The University of New England (UNE) is helping to lead the charge to net zero emissions in Australian agriculture as a Tier One partner in the newly announced Zero Net Emissions Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (ZNE-Ag CRC).
The ZNE-Ag CRC brings together 73 partners across industry, education and government to reduce emissions in Australian agriculture.
It will be the largest CRC to date, having secured a total of $300 million in funding over the next ten years, with $87 million contributed by the Australian Government.
UNE’s involvement will focus on developing solutions to reduce methane emissions in livestock production, including the development of nutritional supplements and pasture to inhibit methane emissions, and genetic selection tools for cattle breeding. These will be through two research programs, Low-Emissions Plant Solutions, and Towards methane-free cattle and sheep.
Professor Sam Clark and Associate Professor Fran Cowley will play a large role in the methane-reduction program, while Associate Professor Richard Flavel will be involved in the low-emission pastures program.
In addition, UNE Associate Professor Janelle Wilkes is the current lead of the Education, Training and Adoption program.
“UNE’s participation in the ZNE-Ag CRC builds on our long history of research relating to sustainable agricultural practices aligning closely to the philosophy of UNE’s Bachelor of Rural Science,” says A/Prof Wilkes.
“I’m excited to be embedding the latest emissions reductions research from the CRC into our bachelor courses in agriculture and rural science to ensure industry successfully transitions to net zero”.
UNE’s participation in the ZNE-Ag CRC builds on our long history of research relating to sustainable agricultural practices aligning closely to the philosophy of UNE’s Bachelor of Rural Science.
Professor Julius van der Werf helped coordinate UNE’s involvement in the bid, and says the partnership will allow the university to continue the wide range of research and teaching UNE is already doing in this space.
“UNE is excited to be partnering with the University of Queensland in the ZNE-Ag CRC which will build upon our world-leading research towards methane-free cattle and sheep with genetics, nutritional supplements and low-emissions pastures,” he says
“These will be directly delivered to producers and supply chain participants through national platforms, and demonstration sites will be established at various locations, including on campus at UNE. This will help boost engagement and adoption by producers and industry, which is absolutely essential to achieving the goal of net zero emissions.”
UNE will be collaborating with industry, such as long term partner DLF Seeds on world-first research.
DLF Seeds General Manager, Australia, Jason Argus, says the funding of the CRC provides opportunity to bring forward investment and solution development, while producer demonstration sites will allow farmers the confidence to adopt profitable low greenhouse gas solutions.
“Investment in the CRC will yield significant productivity and profitability benefits for Australian farmers, in addition to ensuring they are supported in meeting the goal of achieving net zero, with its accompanying market access benefits,” he says.
In addition to the three main programs, UNE will be involved in two other research pillars that will provide farmers with the resources needed for a profitable transition to net-zero emissions, and developing renewable energy solutions that create profitable opportunities for agribusinesses and rural communities.
The ZNE-Ag CRC is led by the University of Queensland and has been funded by Round 24 of the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program.
Read about the exciting announcement here, and find out more about the ZNE-Ag CRC here
