Agrifood Innovation Institute

🌾 Innovating for Food Security 🌾 From fertiliser-free crops to enhancing photosynthesis, bold research can transform agriculture. 153 Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates, including The Australian National University's Professor Brian Schmidt are calling for moonshot technologies to address food insecurity by 2050. 📈 It’s time to prioritize innovation and secure our future. Read more: https://lnkd.in/egZG2wje #Laureates4Action #MoonshotForHunger

Congratulations Ute Roessner AM FAA on your appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council. We are honoured to have you as an Agrifood Innovation Institute Board member and have your support as ANU Research and Innovation Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Initiatives and Infrastructure). You are an inspiring leader with such integrity, passion and warmth and we wish you all the best on your future endeavours. We are so proud of you! https://lnkd.in/gbZMUAmw

Thank you to everyone who came to last night's Food Science in the Pub event, supported by Inspiring the ACT and AFII. We heard about the science behind more resilient wheat, the history of compost, the magic of mushrooms, the technology helping scientists fight plant diseases, how community gardens are bringing together young and old and could bolster our urban food security, and how a Canberra start-up (and AFII Hub member) is revolutionising the future of food testing. Thanks to our marvellous presenters Greg Rebetzke, Benjamin Schwessinger, Rachael Walshe, Brook Clinton, Peter Wenzel and Jess Kelly and MC Phil Dooley for a night that was fun, funny and fascinating. To find out more about upcoming science events in the ACT follow Inspiring the ACT and Phil Up On Science. If you'd like to run a science engagement event in the ACT, reach out to Jillian Matthews for more information about the funding and support available through Inspiring the ACT.

A chance to show how cutting edge rural Australia is. 🤠👇🛰️ Farmers who use satellite data in their everyday activities are needed for a research project about space with The Australian National University . I'm working with Dr Aleks Deejay on a different project but couldn't resist doing a call out on this one. Most of my over a decade working in media was with ABC Rural. Farmers blow me away. They know about soil health, plant genetics, global markets, machinery, animal husbandry... the list goes on. These days the list includes using space based technology. If this is YOU please reach out to aleksander.deejay@anu.edu.au and let him know you are interested. It involves a 40-min interview. You are busy. But it's worth your time because you will: - show how amazing farmers are - give feedback about how space data could more useful for you - help shape the narrative about space and agriculture - have a great chat with a lovely person who wants to know more about how you work Please share with your #rural #Australia networks if you can 🙏 #farming #agriculture ANU Institute for Space | InSpace

Climate change is affecting communities across the world, with 2024 the hottest year on record globally. Government departments, private organisations and community groups are already putting in place strategies to address it. The Climate Essentials short course is designed for professionals who want an overview of the latest developments. Hear from Mark Howden, Ian Noble, Thomas Longden, Bec Colvin, Nina Lansbury & George Carter (Salā Dr George Carter) Register here: https://lnkd.in/g_wCBKZe

Join us at our first event for 2025 where we dive into the science behind how our food is grown over a nice cold drink!

As 2024 comes to a close, AFII Director Owen Atkin reflects on the past 12 months and what AFII and wider The Australian National University community have achieved. You can read more in the article linked below 👇 The AFII team wishes everyone in our community a safe and relaxing break and we look forward to working with you all again in 2025 🌟

Congratulations to AFII Deputy Director Alison Bentley on being named a Superstar of STEM! Alison has a vision for a world in which everyone has access to safe, sufficient and sustainable food. This vision frames her work as a crop scientist in genetics and plant breeding. Her research aims to understand the fundamental plant processes that can be used as an engine-room to drive agricultural productivity and build climate resilience for a more food secure future. Alison works primarily on major staple cereal crops given their global significance and has experience in a range of research environments in Australia, Vietnam, the USA, the UK and Mexico. In addition to her work to develop and deliver future-ready crops, Alison is designing and implementing new interdisciplinary approaches to train the next-generation and address complex agricultural challenges. You can read Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP's media release here >> https://lnkd.in/gk5VdaJw You can view all of the 2025 Superstars of STEM and learn more about the program on the Science & Technology Australia website >> https://lnkd.in/gpjDTDj2 The Australian National University ANU College of Science ANU Research and Innovation

It's always great to see ANU agricultural innovation grads using their talents to make an impact in the industry. On the International Day of People with Disability, The Australian National University Fenner School of Environment and Society graduate Marcus Dadd spoke to ABC about his role as a ringer at Delamere Station in the remote Northern Territory. "This International Day of People with Disability, Mr Dadd wants others to know if they've got a disability, there's still a place for them in the beef industry. "From what I've seen on cattle stations in the in the north, I think there's a real diversity of roles," he said. "Nowadays in agriculture … you need all sorts of different roles and capacities, so there's a role for everyone to be involved. "From my experience at Delamere, the crew were incredible and included me in all the activities. "If you go in there with the right attitude, the positive attitude, and want to have a go at everything, then they're quite receptive to that."

🔭 Did you know that ANU hosts the Inspiring the ACT science engagement program?   Jillian Matthews is the Program Manager for Inspiring the ACT and is based at AFII. We asked her to tell us about the program and how you can be involved. What is Inspiring the ACT? It's part of a national initiative to increase and improve science engagement across Canberra. It works to build capability and connection for everyone working in STEM outreach. We are here to support you and your STEM event. A major part of the program is coordinating National Science Week activities for the ACT.   What types of activities are eligible for funding support? Any public event showcasing STEM is eligible – from talks and workshops to dance shows and comedy. We love seeing new ideas to engage audiences. What are some of the most unexpected or entertaining Science Week events you’ve seen run in recent years? The Kangaroo Time dance show was pretty unique, it used dance to showcase research into kangaroo behaviour. We also had a great one for adults called Sex on the Beach, which discussed the weird and wonderful private lives of our ocean creatures. What exciting science events are coming up in the ACT? We are supporting a science in the pub night in January focused on food science and also hosting the Science Extravaganza at the Royal Canberra Show in February. This is an opportunity for science organisations to showcase their research to the Canberra community. If you want to be part of this, please reach out. Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science