Matthew Morell, Director, QAAFI at University of Queensland - with sorghum in a glasshouse.
Matthew Morell, Director, QAAFI at University of Queensland - with sorghum in a glasshouse. Agriculture has entered a new era where advanced, multidisciplinary sciences are harnessed to meet consumer demands for safe, ethically and sustainably produced foods, according to the incoming director of a key research institute. Professor Matthew Morell from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at The University of Queensland, said agriculture had been criticised for its focus on productivity and profitability at the expense of sustainability. "It is not enough to put food on the table; consumers want to know it is safe to eat, sustainably produced and providing them with adequate levels of nutrition,' Professor Morell said. "This requires a much better understanding of, and response to, consumer perspectives and demands for sustainable and ethical food production. "Provenance and traceability are not just marketing tools; they help us understand what agriculture's footprint is and how we can produce the food we need while protecting ecosystems.' Professor Morell said he planned to develop and sustain QAAFI's research agenda with the help of industry and government. "The Institute has animal, crop, horticulture and food science research capabilities, and they are deeply interconnected,' he said.
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