The team have had a very busy few months with a number of exciting initiatives launched or in progress. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce launched the Natural Capital Accounting Research Project, we have held an industry briefing for remote sensing as well as reported on advancements in bio-control. A reminder, the Federal Government matches every 'voluntary contribution’ dollar industry commits on a one to one basis, up to a pre-determined ‘cap’ or limit. If you have a project that suits, please contact me to discuss.
3D printing with plants
Engineers have developed a way to use plant cellulose as a feedstock for 3D printers – a solution researchers say is not only environmentally friendly but could also be cheaper and stronger than conventional alternatives. Read more
World’s best ‘paper planes’ for military
Researchers are developing the world’s most advanced industrial paper airplanes – cheap cardboard gliders that can be used by military to deliver supplies to remote areas, before being discarded and biodegraded. Read more
Plastic made from pine needles
Pinene – the natural chemical behind the ‘Christmas smell’ of pine trees – has been used by researchers to develop a renewable plastic. Traditionally a waste product from the paper industry, pinene could now be used to make plastic for a range of applications including food packaging, plastic bags and even medical implants. Read more
Laser system used to recognise tree species
Researchers have developed a new method to automatically recognise tree species based on laser scanning measurements. Read more
Nippon Paper invents new material
Nippon Paper Industries (NPI) has created new paper-based materials by combining wood pulp and mineral particles. Materials created through the process have all the characteristics and advantages of minerals, paper and cellulose fibres. Read more
Paper-based bacteria-powered battery
Researchers at Binghamton University in New York have developed paper-based, bacteria-powered fuel cells, essentially creating low-cost, portable, disposable batteries for use in remote areas. Read more
Plant cell ‘glue’ could hold key to wooden skyscrapers
Molecules 10,000 times narrower than a human hair could hold the key to the construction of wooden skyscrapers and more energy-efficient paper production, according to research published in the journal Nature Communications Read more
Solar power harnessed to produce clean hydrogen
A team of scientists at the University of Cambridge has developed a way of using solar power to generate a fuel that is both sustainable and inexpensive to produce. Read more
Reducing the CO2 footprint of EWP
Finnish researchers have developed a process that can produce reactive lignin from pulp industry side streams. Lignin's CO2 footprint is only 20% of the footprint of phenol, and it can be used as a replacement for the toxic phenol compounds used in wood adhesives. Read more
Detecting wildings using Lidar and aerial imagery
Scientists in Scion’s Geomatics team have found wilding conifers can be detected in grasslands using a combination of Lidar and multi-spectral values obtained from aerial imagery. Read more
Enviva launches new wood supply tracking system
The world’s largest producer of wood pellets, Enviva Holdings, has released the first data from its ground-breaking Track & Trace (T&T) program Read more
Estimating forest carbon stocks in Australia
Researchers have overcome data and estimation challenges associated with estimating carbon stocks through using simple design-based estimators and a robust ground plot system to protect estimates from bias. Read more
Satellites put plantation water use into catchment context
Plantation managers can better understand water use and the potential impact of different forest management approaches by integrating satellite based water consumption estimates, according to research co-funded by the FWPA. Read more
