Accelerating AgTech adoption
Meet the growers
Based in Bowen, John and Annette Collison are Queensland’s only established blacklip rock oyster growers. They previously sourced spat from the wild –a time consuming, inefficient and unreliable exercise – and say DPI’s hatchery breakthroughs were a game changer for their business.
The first blacklips spawned at Bribie Island Research Centre are now for sale in Bowen. John says they’re lovely and sweet!
Max Wingfield inspecting a trial site with Gold Coast Oysters owner Colin Wren. We’re lucky to work with such innovative growers.
Revolutionising Queensland’s oyster industry
When you step through the doors of the oyster hatchery at the Bribie Island Research Centre, you can hear the bubbling sound of success.
Our oyster researchers have achieved a string of breakthroughs that could help Queensland’s oyster industry grow and diversify while increasing its resilience to climate change, heat stress and QX disease.
“There is enormous potential to expand Queensland’s oyster industry through production of tropical oyster species,” lead researcher Max Wingfield said.
“Currently, all but one of Queensland’s oyster farmers rely on production of Sydney rock oysters, which can only be grown in the south-east corner and are impacted by climate change and ocean warming.
“We’re investigating other native oyster species which are more resistant to heat and QX disease, and can be farmed further north, bringing economic, environmental and community benefits.”
Max’s team has developed an innovative system for breeding blacklip rock oysters on a commercial scale – a pursuit that has long eluded hatcheries.
These Queensland sunshine oysters reached market size in just 15 months.
They were also the first in the world to produce commercial quantities of Queensland sunshine (or Lineage G) rock oysters in a hatchery. Early field trial results suggest these tropical rock oysters are far more resilient to heat stress and QX disease than Sydney rock oysters.
“Oysters stocked in our Pumicestone Passage trial site were subjected to a hot, wet summer and a QX disease outbreak,” Max said.
“Only 20% of the Sydney rock oysters survived, while 72% of the Queensland sunshine rock oysters and 95% of the blacklip rock oysters survived.
“This is a promising result for our oyster industry.”
John and Annette Collison
De-risking automation and in-field robotics in horticulture
Weeding, seeding, spraying and slashing – our Gatton Smart Farm team is running the latest in AgTech through its paces to help Queensland vegetable growers boost productivity and cut costs.
“From field automation and new weeding tech to protected cropping and supply chain, we’re working with growers and industry to explore which tech will make a real difference to growers,” said Director of Vegetables, Systems and Supply Chains Ian Layden.
Fourth generation vegetable farmer Troy Qualischefski of Qualipac is working with our Smart Farm team to assess the environmental and economic benefits of using autonomous weeder and seeder FarmDroid.
Troy grows broccoli, onions and pumpkins across 1,000 hectares in the Lockyer Valley.
“We’re using FarmDroid, a solar-powered robotic autonomous seeding and weeding machine, to plant a range of vegetable crops,” Troy said.
“We’re using it to overcome labour shortages and ensure that we’re operating as efficiently as possible.”
In November 2023, the Gatton Smart Farm hosted around 1,000 national and international growers and members of the AgTech industry to see Australian-first AgTech in action.
“The Gatton AgTech Showcase featured the latest AgTech innovations in field robotics, sensors, drones, protected cropping, postharvest, cover cropping, strip tillage and more,” said Ian.
“It was a huge success and we were extremely honoured to be awarded the VISY Industry Impact Award at the 2024 Horticulture Awards for Excellence.”
On the back of the Showcase’s success, our Gatton Smart Farm team has partnered with Hort Innovation and the Global Organisation For Agricultural Robotics (GOFAR) on a $4.1M initiative to boost the adoption of AgTech in the Australian vegetable industry.
This project has recently supported 16 Australian growers to participate in a study tour to the United States for the International Forum of Agricultural Robotics (FIRA USA 2024).
“The ability to see a range of technologies working in the field will be a tour highlight and provide an opportunity for growers to directly engage with technology manufacturers,” said Ian.
“These opportunities will assist in identifying technologies applicable to Australian vegetable systems.”
Learn more about our Queensland Smart Farms at daf.qld.gov.au/smartfarms
FarmDroid in action
Safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef through sustainable agriculture
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world and a significant part of Australia’s national identity.
In partnership with the Australian Government, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and the Queensland Government, the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan was developed to provide a 35-year blueprint for managing and protecting the Reef as an important natural asset.
The Queensland Government has already fulfilled several significant commitments under the Reef 2050 plan, including the delivery of the Queensland Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan (Reef 2050 WQIP).
Launched in July 2018, the Plan outlines how governments, Reef communities, Traditional Owners, industry and partners will work together to improve the quality of water from Reef catchments to the Reef, and highlights their significant achievements to date.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is a key delivery partner of the Reef 2050 WQIP, and our actions are focused on reducing land-based and water-based impacts from agricultural and fishing activities.
This work is informed by agriculture research that advances the department’s and its stakeholder’s knowledge in nutrient management, irrigation and harvesting efficiency, water treatment systems, and AgTech innovations to promote best practice initiatives for on-farm adoption.
The Plan supports producers in their efforts to adapt their on-farm processes through the delivery of key research, development and extension projects, including grazing land management, banana nutrient trials, and gully remediation to reduce sediment loss.
Producers are at the forefront in the adoption of best practice to reduce run-off, and our partnership with farmers aligns with their focus, to increase yield to improve profitability.
Their commitment to meeting this objective while farming in a reef friendly manner is making a continued difference to the enhancement of water quality throughout the reef catchment.
For further information on new techniques and innovations to improve farm practices in reef catchments, visit Farming in the Reef at www.qld.gov.au/FarminginReefCatchments or call DPI on 13 25 23
Growing market access for Australian horticulture
It’s been a huge 12 months for horticultural market access with DPI-developed data packages supporting export of 5 mango varieties to Japan and the first Australian avocados on the shelves in India.
We’ve also launched a new initiative in this period, that aims to support the Australian government to maintain existing and develop new market access, and ensure Australia’s horticulture exports arrive in top condition and pest free.
The Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) is an 8-year, $130 million program led by DPI with co-investment from Hort Innovation, government departments and universities across Australia.
“We’ve brought together more than 80 collaborators, including industry, commercial operators and researchers,” said DPI General Manager Lynne Turner.
“We will work together to deliver the data needed to demonstrate that Australian exports will not pose an increased biosecurity risk to potential and existing trading partners.”
Getting the right people in the room is often the best approach to solving a major issue.
In its first year, the FASTA team has hosted 4 prioritisation workshops with industry and 9 roundtables for 15 key export commodities with 6 more roundtables planned.
Lynne said one of the program’s key strengths is its active industry engagement.
“We use the advice that we receive from industry to inform the prioritisation process and the development of the FASTA work plan,” Lynne said.
These workplans focus on market access support, integrated pest management, chemical alternatives, smart technologies, surveillance and diagnostics.
For more information follow FASTA on LinkedIn @fasta-freshand-secure-trade-alliance
The Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance is a partnership between Hort Innovation, the Department of Primary Industries, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (WA); the Queensland University of Technology, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (VIC), the Western Sydney University, the Department of Tourism, Industry and Trade (NT), the Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association, James Cook University, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (SA) and GreenSkin Avocados, with levy funding from the avocado and strawberry industries, and support from the Australian Government
Meet Sharna Holman
Our cotton extension officer Sharna Holman spends a third of her year in cotton fields in Australia’s north.
“I work with the cotton industry to improve our understanding of insect pests relevant to tropical production systems, enabling more effective pest management and support for northern Australia cotton growers,” Sharna said.
Sharna is currently doing her Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)-funded PhD on cluster caterpillar – an endemic pest that can cause damage to a wide variety of crops, and has a higher tolerance to some control measures.
Her research will help inform management practices for this pest in cotton crops across northern Australia.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is seeing how the outcomes generated from experiments in the laboratory, glasshouse and field can be implemented as strategies and adopted by Australian cotton growers.”
In addition to her PhD work, Sharna is the Biosecurity Technical Lead for CottonInfo.
She plays a crucial role in promoting the adoption of biosecurity farm plans across Australian cotton farms, ensuring the industry remains prepared for biosecurity threats.
“Biosecurity is essential for safeguarding our industry from emerging threats,” Sharna said.
“By helping growers develop and implement farm biosecurity plans, we’re increasing capability across the industry to mitigate biosecurity risks posed to farms.”
Her dedication to the cotton industry was recently recognised when she was awarded the CRDC Chris Lehman Young Cotton Achiever of the Year award at the Australian Cotton Conference.
The prestigious award recognises rising stars making a positive contribution to Australia’s cotton industry.
“It’s incredibly humbling to be recognised in this way,” Sharna said.
“I’m grateful to be part of a community that constantly strives for innovation.”
Transforming food waste into lifesaving meals: Inside our Food Pilot Plant
Our Food Pilot Plant at the Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains is Queensland’s premier facility for food innovation, enabling businesses to grow and scale up.
This cutting-edge facility, equipped with world-class laboratories and led by top food scientists, supports not-for-profit organisations and food companies to transition from small-scale operations to large-scale production. It also enables breakthroughs in food security, sustainability and nutrition.
The facility offers not just space and technology, but a comprehensive environment where businesses can pilot new ideas and innovate to grow. From prototype testing to fullscale manufacturing, the Food Pilot Plant enables businesses to transition from the development phase to mass production with greater efficiency and reduced risk.
create nutritious, shelf-stable meals made from 95% rescued food,” Trish said.
“These meals are produced without the need for refrigeration and are designed to reach communities experiencing food insecurity, remote areas and those affected by natural disasters.”
Fareshare Executive Director Fiona Maxwell said this collaboration has allowed Fareshare to scale up and support more people experiencing food insecurities.
shelf-stable meals made from 95% rescued food
Trish Lindeman is a food technologist at the Food Pilot Plant working on a collaboration with FareShare and the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to help FareShare scale up their charitable work and transform surplus food into long shelf-life meals for vulnerable communities.
“We leverage our scientist’s expertise and the Food Pilot Plant’s capability in advanced preservation techniques to
“We are really excited to say between 80,000 and 150,000 kilograms of food will be rescued in the first 2 years of this project, equating to up to 375,000 meals,” Fiona said.
By offering these scale-up capabilities, the Food Pilot Plant is driving innovation across the food sector in Queensland. Whether it’s reducing food waste, enhancing biosecurity, or developing new food products, the facility enables organisations to grow their business while tackling some of the state’s most pressing food-related challenges.
This collaboration with FareShare is just one example of how the Food Pilot Plant is building a more secure and sustainable future for food production in Queensland.
Learn more about our Food Pilot Plant, and search ‘food pilot plant’ at daf.qld.gov.au.
In the media
Weeder seeder
It’s a new era of farming, and we’re here for it!
ABC’s Landline joined us in the Lockyer Valley to see how our Queensland Smart Farms are working with growers and AgTech providers to make a real impact on the ground.
To watch the video, please visit www.abc.net.au and search for Weeder Seeder: The Solar-Powered Droid that Weeds and Seeds
ABC’s Landline interviewing senior technical officer Lawry Smith
Stella strawberry
Strawberry season just got sweeter with the launch of our new subtropical strawberry variety Stella-ASBP. ABC’s Craig Zonca interviewed our principal plant breeder Dr Jodi Neal to learn about the high-yielding, disease resistant and delicious new variety.
To watch the video, please visit www.abc.net.au, and search for Stella strawberry
Stretching shelf-life: post-harvest innovation
ABC Landline recently went behind the scenes at our Maroochy Research Facility to see how our post-harvest team helps to keep fruit fresher for longer, while maintaining quality, reducing food waste and boosting exports.
Watch the ABC Landline episode by visiting www.abc.net.au and seach for Stretching Shelf Life: Keeping fruit fresher longer.
Greedy grubs
It’s a team effort in the fight against fall armyworm. Our principal entomologist Dr Melina Miles recently joined university and industry experts to share the latest on innovative methods like monitoring, beneficial insects, targeted insecticides and gene technology to combat the invasive pest.
Watch the ABC Landline episode www.abc.net.au and search for Greedy Grubs: Fighting back against Fall armyworm
Wambiana Grazing Trial
Our principal scientist Peter O’Reagain and senior technician John Bushell have been researching sustainable grazing practices as part of the Wambiana Grazing Trial for 26 years. In this Landline episode, Peter stresses the importance of understanding how to manage grazing cattle in ways that improve productivity while maintaining land health – a challenge in Australia’s often harsh and variable climate.
Watch the ABC Landline episode by visiting www.abc.net.au and search for Wambiana Grazing Trial.
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Department of Primary Industries.
ABC’s Craig Zonca interviewing principal plant breeder Dr Jodi Neal