FFS PhD student finds cost-effective hands-free way to estimate plant height in protected cropping facilitiesNamal Jayasuriya’s research at Western Sydney University using machine vision to estimate crop-height, a proxy for vegetative growth, has been published in Computers and Electronics in Agriculture.
Crack research team to extend Australian Tree Crop Map in $1.7m collaborationUniversity of New England mapping experts are again teaming with Hort Innovation in a significant collaboration to extend the national tree-crop map.
‘Living Lab’ to drive value-adding innovation in Coffs Harbour’s agrifood sectorA new Future Food Systems project will establish Australia’s first food-focused ‘Living Lab’ to foster creative collaboration among stakeholders in Coffs’ agrifood ecosystem, including co-designing the concept for a dedicated food innovation and logistics precinct for the region.
Hort Innovation explores tech-enabled solutions to berry-sector labour woesHort Innovation consulted berry growers Australia-wide to identify viable, cost-effective technology to address one of the sector’s greatest challenges: harvesting labour.
UNSW professor recognised as one of Republic of Korea’s key academic leadersFFS project lead and UNSW Professor Hoon Han was one of 18 Korean academics worldwide chosen to meet the Republic of Korea’s President.
First national map of Australia’s protected cropping structures launchedLaunched in mid-July, Australia’s first national map of PC systems enables accurate yield forecasting and speedy, targeted response to natural disasters and biosecurity threats.
A fresh R&D agenda for crops grown under coverA new, stakeholder-set R&D strategy aims to address industry challenges and support smart, sustainable growth in Australia’s protected cropping sector.
Meet Hoon Han: AI and geomapping expertProf. Han has used AI to ascertain land and CBD floorspace use, property values and more. Next, he’s keen to apply it to agrifood freight logistics and decision-making.
National PC map proves its value in recent NSW varroa mite incursionThe AARSC’s near-completed map of all commercial protected cropping systems across Australia is already proving its worth as a rapid-response alert system for biosecurity breaches. The team behind it is calling for further feedback before finalising the national baseline map for release mid-year.
Automating Australia’s indoor cropping sectorA new, $6.8M FFS project links vertical farm operators, data solutions providers and seed distributors with crop, sensor and IoT experts to develop tools that monitor and manage crop performance, pests, pathogens and pollination in near-real-time, enabling automated indoor production.
Smart mobile platform set to transform indoor pollination operationsQUT robotics experts have developed a self-guiding robotic platform that enables hands-free pollination in a commercial greenhouse, paving the way to cost-effective automation of labour-intensive tasks.
ATSE launches national STEM skills roadmapNew ATSE report 'Our STEM skilled future - An education roadmap for an innovative workforce' compiles findings from five roundtables to make sector-specific and overarching recommendations addressing Australia's skills shortages. Future Food Systems' Prof. Cordelia Selomulya contributed.
Future Food Systems CRC hosts visiting Irish PhDThis spring, Irish doctoral candidate Suzanne Kelly tours partner universities as a guest of the Future Food Systems CRC, looking at agrifood-related research involving social capital, innovation and knowledge exchange.
Eranda Namal Jayasuriya, PhD student: Imaging analysis for IoT sensor networksSri-Lanka-born, Western Sydney University-based Eranda Namal Jayasuriya is one of two PhD students attached to the CRC’s 'IoT for indoor cropping' project.
CRC report makes cover of Crops journalWestern Sydney University post-doc researcher Sachin Chavan's CRC report 'Protected cropping: Current technologies and target crops' is the cover feature for the June 2022 issue of peer-reviewed journal Crops.
Meet Fraser Taylor: data-driven health interventions expertCreating transparency of the world’s food supply is the clear motivation for Fraser Taylor, GM of the FoodSwitch program at The George Institute for Global Health.
Growing Australia’s capability to supply ASEAN demand for trusted food goodsAt the first of a series of Science meets Business events hosted by FIPWA and the CRC, key stakeholders in WA's agrifood system discussed how smart trade solutions can help expand export opportunities for the sector.
Labor makes $16.7m commitment to state-of-the-art Agri Tech Hub at Western Sydney UniversityFederal Labor has promised to fund one-third of WSU’s $50m Agri Tech Hub, which is set to become the nation’s first high-tech commercial, teaching and research greenhouse complex.
Meet Craig Shephard: land-use mapping expertAARSC senior researcher Craig Shephard leads the National PC mapping project, an initiative of Protected Cropping Australia supported by Hort Innovation, UNE, LLSNSW and the CRC. He's also a keen mountain-biker.
Protected Cropping Australia Conference: wet but well attendedRelentless 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.
