Australia is set to become a global leader in biosecurity science, with $49million in federal funding announced for two international plant and pest animal research centres at the University of Canberra.
Research that now has the go-ahead includes a biocontrol to eradicate carp from Murray-Darling Basin rivers, improved rabbit and mouse plague controls, early detection of rapidly-spreading native plant diseases like myrtle rust, and use of concentrated nitrogen to replace a toxic fumigant for wheat and other grains.
Cooperative Research Centre Association chief executive Professor Tony Peacock has described the news as ''a strong vote of confidence'' for results achieved by the CRC national research program.
Federal funding for the two Canberra CRCs - invasive animals and plant biosecurity - is matched by investment from more than 65 research partners, including the United States agriculture department, CSIRO, Britain's Central Science Laboratory and Australia's peak farm interest groups. But under the program's competitive bid process, this support is dependent on securing federal funding. Yesterday, after more than a year of pitching bids to investors, Federal Government departments and the CRC bid assessment committee, both Canberra bids learned they were among six successful applicants to win funding.
Invasive Animals CRC chief executive Andreas Glanznig said the centre could push ahead with critical research to tackle problems costing Australian agriculture more than $1billion a year in lost production and pest control measures. The centre receives $19.7million to fund a five-year research program.
''We are set to deliver huge research outcomes for rural Australia. We are developing Australia's first natural biocontrol for carp, we have a major new focus on rabbit control, and there's going to be new developments in control of wild dogs and feral pigs,'' Mr Glanznig said.
Plant Biosecurity CRC chief executive Simon McKirdy said the new centre would consolidate Australia's position as an emerging world leader in biosecurity and food security research. The centre already has funding partners in China, the United States and Britain. One of its major programs will be developing a grain fumigation process to replace phosphine, a toxic and highly flammable chemical that can cause respiratory problems.
''It's one of the agricultural chemicals we want to be walking away from - it's pretty nasty,'' he said.
The centre received $29.7 million to roll out a six-year research program that will include better quarantine procedures, biosecurity impacts of climate change and improved control of crop diseases like citrus canker, black spot and fireblight. The four other CRCs to receive funding were polymers ($14.5million), Automotive Australia, a green car research initiative ( $26million), Low Carbon Living ($28million) and Water Sensitive Cities ($30million).
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