Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan MP and UQ’s Christine Beveridge
The next generation of agricultural crops that can withstand the effects of climate change and increase food security will be identified at a new major research centre to be based at The University of Queensland. The Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan MP has announced $35 million in funding to establish the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture. UQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj AC said this Centre would make an important contribution to Australian agriculture. "It will deliver innovative and world-leading research to improve crop resilience and boost yield which will help provide solutions to the critical issues of climate change and food security," Professor Høj said. "We are excited by this announcement - it underscores our exceptional researchers and the quality of research being undertaken at UQ. "The ARC Centres of Excellence scheme funds highly innovative and transformational research and this is the ninth Centre of Excellence established at UQ, which is an outstanding achievement." Director of the new Centre UQ's Professor Christine Beveridge said the team would identify nature's success stories and translate these into opportunities to enhance yield and resilience in agricultural crops. "Around two-thirds of the world-wide human calorie intake comes from just three plant sources - wheat, rice and corn," Professor Beveridge said.
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