- Innovative research is underway in Central Queensland to develop better grain and pulse farming methods, to bolster our primary industries output.
- State-of-the-art technology is being deployed to enable researchers to safeguard crop productivity in higher temperatures.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy by investing in research to protect food production after a decade of decline under Labor.
Innovative scientific research is underway in Central Queensland, which aims to provide Queensland farmers with new methods to grow grains and pulses in hotter conditions to increase food production and security.
Department of Primary Industries researchers at the Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre in Emerald are using six purpose-built chambers to study the impacts of high night-time temperatures on sorghum – a grain used for stockfeed or food products like beer or gluten free flour products.
The technology will enable research that aims to uncover the impacts of heat stress and identify practical strategies to reduce production risk.
This research is one of more than 230 actions the Crisafulli Government is delivering over the next five years under Primary Industries Prosper 2050, a landmark blueprint designed with rural and regional communities and industry.
Prioritising practical research and development with a focus on productivity is just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is striving to hit our ambitious target of increasing the value of primary production output to $30 billion by 2030.
During Labor’s decade of decline, Queensland’s primary industries sector received insufficient support and opportunities for prosperity were left to wither on the vine.
Six infield heat chambers have been commissioned and designed specifically for Queensland conditions, in partnership with global technology company Biora.
The structures are the largest of their kind in the world and can simulate higher night-time temperatures by raising conditions inside the chamber by up to three degrees.
The chambers are set up in the paddock and are equipped with remote monitoring devices, ensuring researchers can gather critical data to support climate productivity research for grains and pulses.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the scientific infrastructure positioned Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries as a national leader in farmer focused research and development.
“By leveraging advanced technologies like in-field heat chambers, we are equipping Queensland farmers with the knowledge to better understand and manage the impacts of an increasingly variable climate,” Minister Perrett said.
“I have said time and time again that the Crisafulli Government backs our farmers with real investment, not empty promises.
“This is just one example of how we are delivering on our commitment to grow our primary industries to $30 billion by 2030, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for agriculture in our State.
“We are proud to partner with industry to invest in research that delivers practical management options growers can use now and into the future.”
