May 21, 2002
The $35 million bioscience plant
research centre announced for Adelaide will guarantee Australia
remains internationally competitive in crop improvement and able
to tap into the world wide grains research effort.
Professor John Lovett, managing director of
The Grains Research &
Development Corporation (GRDC) , says long term benefits for growers
from what is "relatively high risk and expensive blue sky
research" at the centre could improve resistance to stress, such
as drought, frost and sodic soils in major crops like wheat and
barley.
The Australian Research Council and the GRDC are partners in the
Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics to be centred on
the Waite campus of Adelaide University.
Funding for the new centre includes $10 million over five years
from each of the two partners the GRDC contribution made with
the support of the nation¹s graingrowers and the Federal
Government and a significant financial commitment from the
South Australian Government. .
And, while the centre will be located in South Australia, the
Universities of Melbourne and Queensland and Victoria¹s
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment will join
Adelaide University in the centre¹s research programs.
"The centre will apply genomics research to critical problems
and opportunities relevant to the Australian grains industry,"
Professor Lovett said.
"It will have the scale and focus to attract world class
researchers and students through the provision of advanced
infrastructure and outstanding research leadership.
"The centre will characterise genes controlling the adaptation
to abiotic stress from things like drought and frost - in
wheat , barley and model species.
"We¹re talking about obtaining an understanding of what genes do
in these crops, where they occur in the plant and what their
function is."
Professor Lovett said an understanding of the function of genes
in crops would open the way for identification of the genes
responsible for characteristics like frost or drought resistance
and their introduction into a target variety.
The GRDC believed the community was likely to be more relaxed
about genetic engineering in five or 10 years time and willing
to accept this degree of plant modification because of the
proven advantages.
Despite the "blue sky" description, researchers at the
Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics would be working
in areas of basic science, justifying the GRDC¹s investment
support on behalf of graingrowers.
"Investments in genomic research can be said to involve
relatively high risk. It¹s certainly expensive and likely to
take time to pay dividends," Professor Lovett said.
"They¹re really investments in the long term future of the
grains industry and the growers in it."
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