production of high purity Mg-based particles in NSW and WA, sourced from the waste bitterns of solar salt operations in Karratha, and to develop a new strategy in synthesising novel mesoporous Mg-based particles via spray drying.

P3-009
Active
FoodSwitch Connect

FoodSwitch Connect is a web-based service that provides listings of vendors and their menu items. The vendors’ foods will be profiled and rated for their healthiness using FoodSwitch’s science-based algorithms, which will provide procurement teams the means to identify and source healthier foods for workplace catering

P2-010
Active
Advancing an acoustic-induced pollination solution for protected cropping

The project will advance understanding of self-pollination mechanisms and drive new solutions, as such, is considered likely to generate original findings and a new direction for research.

P2-008
Active
Development of a Modular Vertical Growing System Phase 1: Field Analysis of a Modular Vertical Growing System

The project will address specific design challenges identified by Greenbio as it seeks to develop and commercialise proprietary solutions for mobile modular vertical hydroponic growing systems.

P2-007
Active
Microbial rhizosphere diversity in glasshouse hydroponic crops

This project seeks to characterise the behaviour of probiotic organisms in the root zone of hydroponic tomato plants, and to develop a practical method for routine monitoring of the root microbiome.

P2-009
Active
Optimising blueberry fruit nutritional quality using controlled spectra and mild stress treatment via polytunnel innovation

This PhD project will use phenomic, agronomic, physiological and biochemical approaches to assess as well as develop interventions for maximising plant resilience and fruit quality of blueberry under protected cropping.

P1-005
Active
Understanding the Food Innovation Ecosystem in Coffs Harbour

The purpose of this project is to understand the current food production ecosystem in Coffs Harbour, and concurrently the prospects for growth of this ecosystem, particularly in light of output capacity and increased value-add, creation of food hubs and distribution, and technology deployment.

P1-003
Active
Commercialisation of native rice for Indigenous enterprise development

The project aims to lay the foundations for commercialisation of Australian native rice as a high-value, low-volume, culturally-identified, nutritious food, especially for tourism, gourmet food, restaurant markets and value-added products.

P3-003
Completed
High-level analysis of food manufacturing facility needs

This scoping project involves high-level analysis of Australian food manufacturing facility needs, opportunities and challenges. It will review current global best practice in advanced food manufacturing; consider current and intended Australian processes and facilities; and provide scoping for future CRC manufacturing research.

P3-002
Completed
Participant product design challenges identified. Review completed to assess feasibility and develop product development strategy.

This project will produce a general report and guide that provides a strategy for product development in the CRC’s target categories from ideation to commercialisation. Aimed and SME food innovators, it will outline industry best practice in taking products to market.

P3-001
Completed
Consultation with peak regulatory and industry bodies to identify primary regulatory control points and key QA parameters

This scoping project will produce a high-level summary of the regulatory framework for the supply chain of premium Australian fresh goods and goods sold on the basis of their nutritional benefits, aiding our understanding of the primary regulatory control points and key quality assurance (QA) parameters on a targeted export market, China.

P2-001
Active
IoT for indoor farming

This four-year innovation project is led by WBS Project H, manufacturers of state-of-the-art LED technology for vertical farms and greenhouses, with AI and protected-cropping experts at UNSW and WSU respectively.

P2-003
Completed
Identification of protected cropping production systems and crops suitable for application of robotics based on economic analysis, and benefits to industry

A major goal of the CRC is to support Australia’s protecting cropping sector in transitioning to advanced automated systems – including, potentially, robotics.

P2-002
-
System design case study: configuration options for high-tech, artificial-light urban production systems

Working with CRC partner Sprout Stack, UNSW researchers are developing and comparing production system alternatives with the aim of increasing production capacity, reducing costs and shrinking the company’s environmental footprint. 

P2-006
Completed
Next-generation protected cropping facilities: survey of global innovation trends and Southern Hemisphere R&D opportunities

Australia’s protected cropping sector is currently heavily reliant on imported proprietary technology for the design, construction and operation of indoor facilities. This technology, typically, has been developed for Northern European conditions.

P2-005
Completed
Review of advances in high-throughput sensing technologies for automated and fast phenotyping for trait extraction

Industry has identified via CRC forums and other channels a need for high-throughput sensing technologies for automated and fast phenotyping for trait extraction.

P2-004
Completed
Review of current techniques and technologies in commercial protected cropping

The research and its report will survey Australian current practice and international best practice in protected cropping plant science and production, with the emphasis on CRC partner target crops and commercial production objectives.

P1-004
Completed
New approaches to blockchain, governance and digital communities for smart trade hubs

The overarching aim of this multi-stage project led by BeefLedger is to develop the soft and hard digital infrastructure needed to support the growth of smart trade – infrastructure that will overlay and complement the physical elements of export hubs: transport infrastructure, storage, logistics and suchlike.

P1-001
Completed
Global best practice in urban agrifood design & planning

To scope future work in CRC precinct design research, this project is surveying global best practice in urban agrifood design and planning, with a focus on industry clusters and on nations and regions that have achieved economic, social and environmental objectives through excellence in design and planning.

P1-002
Active
Western Sydney agrifood mapping and analytics

This project will provide the initial evidence base and stakeholder communication tools needed to foster development of an advanced future food industry focused in the Liverpool region of Western Sydney.