The appointment of Professor Graeme Hammer as Director of the Centre for Plant Science (CPS) at The University of Queensland (UQ) will underpin a fresh approach to agri-science research that aims to develop more productive and sustainable crop plants for tropical and subtropical environments.
CPS was established in 2010 as one of three Centres that makes up the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (*QAAFI). QAAFI was set up as an Institute of the University of Queensland in September 2009 through a major alliance with the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). In October 2010, many plant, animal and food scientists transferred from DEEDI to work for UQ in QAAFI.
QAAFI Director, Professor Robert Henry, said Professor Hammer’s appointment will be of tremendous value to crop research that will benefit Queensland growers and agri-business and be sought after internationally.
“Professor Hammer has a wealth of knowledge in crop physiology and modelling, including the ability to develop mathematical models that can be used to simulate the consequences of genetic and management manipulation of crops in specific environments,” Professor Henry said.
“His expertise is reflective of a new Queensland Centre for Plant Science that has the capacity to embark on research to help Australian and international growers of crops such as sorghum, maize and wheat, and to enable these industries to meet the many challenges of the 21st century and beyond.”
Professor Hammer’s recent professional endeavours are reflective of the type of work that will be carried out by the QAAFI CPS. Professor Hammer’s most recent research focus has been on the physiology and genetics of complex adaptive traits in field crops with a focus on water productivity in cereals.
Some of the opportunities from his research capacity include:
• Aid crop management and design for enhanced production in water-limited environments.
• Enhance the utility of genomics capabilities in molecular breeding for drought adaptation.
• Identify avenues to cope with climate risk and adapt to climate change in field crop production.
According to Professor Hammer, much of his expertise and research to date has been focused on the major cereal crops sorghum, maize and wheat.
“In various projects that I have led, research has focussed on plant traits and management systems that influence resource capture and resource use efficiency, including tillering and canopy development, root system architecture, maturity, carbon and nitrogen partitioning, light use and transpiration efficiencies.
“The detailed understanding that transpires from such work can generate advanced approaches to molecular breeding and crop improvement.”
Professor Hammer collaborates closely with plant breeders, geneticists, molecular biologists and agronomists in a range of national and international research projects in both public and private sectors.
QAAFI CPS will have a wealth of expertise to unravel new potential for cereal crops along with the tropical and subtropical fruit species and broader aspects of sustainability of production systems that will also be a focus of research in CPS.
The QAAFI CPS goal is to link excellence in the discovery and development plant science capabilities of UQ and DEEDI to deliver outcomes for plant industries and associated community benefits via improved crops, integrated crop protection, and sustainable production systems.
*QAAFI background
Launched on October 21 2010, the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) is an Institute of the University of Queensland (UQ) and was formed through and alliance between UQ and the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). QAAFI draws together 100 research teams specialising in plant, animal and food sciences from twelve UQ and DEEDI sites across Queensland.
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.
For more information contact: Julie Lloyd, QAAFI Communication Manager, 0415 799 890.
