This month, the University launched The ARC Research Hub for Intelligent Energy Efficiency in Future Protected Cropping (E2Crop Hub), which advances sustainable protected cropping with intelligent, renewable, and energy-efficient greenhouse solutions for the future of agriculture.
The E2Crop Hub is an Australian Research Council (ARC) supported major initiative which aims to pioneer solutions in renewable energy, plant quality enhancement, intelligent greenhouse monitoring and analysis to drive forward the vast potential of protected cropping.
The Hub is led by RMIT University and includes researchers from 3 other Australian universities.
Working alongside 12 industry partners over a five-year research program, the Hub will focus on delivering advanced energy technologies for greenhouses, enabling them to be self-sustained, affordable, and powered by renewable energy, and new automated decision-making techniques for farmers
Distinguished Professor Tianyi Ma, Director E2Crop Hub, said it was an example of tertiary-industry collaboration to solve societal challenges of today and the future.
"The E2Crop Hub brings together leading research capabilities from RMIT University, The Australian National University, Western Sydney University and The University of New South Wales," he said.
"This expertise is paired together with innovative industry leaders such as Innofocus Photonics Technology, South East Water, ClearVue Technologies, Vecor Technologies, GreenPlus, Protected Cropping Australia, Evident Australia, and many more."
The five-year project is supported by $25 million in total funding commitments: $5 million in ARC funding, matched by $5 million in contributions from industry partners, which include organisations from across the materials, energy, photonics, advanced manufacturing, and protected cropping sectors.
