New technologies and techniques are enabling Australia’s leading agricultural scientists from CSIRO to track a reduction in the levels of livestock methane emissions and develop solutions for a more productive, profitable and greenhouse gas friendly beef industry. The CSIRO research leader Dr Ed Charmley, has just announced that research conducted in the high-tech respiration chambers shows Australia’s northern beef herd is actually more ‘methane-friendly’ than previously thought. “What... ...Read more »

Leading Australian scientists based at the CSIRO are working with the Australian ingredients manufacturer, Clover Corporation Limited, to improve the nutritional content of infant formulas. They are developing a better understanding of how nutritional bioactives can be combined in the milk formulas with natural essential Omega 3 fatty acid DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). The aim is to improve the ability of infants to absorb bioactive ingredients that can boost the immune system of the infant. CSIRO’s... ...Read more »

Early last Thursday, Greenpeace activists whipper-snippered a genetically modified wheat experiment on the outskirts of Canberra. Two women, one of them described as a mother concerned for the health of her family, wore protective clothing and set up a protective cordon before destroying the CSIRO plantation. “This is about the protection of our health, the protection of our environment and the protection of our daily bread,” said Greenpeace Food campaigner Laura Kelly in defence of the sabotage. Her... ...Read more »

Ants and termites may be the earthworms of dry-land agriculture, with a paper by scientists at CSIRO and the Univeristy of Sydney showing that the insects have a significant positive impact on crop yields in dryland agriculture. “Ants and termites perform the same ecosystem service functions in dryland agriculture that earthworms perform in cooler and wetter areas, but the potential for ants and termites to provide these benefits has received little attention until now,” said CSIRO’s... ...Read more »

Four of Australia’s leading research institutions will collaborate closely over the next three years to fast-track development of new ‘healthier’ varieties of three of the world’s most widely cultivated cereal grains. The new ‘High Fibre Grains Cluster’ will focus on wheat, barley and rice. One of the primary research goals is to boost the amount of beneficial compounds, such as beta glucans and arabinoxylans, which are key contributors to the soluble component of dietary fibre in the... ...Read more »

The Public Health Association of Australia has criticised the Government’s new Food Policy Working Group, saying that its panel represents industry presence over public heath interests. The Working Group, comprising 13 members, is made up of Woolworths managing director Michael Luscombe, NFF president Jock Laurie, Elders chief executive officer Malcolm Jackman, Linfox Logistics’ Michael Byrne, CSIRO’s Dr Alastair Robertson, Simplot Australia’s Terry O’Brien, OBE Organics’ Simone Tully,... ...Read more »

CSIRO researchers have discovered a new method growers could use to control when their grapes ripen, without affecting wine quality. Grape berry ripening is occurring earlier and the harvest season is becoming shorter, possibly due to increases in atmospheric temperatures and CO2 levels. This is causing wineries considerable difficulty in accurately scheduling harvests to maximise the wine-making potential of some grape varieties. “We discovered that the application of certain plant-growth regulators... ...Read more »

The recently launched Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains opens the door to a new era of food science research that spells good news for Queensland’s fruit and vegetable lovers. The new precinct provides a ‘Centre of Excellence’ that will take Queensland food research to new heights as both State Government and Federal Government (CSIRO) scientists join forces at the new centre. With major collaborations on a number of projects already in place before the centralised move, the... ...Read more »

A new $100 million dollar Health and Food Sciences Precinct in Brisbane, a joint project between the Queensland State Government and the CSIRO, will cover human and animal health and food sciences in a ‘centre of excellence’. The new centre was officially opened by Premier Anna Bligh, Federal Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State, Senator Joe Ludwig and Queensland Primary Industries Minister, Tim Mulherin today. Research at the precinct will include a variety of projects aiming... ...Read more »

A collaborative agreement between CSIRO and two German organisations is providing Australian food companies with access to a new processing technology which uses low-energy electron beams rather than heat or chemicals to decontaminate food. The agreement – with the internationally respected Fraunhofer Institute for Electron Beam and Plasma Technology and service company, EVONTA-Service GmbH – aims to further scientific research into ‘low-energy electron beam processing’. “This is an... ...Read more »