CRC for Plant Biosecurity - Public

Young CRCNPB scientist recognised in national award

K.Scott — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:24:46 +0000

Media Release: 28 November 2008

A PhD student's commitment to plant biosecurity research has won the 2009 Northern Territory Young Australian of the Year Award.

Ms Rachel Meldrum, PhD student with the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB) is based at the Diagnostic Services Division of the Northern Territory's Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources.

Ms Meldrum was nominated for her contribution to science and the sustainability of Australia's banana industry and said she was honoured and surprised to receive the award.

‘Personally, I am flattered to win the award given the calibre of the other nominees', she said.

‘It's not often that science is given this high-level platform, so I am grateful my research in the banana industry is recognised for its importance to all Australians'.

Ms Meldrum's CRCNPB project involves researching how the exotic plant disease (Fusarium wilt) is spread in the banana industry, and will also develop alternative quarantine strategies to minimise the economic and social impact of possible incursions.

CRCNPB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Simon McKirdy said the award was a credit to Ms Meldrum's enthusiasm and dedication, and paved the way for her to have a successful career in science.

‘Rachel is a great ambassador for young scientists, which is rewarding in a time when Government recognises Australia's future science capability is critical to a strong, thriving and innovative society', he said.

Dr McKirdy said the CRCNPB is committed to training high-quality postgraduate and post-doctoral scientists to provide the nucleus of Australia's future plant biosecurity capability.

‘We currently have 26 students enrolled in universities across Australia who are all conducting research to benefit the nation', he said.

In a time when biosecurity is emerging as a serious global issue, Australia's plant industries are relatively free of many of the plant pests and diseases that impact on agricultural industries in other countries.

‘Students like Rachel, and all our researchers focus on innovative research to ensure Australia's plant industries maintain their valuable competitive advantage in the market,' said Dr McKirdy.

‘The CRCNPB plays a vital role to enhance the scientific effort, enabling Australia's plant industries to pre-empt and, therefore, diminish the economic, social and environmental impact of emergency plant pests,' he said.

The CRCNPB is the central coordinating body for plant biosecurity research across all Australian states and territories and was established under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Program.

Ms Meldrum's research is supervised by staff from the Northern Territory's Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources and the University of Queensland.

ends

Contact: Kate Scott, Communications Officer - Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity

email: k.scott@crcplantbiosecurity.com.au tel: 02 6201 2882 or 0438 389 092

Interviews: Dr Simon McKirdy, Chief Executive Officer tel: 02 6201 2882 or 0438 389 092

2007-08 Annual Report

K.Scott — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:15:51 +0000

Investigating plant pests just got fun!

K.Scott — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:18:48 +0000

Media release: 7 November 2008

Australia's former Chief Scientist, Dr Jim Peacock AC officially launched a beautifully illustrated big book for children yesterday at the CSIRO Discovery Centre.

Developed and written by the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB), Dr Jim Peacock said Plant Pest Investigation will be a key resource to foster interest in science and educate children about the importance of plant biosecurity.

‘Resources such as this book provide the younger generation with awareness of important issues and are also fundamental to capturing enthusiasm for science at an early age,' said Dr Peacock.

‘By sharing the story with their families, hopefully children will raise community awareness about plant biosecurity issues and become ambassadors for science,' he said.

CRCNPB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Simon McKirdy said the book was part of the CRCNPB's school education strategy, which addresses Australian Government reports on declining participation in science and the possible future shortages of skilled scientists.

‘Through Plant Pest Investigation, we hope to address some of the issues government has identified by portraying themes of plant biosecurity and science through an engaging and exciting story,' said Dr McKirdy.

‘Our aim is to create enthusiasm for science at an early age to inspire a new generation of Australian scientists, as well as provide an educational resource that can be used in the classroom,' he said.

Fifty kindergarten children from Gold Creek Primary School attended the launch and participated in a reading of Plant Pest Investigation by the book's character scientist, Dr Wheaten.

Plant Pest Investigation is a story of siblings Sam and Lily who embark on a scientific investigation with scientist Dr Wheaten, to find the reason behind Sam's sick plant. Their investigation takes them through memories of their overseas holiday, a trip to their grandparents' farm and a visit to a real science laboratory. During their investigation, they learn about the importance of protecting Australia's crops from pests.

Plant Pest Investigation can be ordered through the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity's website www.crcplantbiosecurity.com.au

The CRCNPB is the central coordinating body for plant biosecurity research across all Australian states and territories.

Determining changes in the distribution and abundance of a Rhyzopertha dominica phosphine resistance allele in farm grain storages using a DNA marker

CRICHTONA — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:54:00 +0000

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2011-12 Annual Report

CRICHTONA — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:33:17 +0000

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.

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Comparative fitness of irradiated light brown apple moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in a wind tunnel, hedgerow, and vineyard

Mobile mating disruption of light-brown apple moths using pheromone-treated sterile Mediterranean fruit flies

CRICHTONA — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 02:19:18 +0000

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Irradiation of adult Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): egg sterility in parental and F1 generations

CRICHTONA — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 01:50:11 +0000

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