Green thumbs from schools around the state have converged on The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus for its annual Sunflower Competition.
Hosted by the School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, the competition sees schools race to grow the heaviest sunflower.
Schools participating in the Sunflower Competition would grow their sunflowers over the 11 weeks following the official planting day on March 6, competition organiser Dr Doug George said.
“We want to open their worlds to the excitement and diversity of horticulture,” Dr George said.
The competition allows students to learn about the plant science in a fun and interactive way.
More than 40 schools, with more than 1500 students, have registered for the 2009 competition so far.
Sponsored by Pacific Seeds, Australian Sunflower Association and Grains Research Foundation (GRF), the entrants will have their best sunflowers judged on Weigh In Day on May 26.
Weigh In Day will also be an opportunity for students to learn more about the variety of career options available within the sunflower industry.
“The industry is expanding into new and diverse areas,” Dr George said.
“Australia currently imports 60,000 tonnes of sunflower seed from which 25,000 tonnes of oil is produced.
“There are opportunities for local growers to produce this seed as well as replace some of the saturated oil market (150,000 tonnes of palm oil and 100,000 tonnes of tallow) with healthier unsaturated sunflower oil.”
It’s not too late for schools wanting to be involved in the Sunflower Competition 2009. To register, call 07 5460 1279 or email sunflower@uq.edu.au
Media: Erin Pearl at the Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Veterinary Science (07 5460 1229, 0409 265 587, e.pearl@uq.edu.au)
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