Welcome to

ARC CoE for Plant Success in
Nature and Agriculture

WHY WAS THE ARC COE FOR PLANT SUCCESS IN NATURE AND AGRICULTURE CREATED?

Global demand for plant production is at an all-time high. As world populations have increased there has been a steady decline in arable land despite a steady increase in average yield per land area. Over the next 30 years, the worlds’ population is projected to rise 25%. Without any change in this trajectory the agricultural yield gap will continue to increase). Additionally, 66% of the world’s calorie intake is derived from just three crops which is surely not a recipe for sustainable land use nor healthy living.

Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO);

WHAT IS THE CENTRE DOING TO HELP?

The ARC CoE for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture will make significant advances in the emerging fields of evolutionary systems biology (how plants work and evolve) and predictive analytics (mathematics) to deliver novel strategies for improving ecosystem management, crop resilience and yield. Parallel advances in legal and social frameworks will modernise outdated precedents in these areas, enabling truly impactful research to be fully recognised, with greater scope for commercialisation and public uptake. Through strong industrial and global partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations, mentoring and communication, the Centre for Plant Success will transform plant science for the next generation.

Learn More About the Centre

HOW WILL THE CENTRE ACHIEVE ITS GOAL?

The CoE for Plant Success will draw on the world-leading research of its Chief and Partner Investigators to deepen and extend knowledge of genetic networks that control key functional processes to understand how they have evolved and are integrated in the context of whole-plant performance and success in agriculture and nature. Beginning with established model plant systems, the Centre team will combine biological discovery with advanced mathematics to extend its research across diverse natural and crop systems to model and predict mechanisms and strategies for adaptation to heat and drought.

WHO'S INVOLVED:

The CoE for Plant Success is bringing together a diverse range of acclaimed scientists including plant biologists, mathematical modellers, crop breeders and legal and computer experts. Our Australian research groups are located in Queensland (University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology), New South Wales (Macquarie University), Victoria (Monash University) and Tasmania (University of Tasmania) and we are partnering with a range of domestic and multinational organisations.

MEET THE CHIEF INVESTIGATORS

Christine Beveridge

The University of Queensland
Centre Director

Mark Cooper

The University of Queensland
Deputy Director & Node Leader

Tim Brodribb

University of Tasmania
Node Leader

John Bowman

Monash University
Node Leader

Peter Waterhouse

Queensland University of Technology
Node Leader

Ian Wright

Macquarie University
Node Leader

Kevin Burrage

Queensland University of Technology

Diane Donovan

The University of Queensland

Eloise Foo

University of Tasmania
Outreach Leader

Graeme Hammer

The University of Queensland

Robert Henry

The University of Queensland

Barbara Holland

University of Tasmania

David Jordan

The University of Queensland

Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos

The University of Queensland
Researcher Development Leader

Bradley Sherman

The University of Queensland

Steven Smith

University of Tasmania

James Weller

University of Tasmania

CONTACT

The investigators and admin group are busy building the core foundations for the CoE to ensure it succeeds in its mission. Our full website will be available soon.

For further information regarding our work or to register your interest in joining our team please get in touch – plantsuccess@uq.edu.au