- $5 million investment from Cook Government in emerging science to help WA's grains industry remain internationally competitive
- Australian Plant Phenomics Network WA nodes launched to help transform measurement data into crop improvements
- Cook Government research and development collaborations building a strong and sustainable WA grains industry
The Cook Government is investing $5 million in a new national science collaboration that is set to transform Western Australian grains research and boost crop production.
The Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN) today launched two new WA nodes as part of an innovative nation-wide plant phenotyping project.
Plant phenotyping is the assessment of complex plant traits including development, growth, resistance, tolerance, physiology, architecture, yield and ecology.
Digital plant phenotyping is an emerging scientific field that uses advanced sensors, robotics and data science to digitise, automate and analyse the labour-intensive research process.
The APPN WA initiative will enhance WA grain research by analysing large volumes of plant responses to soil, water, nutrients and light to help develop high performance grain varieties, backed by precise crop management.
WA's nodes will be located at The University of Western Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) Northam and Merredin research facilities.
Commercial, academic and public sector researchers can tap into this emerging science by accessing the nodes' services, resources and expertise.
DPIRD's node out of Northam offers the use of drones - known as uncrewed aerial vehicles or UAVs - equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, as well as mobile and ground-based instruments to monitor and measure crops.
The department's Merredin Dryland Research Station will host sophisticated field trials with controlled irrigation and environmental monitoring, measured and monitored by the high-tech sensor systems.
The new WA nodes are the result of a partnership between the Cook Government through DPIRD and the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, and UWA.
The national network - backed by the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy - incorporates other State nodes and investment by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"This investment will help WA's grains industry to remain at the forefront of advances in research and WA's growers to increase yields, quality and resilience.
"Grains production is becoming increasingly reliant on data-driven science to breed improved varieties that are suited to local conditions.
"Together with DPIRD's research and development program throughout the Wheatbelt, the Cook Government is working alongside grower groups, universities and research collaborators to help WA growers optimise crop potential and adapt to market and climatic conditions."
As stated by Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson:
"This Cook Government collaboration will ensure that we have the latest data and information to support our grains industry and growers.
"Through this work we can help support our grain growers which are crucial to our regional and State economies.
"Investing in the latest science in technologies is imperative to remaining competitive and brings benefits for both our research community and grain growers."
