Food Security

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• isr co-ordinated projects



• Sustainability-linked Food Security projects

Food security is about safeguarding the nation’s food industry to ensure its products are affordable to consumers and that food production is sustainable. The capacity of Australian farmers to meet future food production demands for the domestic and export markets will affected by government policy, climate change, population growth and emissions trading.

Biosecurity is a priority area of research at both Commonwealth and State levels. QUT researchers in partnership with the CRC for Plant Biosecurity have secured funds through the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) to engage with internationally recognised scientists in this field.

isr’s focus is on plant biosecurity as it relates to plant quarantine, systems risk analysis, modelling, theoretical and applied ecology, sociology and education. It incorporates agriculture and forestry, natural ecosystems, and urban and peri-urban environments.

Following a period of refurbishment, greenhouse and field facilities at Mt Samson Road will provide a new facility for opportunity for plant biosecurity research. Projected research themes include carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities, the management of invasive plants, and the interactions between insect herbivores and plants for biological control and sustainable pest management.

isr co-ordinated projects

Benchmarking and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving resource use efficiency (isr/FAST, 2007–12) QUT researchers Prof. Peter Grace Funding source/s Cottons Research & Development Corporation (CRDC)

Sustainability-linked Food Security projects