ҹɫÊÓƵ

Hand holding chickpea seeds. Supplied by Dr Rajeev Varshney

A massive international research effort has led to development of a genetic model for the ‘ultimate’ chickpea, with the potential to lift crop yields by up to 12 per cent.

11 November 2021
A cross section of a taro.

The tropical root vegetable taro, known as the ‘food of the gods’ in the Pacific, is under threat from rising sea levels but wild Australian plants being cultivated by ҹɫÊÓƵ may help boost food security in the region.

21 October 2021
A white and brown butterfly

A University of Queensland researcher has spent decades compiling a first-of-its-kind database of the butterfly species of the Torres Strait Islands, boosting biosecurity and conservation measures in the region.

16 October 2021
male jojoba plant

The hot and dry desert environment has led to big genetic differences between male and female jojoba plants, a discovery which could boost jojoba production and shed light on how plants adapt to environmental stress.

15 October 2021
close up of a woman's face. She's holding a hamburger and licking her lips

For many people, nothing beats the taste and texture of a big juicy burger, but how do you recreate that eating experience with sustainable plant-based protein? 

12 October 2021
Image of grain crop growing in a field.

Researchers at ҹɫÊÓƵ are optimistic the value and versatility of one of the world’s top crops will be improved following the discovery of genes which could increase the grain size of sorghum.

28 September 2021
Image: Shutterstock

The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened our focus on food – whether it be due to concerns relating to supply chain integrity, the viability of rural communities, or a rediscovery of home-cooking during lock-down.

13 September 2021
Two koalas sitting on fallen tree trunks

The first comprehensive list of the threats to Australia’s most endangered plants and animals reveals blunt news about the future for some of the country’s favourite species.

2 September 2021
Mushrooms photographed in Tasmania.

Australia’s first legal, living collection of native magic mushrooms is being studied by scientists in a Brisbane laboratory to find out how they can be used for medical research into psychedelic treatments.

30 August 2021
Tetragonula honey pots. Image: (c) Tobias Smith University of Queensland

The mystery of what creates the rare, healthy sugar found in stingless bee honey, has been solved by researchers at ҹɫÊÓƵ, in collaboration with Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services.

25 August 2021
Two men standing in front of a staircase

Two first-year University of Queensland students are the inaugural recipients of the Warwick Solar Farm – Bright Futures Scholarship, an annual investment in the Southern Downs community.

13 August 2021
Digital image of mango tree by Dr Liqi Han

Using technology familiar to computer gamers, University of Queensland scientists are creating ‘digital twins’ of mango and macadamia orchards to help boost food production.

30 July 2021
Three types of native bush foods arranged together on wooden backdrop

Indigenous communities can now assess the quality and sweetness of their wild-harvested native bush fruits in the field, rather than sending samples off to food science laboratories.

22 July 2021
Wild pigs in scrubland

By uprooting carbon trapped in soil, wild pigs are releasing around 4.9 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually across the globe, the equivalent of 1.1 million cars.

20 July 2021
(L-R) ҹɫÊÓƵ's Prof. Ben Ahern with a LAMP Genie III diagnostic machine, veterinary nurse Gabriella Doxey with horse Cartouche and veterinary researcher Lyndal Hulse holding the Hendra diagnostic sampling kit.

University of Queensland vets are diagnosing the deadly Hendra virus in horses faster than ever, developing a diagnostic point-of-care kit that can detect the pathogen in under an hour, rather than days.

20 July 2021