Australia’s first tropical and subtropical agricultural research institute, the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), celebrated some early successes at its inaugural Annual Research Meeting on Brisbane’s Sunshine Coast this week.
In his opening speech at the event, The University of Queensland (UQ) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Max Lu, said QAAFI was proving to be an invaluable asset at UQ in terms of the calibre of research being produced by the Institute.
“In just a short time, we have witnessed the establishment of multi-million dollar research agreements, international research programs now also come under the QAAFI umbrella, and an incredible array of research developments have been announced by QAAFI throughout 2011,” Professor Lu said.
“QAAFI can now be associated* with the discovery of a link between the structure of the glucose-storage molecule (known as glycogen) in our liver cells and diabetes, research that has confirmed the first Australian glyphosate resistant broadleaf weed, the use of nanotechnology to deliver vaccines to animals more efficiently and sought after antibacterial properties in Australian honey, to name a few.”
QAAFI was set up as an Institute of the UQ in September 2009 through a major alliance with the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). In October 2010, plant, animal and food scientists transferred from DEEDI to work for UQ in QAAFI.
The QAAFI Annual Research Meeting drew together senior scientists, agri-political representatives and QAAFI researchers to reflect on the establishment and first 10 months of QAAFI operations. The review given by the meeting’s speakers and delegates demonstrated the research advances being made.
QAAFI Director, Professor Robert Henry, said research and industry groups alike from across Australia and overseas have expressed enormous interest in the evolution of QAAFI.
“QAAFI is now recognised as a national leader in areas of grain research including genetic improvement, crop protection, soil health, climate science and functional food,” Professor Henry said.
“Our sincere thanks is extended to all those who have helped to establish QAAFI and the many gifted researchers and support staff who have made QAAFI a reality.”
Also at the opening of the meeting was DEEDI Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Beth Woods, who played a key role in QAAFI’s formation. Professor Woods spoke of the enviable expertise that makes up QAAFI.
“This unique partnership brings together a myriad of expertise from breeding through to sensory evaluation of food products,” Professor Woods said.
“Coupled with this expertise is world’s best technology including genome screening, technologies to test product quality and state-of-the-art sensory facilities.
“QAAFI will play an integral role in the future of national and international tropical and subtropical industries.”
The QAAFI Vision is to be a world leader in tropical and subtropical agricultural and food research and development. QAAFI will ensure that cutting-edge science and science education is applied to support sustainable tropical and subtropical agriculture and food production.
*Research partners who have worked with QAAFI on the discoveries mentioned in this release include:
• Glucose-storage molecule and diabetes work – Wuhan University/China; Monash University/Melbourne and the Southern Cross University.
• Glyphosate resistant broadleaf weed - The Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group, which is supported by the Grains Research & Development Corporation and key R&D based crop protection companies with an interest in the sustainability of glyphosate.
• Nanotechnology to deliver animal vaccines – Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.
• Antibacterial properties in Australian honey – Australian Organic Honey Company and Medi Bioactive Australia.
Media: QAAFI Communications Manager, Julie Lloyd, 0415 799 890.
