Food CRCs continue to grow
As Australia settles into its third month of heavy COVID-19 restrictions, research around the country in many disciplines has all but ground to a halt. However, CRCs working in food and agriculture have continued on largely unscathed. This is due in part to the essential nature of food, but also because they've adapted to the new normal and shifted operations to ways that can continue despite social distancing.
Future Food Systems CRC has not stopped during the pandemic, with one of its members, Sprout Stack, experiencing greatly increased demand in recent months. Sprout Stack is an ag-tech firm based on Sydney’s North Shore that grows herbs and salad greens inside repurposed shipping containers, making it Australia’s only commercial scale vertical farm.
Due to COVID-19 related pressures on the food supply chain, consumer demand from supermarkets has increased significantly since the start of 2020 – and Sprout Stack, given its close proximity to markets across the city, is well positioned to respond. Currently, it produces three times as much produce as it did one year ago.
Collaborating with Future Food Systems CRC and a team of researchers at the University of New South Wales, Sprout Stack plans to develop new methods of scaling up production while minimising costs – and the venture’s carbon footprint. The research team is looking at various potential systemic changes, from optimising systems to reduce the use of non-renewable inputs to deploying robotics and automation within them.
Beyond the pandemic, the benefits of city- and peri-urban-based vertical farming facilities will only become more apparent due to their highly efficient use of land and water, reduced need for harmful pesticides, protection from climatic extremes, and low food miles, as we turn to the other crisis that is climate change.
As a digital innovator, Food Agility CRC was accustomed to working in the virtual world, so it was able to transition smoothly when all staff began working from home. It aimed to be responsive to the shock of COVID-19, pivoting in some areas and fast tracking some initiatives. But it was also focussed on keeping the wheels of innovation turning and continuing to deliver its day-to-day work for partners. Recently, it has been working on how data can be better used and protected.
“After consultation with our partners, we’re getting ready to launch our new Data Policy, which sets out how data should be managed in Food Agility projects… it’s absolutely critical to how data-driven innovation can benefit the agrifood industry.” Said Dr Mike Briers AO, CEO of Food Agility CRC.
The CRC has also formed a Data Advisory Group to make sure it achieves "that balance between protecting the interests of the people who generate the data – in our case, that’s often farmers – and allowing access to great data that fuels innovation,” concluded Dr Briers.
Another eight research projects, totalling $3.5 million in funding, have been approved by the Soil CRC. This significant boost to soil research brings the number of active Soil CRC projects to 33 and the total investment in projects to over $19 million to date.
The new projects are spread across the four Soil CRC research program areas involving collaboration with 25 participant organisations and running over the next two to three years. They cover a range of areas, from financially rewarding good soil stewardship to managing soil data, to organic soil amendments and tackling constraints that limit plant access to soil moisture.
The Soil CRC takes a multi-disciplinary approach to soil research, aiming to increase the profitability of Australia’s agriculture through increasing the productivity of our soils.
Fight Food Waste CRC is continuing its research with social distancing measures in place, including a new project with Swisse to use leftover wine waste in nutraceuticals. They also look forward to all consumers emerging from lockdown with a new appreciation of food and preventing food waste.
Meanwhile, the CRC for Honey Bee Products has recently partnered with B-Qual Australia to digitise their quality assurance system and add the honey characterisation to ensure that Australian honey products remain at the highest quality.
Although the supermarket shelves are no longer empty, agriculture and food-based CRCs have never been more important to both Australians and the Australian economy. Moving forward from the pandemic, it’s going to be exciting to see how they can progress.
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Collaboration for Industry Impact online workshop
Day 1: 3 June 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Day 2: 4 June 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Price: $550 for non-members, $350 for members. See if you are a member here.
Developed by the CRC Association and Collabforge, Collaboration for Industry Impact will combine practical bid-creation content with a deep dive into the theory and practice of collaboration. Delivered online, Collaboration for Industry Impact will include a range of digital tools, methods and experiences that will help you build your capability to effectively collaborate with your team digitally. Attending this workshop will significantly increase the likelihood of a successful CRC or CRC-P bid.
Who should attend:
- Researchers who have the responsibility for or interest in developing CRC and CRC-P bids
- Administrators who have the responsibility for helping coordinate, develop, approve and / or administer CRC and CRC-P bids (e.g. from Commercialisation, Research, Scholarships Offices, etc)
- Interested industry representatives
- Both half-day sessions are appropriate for a general audience, as well as those developing specific bids, and we strongly encourage participants to attend both sessions.
Key learning outcomes:
- What the process of bid development entails
- The roles of all bid participants, and how to build effective relationship/communication between researchers and industry
- Improved capability in developing and progressing CRC bids
- Understanding the role of "impact thinking" in successful bids
- Common language, frameworks and methods for collaboration
- Methods for stakeholder and partner analysis, advice for engaging industry participants in the best way at the right time, and for developing and testing bid ideas
- Improved collaboration capability through applied collaboration experiences with those in the room on the day
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Bid Feature: Marine Bioproducts CRC
Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MB-CRC) is a consortium of industry and research partners led by Flinders University, seeking to submit a funding application to the upcoming selection round of the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program.
Australia’s unique and diverse marine biota presents a compelling opportunity to build a world class marine bio-products and biotechnology industry.
The MB-CRC is a major development initiative between global leaders in research and industry to generate valuable and sustainably produced marine-sourced bio-products, with matching co-investment from the Australian government.
The Outcomes
- Pathways from bio-marine discovery to markets in health, nutrition, agriculture, aquaculture, and biomaterials.
- Export markets and significantly increased revenues for Australia’s marine bio-economy.
- The establishment and expansion of sustainable marine bioresource production facilities stimulating regional economies and employment in Australia.
- A dynamic integration of the marine science and biotechnology with Australian and international industries.
- Next generation of industry-ready graduates focused on translating discoveries into the bio-economy.
For more information contact Carmela Sergi or visit the MB-CRC website
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COVID-19 impacts on Australian research workforce predicted to be significant
Australia’s research workforce will be severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects are likely to be felt for an extended period. Universities in particular have been dealt a double blow by the pandemic.
A new research report, to which the CRC Association's Chief Executive, Dr Tony Peacock contributed, is published today and details how a dramatic drop in international student fees and business research spending will impact the sector significantly in the next six months and beyond.
University job losses of up to 21,000 full time equivalent (FTE) positions are projected over the next six months of which an estimated 7,000 could be research-related academic staff.
Research interruptions and travel and visa restrictions suggest that more than 9,000 international research students will not resume their research in 2020, according to the report’s authors.
The report’s authors are concerned that women, early-career researchers and recent graduates will disproportionately experience negative impacts.
The report was produced by the Rapid Research Information Forum, a group of 35 research sector lead organisations. The forum is chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, and its operations are led by the Australian Academy of Science.
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The Pandemic Imperative: Clinical Data and Analytics Platform to improve clinical outcomes through point-of-care decision support
The Digital Health CRC has this week launched the Clinical Data and Analytics Platform (CDAP). It will enable front line medical workers treating COVID-19 patients to use real-time data and analysis to help predict which patients will need hospital and intensive care admission, and the likely outcomes of interventions. This $4 million digital health project involves health services, clinicians and researchers and is based on funded work by MTPConnect. The project’s partners include the Digital Health CRC, Queensland Health, NSW Health, the Commonwealth Department of Health, QUT, Monash University and the University of Sydney.
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Free CRC CARE webinar on the impact of COVID-19 on the contaminated land sector
This free 2-hour webinar provides information about the science of COVID-19 and its implications for contaminated land site and risk assessors, remediation experts, community consultants, environmental practitioners, and anybody else with an interest in the contaminated land sector – now and in coming months as restrictions are lifted.
Topics covered include COVID-19 science, health and policies, exposure pathways, OH&S, compliance issues, and precautions to minimise risks to human health. It will also cover business aspects such as the management of contractors and contracts. The interactive format will allow attendees to engage with presenters during a live Q&A session.
More information, including presenter profiles, is available on the webinar registration page.
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Recently funded SmartCrete CRC is seeking an inaugural CEO
This is a unique opportunity to lead an organisation at the forefront of industry innovation. The CEO will be responsible for establishing the SmartCrete CRC as a well-known, highly regarded entity within the concrete ecosystem, used as a source of leading-edge innovation, commercialisation, information and advice. Together with the Board, the CEO will guide the development and growth of the CRC through the establishment of internationally competitive research programs to meet market requirements and the commercial implementation of resulting innovations.
For further information please contact Tessa Guerin, Consulting and Implementation Services via email or by phone on +61 479 153 039.
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Reminder: Early Career Researcher Showcase
The Early Career Researcher Showcase celebrates good research, communicated well.
Tell us about your research in 30 seconds and you could win up to $6000 in cash.
The five finalists will receive:
- $1,000, and
- The opportunity to give a 5-minute live online presentation to a large virtual audience for the chance to win $5,000.
Entries close at 23:59 AEST on Wednesday 20 May 2020. We currently have many incomplete entries so please do not hesitate to contact Amelia Hart if you would like to confirm the status of yours.
The finals will be held at 3pm AEST on Wednesday 24th June. Book the date and see 5 early career researchers compete for $5,000.
We would like to thank CQ University for their continued partnership and support of the Early Career Researchers Showcase.
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Comprehensive support for CRCs across their lifetime
Whether at Stage 1 or Stage 2 of the bid process, in the establishment phase or winding up, CRCs face a range of challenges in ensuring they deliver the best outcomes for all stakeholders. KPMG provides specialist expertise tailored to different requirements, across bid development, partnerships, commercialisation, governance and structuring. Contact us to discuss how we can work together to support your CRC.
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MINEX CRC 2020 Q1 VNEWS
The latest instalment of the MinEx CRC vNews is now available.
Whilst the production of this COVID-19 impacted episode may not be as sharp; we can assure you the content is just as good!
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Fire management webinar a hit
Hundreds of people from around the globe have tuned in over the past two weeks to participate in the first two webinars of the National Fire Fuels Science series, hosted by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and the Australian Academy of Science. Expert panellists have covered why hazard reduction burning is difficult and divisive, as well as what the science says.
If you missed out on the webinars, don’t worry. Replay them in full here. Don’t forget to register for the final webinar in the series about the practice of hazard reduction on Wednesday 20 May at 11am AEST.
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$67m funding collaboration: all Australian children with cancer to access world class, personalised medicine
Congratulations to the Zero Childhood Cancer personalised medicine program (ZERO), led by Cancer Therapeutics CRC participant, Children’s Cancer Institute, who have secured $67 million in funding from the Commonwealth Government and Minderoo Foundation.
Cancer Therapeutics CRC is incredibly proud to have provided initial funding for the pilot program. One of the visions of the CRC was to establish a platform to provide personalised treatments for children with high risk cancers based on genomic analysis. This pilot program proved incredibly successful and the resulting program, ZERO, has since become an international leader in paediatric precision medicine.
The additional funding will enable ZERO to be expanded further to include all Australian children and young people diagnosed with cancer by 2023.
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DST launches SATCOM research collaboration
Originally published on defenceconnect.com.au on 12 May
Defence Science and Technology Group (DST) has launched a collaborative research program with colleagues from industry and academia on a high-risk, high-payoff satellite communications (SATCOM) research venture that has the potential to significantly enhance military capability.
Known as Project CHORUS, which stands for Compact Hybrid Optical-RF User Segment, this is Defence’s first collaborative project to be launched through the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).
The project will see a cross-sector team exploring ways of integrating both laser-based optical and radio frequency (RF) communications technologies in a single SATCOM user terminal.
Professor Andy Koronios, chief executive and managing director of the SmartSat CRC, said, "The SmartSat CRC, in partnership with Defence, has established this project in order to develop world-leading Australian technologies that will improve the resilience of military satellite communications, and potentially provide leapfrog technology for commercial markets."
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Novel alloys deliver longer-wear mining components
A partnership between Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials and WA company, Callidus Welding Solutions is developing ways to address the erosion and corrosion of components used in mineral processing.
The $3.9 million project is the outcome of a CRC-P grant in 2018 (Round 5) and also includes CSIRO and mining companies, Murrin Murrin Operations and Newcrest. The severe conditions of erosion and high temperature acid corrosion in hydrometallugical reactors test the endurance of even the most advanced alloys.
Through novel component design and surface modification technologies, the project is poised to deliver a doubling of component life, improving the efficiency of the process and potentially saving the industry millions of dollars in lost production time.
Caption: The process of developing new alloys involves advanced characterisation at the micro-scale. Electron micrograph image shows a cross-sectional microstructure of metal/ceramic coating on titanium alloy.
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Research team seeks low-cost battery solutions
Researchers at Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials are working to create a new type of battery material that will reduce the cost and environmental impact of high performance batteries.
Working with industry partners Calix Pty Ltd and Boron Molecular, the team received a $3 million CRC-P grant in 2019.
The project will explore the use of Calix’s patented technology to produce customised, micron sized, nano-electroactive materials for battery anodes and cathodes and integrate them with optimised ionic electrolytes, developed with Boron Molecular, to make up to 10 kWh battery pack prototypes.
The project addresses the challenge of developing energy storage manufacturing capability in Australia.
Image caption: Researchers at Deakin University’s BatTRI-Hub battery prototyping facility are using high rate processing technology with Australian materials for the first time to make up to 10kWh battery pack prototypes.
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Bidding for a CRC? Let us know
Bidding for a CRC or a CRC-P is a very competitive process. Not all bids make themselves know to the CRC Association but those that do, are more competitive. We can help you make the connections and introduce you to the people you should be talking to.
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 Innovation Thoughts, a podcast by the CRC Association
Hosted by CEO Tony Peacock, each episode of Innovation Thoughts sees Tony interview a different expert in science or industry.
Subscribe via your preferred podcast platform to be notified of new episodes, or see them on our social media channels.
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Stories wanted
If you know of any stories you think would interest the CRC community, please send them to stories@crca.asn.au
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