Prof. Zhonghua Chen

Prof. Zhonghua Chen

P2-018 Optimum cooling strategies for vegetable protected cropping; P2-016 Sustainable fertigation

Professor Zhonghua Chen is Associate Dean (International) at the School of Science, and Education Leader of the National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre (NVPCC) at Western Sydney University (WSU). Professor Chen has a globally recognised track record of research excellence in the fields of agriculture, plant science and evolutionary biology. Since 2005, his research has resulted in academic papers in more than 130 publications including high-quality research articles in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA), Trends in Plant Science, The Plant Cell, eLife, Ecology Letters, Plant Physiology, New Physiologist, Plant Biotechnology Journal, and The Plant Journal. Prof. Chen is the also Editor in Chief for Plant Growth Regulation and a reviewer for more than 60 international journals. He has been the recipient of research grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC), Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA), CRDC, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) and has netted several research awards. Prof. Chen is an international referee for grant applications to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Netherland Organization for Scientific Research, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Natural Science Foundation of China, the South Africa National Research Foundation and others.

P2-016 In Progress

Sustainable fertigation for high yield and quality vegetables in protected cropping

The aim of this PhD project is to identify novel fertigation, nutrient delivery, and management approaches of growing vegetables to increase both yield and quality of produce in both Australia and Qatar.
P2-018 In Progress

Optimum cooling strategies for vegetable protected cropping in warm climates

The focus of this project is on describing the crop, technology and climate interactions that result from implementing various protected cropping strategies and greenhouse designs in the warm Australian climate.

International research collaboration to develop sustainable indoor-cropping solutions 

CRC supporting partner Qatar University is drawing on the expertise and state-of-the-art greenhouse facilities at Western Sydney University to help it develop sustainable fertigation solutions for indoor growers. 

Terry Lin: Investigating warm-climate greenhouse tech in Australian facilities

Supervised by Prof. Zhonghua Chen, CRC PhD student Terry Lin is assessing the long-term performance of various cooling technologies and greenhouse set-ups at WSU's high-tech glasshouse facility.

Meet Zhonghua Chen: plant physiology, genomics and protected cropping expert

Western Sydney University’s Prof. Zhonghua Chen is an expert in plant physiology, plant breeding, biophysics and agronomy - and an academic mentor to Australia's next generation of crop scientists. 

Protected Cropping Australia Conference: wet but well attended

Relentless rain did little to dampen the spirits of the estimated 450 delegates, 40 virtual attendees, 60 exhibitors and large CRC-cohort contingent at this year’s PCA conference in Coffs Harbour.

CRC welcomes three new PhDs

Three new doctoral candidates will contribute valuable research to CRC projects, investigating cooling strategies for protected cropping, analysing herbal weight loss supplements and creating detailed molecular profiles of WA foods to form the foundation of strategies around precision nutrition.

CRC projects on the agenda at 2022 PCA Conference in Coffs

Research leads, PhDs and project collaborators from government and industry are among the CRC-affiliated presenters at this year's PCA Conference.

WSU to partner with Qatar University to develop sustainable fertigation technology

Protected cropping experts at Western Sydney University are embarking on a CRC project with new partner Qatar University to deliver novel fertigation solutions that optimise indoor crops.

Qatar University joins Future Food Systems CRC

New CRC participant Qatar University, based in Doha, is the country’s leading tertiary education and research institution, ranked second of all the Arab universities in the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) Arab University Rankings.
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