Crop science
As the global population grows, so does the need to develop future-focused, innovative solutions for a variety of challenges facing the world’s crop production. These challenges typically manifest in the form of current or future food insecurity and are a result of the impacts of climate change, water scarcity, agricultural sustainability, plant diseases and pests and nutrient availability.
Crop industries are also impacted by the need for alternative energy sources, maintaining ecosystem biodiversity and preventing degradation of the soil and water resources base. Our researchers are addressing these challenges at a variety of scales.
Crop scientists typically work at scales where individual plants are arranged and managed in ways that optimise performance or environmental outcomes in fields, farms, regional landscapes or national industries. They use advanced, connected technologies to tackle abiotic and biotic challenges and improve understanding of genotype by environment interaction at these larger scales, including using sensors to monitor and collect data, drones to image and apply inputs, autonomous equipment to conduct field operations and artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics to improve decision-making from both agronomic and breeding perspective. The use of these technologies can increase yield and resource use efficiency for inputs, enable risk management and lead to better understanding and use of ecosystem services in cropping systems.
UQ researchers collaborate with diverse national and international partners, including industry bodies, government agencies, NGOs, academic institutions and farmers to develop and implement stakeholder-relevant solutions. We lead research in areas including the development of sustainable systems that maximise production and conservation outcomes, improve the efficiency of crop improvement programs, optimise the combination of genotypes and management in contrasting environmental conditions, improve soil and water management and develop effective strategies for control of pests and disease. We contribute to the advancement of new agricultural technology, provide leadership in development of precision agriculture strategies and create knowledge to underpin the development of agricultural policy.
