Sustainability

Local research homing in on the year round truffle

Local research homing in on the year round truffle

Research progress, technology advancements and opportunities to support a new truffle species which can be harvested in winter, spring and summer seasons was outlined last week. Academics, farmers, industry partners and representatives converged on the McHenry farm at Mt Lindesay recently to hear about these advancements in truffle cultivation. Local research initiative Silverplace which is…

‘Acoustic-induced pollination in protected cropping’ with Assoc. Prof. Chris Cazzonelli

In this video, Assoc. Prof. Cazzonelli explains how precision pollination technology is advancing crop production. By using high-frequency sound waves, sonication promotes tomato pollination as effectively as conventional methods – delivering a sustainable and precise solution for protected cropping.

‘Sustainable fertigation in protected cropping’ with Sonali Koundal

Watch FFS PhD candidate Sonali Koundal talk about the FFS 'Sustainable fertigation in protected cropping' project. Sustainable vegetable production in diverse environments like Australia and Qatar face constraints related to climate, water use efficiency, and nutrient management. Conventional fertigation practices may not optimise both yield and crop quality under varying regional conditions.

Cultivation of newly isolated cyanobacterium for high-value functional food and sustainable food packaging materials

Cultivation of newly isolated cyanobacterium for high-value functional food and sustainable food packaging materials

This project aims to optimise biomass cultivation conditions to maximise the co-production of phycocyanin and bioplastic precursors. By refining parameters such as nutrient supply, light intensity, and cultivation systems, the research seeks to enhance yield and efficiency, enabling scalable production of both high-value pigment and biodegradable materials.

Plant pathogens, microbiomes, and soil health

Plant pathogens, microbiomes, and soil health

Healthy soil is vital for ecosystem sustainability and global food security. However, anthropogenic activities that promote intensive agriculture, landscape and biodiversity homogenization, and climate change disrupt soil health. The soil microbiome is a critical component of healthy soils, and increasing evidence suggests that soils with low diversity or homogenized microbial systems are more susceptible to…

Banana Peels: A Genuine Waste or a Wonderful Opportunity?

Banana Peels: A Genuine Waste or a Wonderful Opportunity?

Banana is the second-highest fruit produced in the world and is a staple food for over 400 million people. Only 40% of the crop is utilised, leading to 114 million tonnes of banana waste annually. Banana peel constitutes about ~40% of the whole fruit, and it is considered a domestic and food industry waste. It…

Formulation challenges associated with microbial biofertilisers in sustainable agriculture and paths forward

Formulation challenges associated with microbial biofertilisers in sustainable agriculture and paths forward

Sustainable increase in agriculture productivity is confronted by over-reliance and over-use of synthetic chemical fertilizers. With a market projection of $5.02 billion by 2030, biofertilizers are gaining momentum as a supplement and, in some cases, as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Biofertilizers can improve the nutritional supply to the plant and simultaneously can improve soil…

Harnessing co-evolutionary interactions between plant and Streptomyces for combatting drought stress

Harnessing co-evolutionary interactions between plant and Streptomyces for combatting drought stress

Streptomyces is a drought-tolerant bacterial genus in soils, which forms close associations with plants to provide host resilience to drought stress. Here we synthesize the emerging research that illuminates the multifaceted interactions of Streptomyces spp. in both plant and soil environments. It also explores the potential co-evolutionary relationship between plants and Streptomyces spp. to forge…

Sustainable, Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre at Food Innovation Precinct of WA opening Friday

Sustainable, Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre at Food Innovation Precinct of WA opening Friday

Business owners are urged to enjoy a taste of the benefits of a new food and beverage manufacturing centre set to open in the Peel region this Friday. The Sustainable, Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre is opening in the Food Innovation Precinct of WA (FIPWA) at the Peel Business Park to give businesses without access…

Impacts of biostimulants on crop yield and biological activity under drought conditions

Impacts of biostimulants on crop yield and biological activity under drought conditions

Biostimulants are proposed to have a role in sustainable food production and are being increasingly used strategies to limit the negative effects of drought stress on crop yield and soil health. However, how different biostimulants used alone, or in combination with conventional management approaches affect soil health and crop yield under drought in different soils…

Economic modelling to guide optimal packaging solutions

Economic modelling to guide optimal packaging solutions

The objective of this project is to develop two economic discrete choice models to determine the economic viability of optimal packaging options and in so doing support researchers in core experiment activiites by providing guidance and direction.

Energy saving films for smart greenhouses

Energy saving films for smart greenhouses

This research program, based at the National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre (NVPCC) at Western Sydney University, investigates the application of Smart Glass (SG) and LLEAF light-shifting films in commercial glasshouses. These technologies aim to block or redirect specific wavelengths of light to reduce internal heat load, improve photosynthetic efficiency, and minimise energy use. The project trials these materials under real production conditions, evaluating their impact on crop performance and environmental sustainability.

Advancing sustainable dairy through precision fermentation

Advancing sustainable dairy through precision fermentation

This project will result in a high throughput platform for screening thousands of microbial strains and precision fermentation conditions to identify those producing correctly phosphorylated proteins. Selected phosphoproteins will undergo further quality control testing, including dairy product prototyping and digestibility studies, to identify promising new precision fermented dairy products.

Enhancing fresh spirulina shelf life using cold plasma technology

Enhancing fresh spirulina shelf life using cold plasma technology

This project explores the application of cold plasma technology as a chemical-free preservation method for fresh Spirulina paste. Cold plasma, a non-thermal processing technique, is being evaluated for its ability to reduce microbial load while preserving nutritional and structural integrity. By targeting microbial decontamination without heat or additives, the process aims to extend shelf life and ensure safety without compromising the product’s health benefits.

Expanding Australia’s truffle industry

Expanding Australia’s truffle industry

This project seeks to introduce and evaluate two new truffle species for Australian conditions. The study will focus on inoculation and cultivation methods, environmental variables such as climate, growing medium, and water use, and will trial different host tree species, including various Pinus species. Site-specific trials on Western Australian truffle farms will assess how these species perform across diverse climates, identifying optimal pairings of truffle and host trees.