Dr Caitlin Byrt from ANU will work with CSIRO colleagues to develop new tech that mimics how plants work for Australian agriculture. Photo: Nic Vevers/ANU
Dr Caitlin Byrt from ANU will work with CSIRO colleagues to develop new tech that mimics how plants work for Australian agriculture. Photo: Nic Vevers/ANU - A team of researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) and CSIRO has been awarded more than $1 million to develop technology that harvests valuable resources from our wastewater. The technology is inspired by breakthroughs in biological research, including mimicking how plants extract nutrients and adapt to toxic molecules in soil. The project will address a growing need to secure reliable access to clean water and essential nutrients - including nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium - to sustain and grow Australia's agri-food sector in the face of climate change and geopolitical challenges. Although Australia is a net exporter of food, we import more than 80 per cent of the fertilisers we use. The Ukraine-Russia war has led to a sharp increase in the price of fertiliser and exposed vulnerabilities in our global supply chains, putting pressure on Australian farmers to absorb the price increases. ANU plant scientist Dr Caitlin Byrt said there was demand across a range of industries for this technology.
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