CRC for Plant Biosecurity - china

2011 International Symposium on Grain Information technology (ISGIT2011)

CRICHTONA — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:48:06 +0000

YongLin Ren found the trip to China useful to share innovative results generated from the platform of grain storage and transportation digitalisation, such as collaboration with China, Japan and Canada on:

grain quality evaluation and management system
the use of smartphone can improve auditing, validation, chain of evidence and can increase the volume of data collected as well as its integrity through relational databases and seamless data transfer to corporate system
current research on the application of simulation technology in grain storage, and
insect oriented image and audio recognition and identification technology.

All of these R&D areas are innovative and have great potential for use of the internet, smartphone, digitalisation simulation, digitalisation image and audio technology in a new grain storage system, which will assist to establish a new modern and high efficient grain industry biosecurity system.

YongLin was joined by CRCNPB CEO Dr Simon McKirdy, Dr Shashi Sharma (director of plant biosecurity, DAFWA) and Rob Emery (Senior Entomology, DAFWA and Chinese visiting professor) on the trip in which they visited the Chinese Academy of Grain Science (CAGS) and Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ) in Beijing.

The CRC and Chinese Academy of Grain Science have signed a collaborative agreement to work together in the future, and the Chinese Department of Inspection and Quarantine was planning to organise a senior delegation to visit Australia to sign a collaborative agreement as well.

During the visit to CAIQ, the delegation was also invited to visit the headquarters of the Chinese Quarantine Department and meet with Dr Wu Jinsheng, Director General of Science and Technology.

The delegation also spent two days visiting Northwest Agricultural and Forest University in Yangling. This university is the top Chinese agricultural and forest related central government funded university. The vice president, Professor Zhuo Zhong, met with the delegation. Prof. Zhuo would like to establish a long term relationship with the CRC and he hosted a dinner for the delegation. Finally, Prof. Zhuo decided to visit Australia during CRC 2012 Science Exchange to sign an agreement with CRC in Australia.

CRCNPB signs MOUs with China

CRICHTONA — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:53:15 +0000

A recent trip to China by CRCNPB CEO Dr Simon McKirdy, Dr Shashi Sharma from the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA), Associate Professor YongLin Ren from Murdoch University/DAFWA and Mr Robert Emery from DAFWA – followed by a visit from Chinese delegates to Australia – has led to memoranda of understanding with two leading Chinese science agencies and a university. The MOU is to mount joint research programs aimed at curbing losses of grain and other vital crops to insects, moulds and plant diseases.

“Food security is a top national priority for China – and Prime Minister Julia Gillard has
recently made it one for Australia as well. It is becoming a critical issue around the world. This is a deal that makes good sense from every perspective,” Dr McKirdy said.

“When we visited China to sign these agreements, we were told food is in fact the Chinese government’s number two priority overall. And we saw clear evidence of the massive reinvestment and technical tooling-up they are now making in food and agricultural science. Compared with what’s happening in Australia, it is huge – and the new partnership means we now stand to benefit from their investment in science.”

The CRC signed MOUs with the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine and the
Chinese Academy of State Administration of Grain and will shortly sign a third with
Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University. These provide primarily for increased joint
research, and greater exchange of scientists and PhD students between the partners.

The initial research focus of the new collaboration will be in diagnostics – timely
identification of plant pests and diseases – and in the management of pests in stored grain.

“Worldwide, humanity loses anywhere between 8 and 20 per cent of its annual grain
harvest to insects and moulds – that’s enough food to feed every hungry person on the
planet,” Dr McKirdy explained.

“Australia is recognised as a world leader in dealing with insect pests in stored grain, and the Chinese are keen to partner with us in this area.”

Read more in a recent media release issued by the CRCNPB.

Simon McKirdy signs the MOU as Board members Jim Cullen and John Sandow look on with the Chinese delegates.

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Australia, China join on global food security

CRICHTONA — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:41:24 +0000

The Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) has developed
memoranda of understanding with two leading Chinese science agencies and a university to
mount joint research programs aimed at curbing losses of grain and other vital crops to
insects, moulds and plant diseases.

“Food security is a top national priority for China – and Prime Minister Julia Gillard has
recently made it one for Australia as well. It is becoming a critical issue around the world.
This is a deal that makes good sense from every perspective,” the CEO of CRCNPB Dr Simon
McKirdy said today.

“When we visited China to sign these agreements, we were told food is in fact the Chinese
government’s number two priority overall. And we saw clear evidence of the massive
reinvestment and technical tooling-up they are now making in food and agricultural science.
Compared with what’s happening in Australia, it is huge – and the new partnership means
we now stand to benefit from their investment in science.”

The initial research focus of the new collaboration will be in diagnostics – timely
identification of plant pests and diseases – and in the management of pests in stored grain.
“Worldwide, humanity loses anywhere between 8 and 20 per cent of its annual grain
harvest to insects and moulds – that’s enough food to feed every hungry person on the
planet,” Dr McKirdy explains.

“Australia is recognised as a world leader in dealing with insect pests in stored grain, and the
Chinese are keen to partner with us in this area.

“Also they really emphasised their concerns about the need to reduce the use of fumigants
and other chemicals used in food production.

“Australia has particular skills in developing clean, green approaches to grain hygiene and
China is keen to find non-chemical solutions to grain pests, so this works well for both of
us.”

The benefits from joint research collaboration can potentially flow on to other countries,
helping to improve global food security in general, Dr McKirdy says.

China is a major market for Australian grain and horticultural exports, with potential to grow
significantly, he adds. The biosecurity collaboration will assist this development. “Australia
will benefit by building a greater understanding of the import requirements for Australian
produce (as they apply to plant biosecurity) which will assist our grains and horticulture
industries develop further markets in China.”

More information:
Dr Simon McKirdy, Chief Executive Officer, CRCNPB, 02 6201 2412
Max Knobel, Communications Manager, CRCNPB, 0402 327 087
http://www.crcplantbiosecurity.com.au

A printable version of the media release is available here.

Dr Simon McKirdy with the Chinese delegates signing the MOU.

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