Disease-resistant tomatoes, eggs with high Omega 3 fats and other health benefits, mine rehabilitation, and improved pasture and rice yields for Australian and international farmers are among achievements recounted in a new book released for UQ’s centenary.
Agricultural Science at UQ is a 100-page colour booklet (cost, $15) written by former Head of the Department of Agriculture at UQ (1978-1991) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Biological Sciences (1991-93) Professor Emeritus L. Ross Humphreys.
“It’s full of good stories about how UQ staff and agricultural science graduates have changed agriculture since the very early days,” Professor Humphreys said.
“Agriculture in Australia and in some tropical countries would be quite different today if UQ had not fostered agricultural science.”
The first students of Agricultural Science graduated in 1929, and UQ has since produced a stream of professionals who have worked with landholders and policy makers to change the practice of agriculture.
Professor Humphreys said the story of agriculture at UQ mirrored the development of Australia over the past 80 years.
Over this time the pattern of primary products Australia sold had changed radically, while the yield from each piece of land was much greater.
In the 1930s the average cow gave 1500 litres of milk; now it was nearer to 5000 litres. Australian sugar production has increased from about 6 tonnes to about 13 tonnes per hectare in 2000.
The book also discusses changes in the social fabric, with a migration from country to city; and intensified farming practices bringing new problems of salinity, groundwater, introduced pests and diseases and land degradation.
“There has been a major change in orientation from the overwhelming emphasis on increasing farm production to a recognition that devising profitable farming systems which protect the environment is the main business of discovery,” Professor Humphreys said.
Copies of the book are available from the School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences at the University’s St Lucia (Building 83) and Gatton (Building 8111) campuses.
Copies can be ordered by fax or email from The School Manager, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland Brisbane, Q 4072, Fax 07 3365 1177 or email a.hanson@uq.edu.au. For further information: phone 07 3365 1171.
Media: Professor Humphreys, telephone 3371 8715 or Jan King at UQ Communications 0413 601 248.
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