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PLANT HEALTH
a view of how their resolution can address broader challenges in Australia and the world. Part- nership is prioritised; not only within disciplines, but across them, with industry groups, and with national and international colleagues. How we do science has changed; as an undergradu- ate student I could not possibly
global trends. That means re- thinking what we grow, how we grow it, and how we support the science that underpins it. Two recent events have impacted my thoughts about this. First, Adelaide University will officially emerge on 1st January 2026 as a merger of two foundational Uni- versities, the University of Adel-
technologies or restrict access to global genetic resources. Building a Better Innovation Pipeline Despite these challenges, Aus- tralia maintains some world- class infrastructure to support agricultural innovation. NCRIS facilities like the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, Bioplat- forms Australia, and the newly launched Plant Synthetic Biol- ogy Australia (PSBA) are helping bridge the gap between research and application. PSBA, in particular, offers a promising model. PSBA is a re- cent $20 million investment with nodes across the country; it pro- vides “research hotels” — shared lab spaces with specialist exper- tise — that allow researchers and startups to rapidly prototype and test new ideas. By supporting the full synthetic biology pipeline, from design to evaluation, PSBA is aimed at accelerating the de- livery of climate-smart crops and bio-based agricultural solutions. Australia needs more than just facilities. We need a national strategy that aligns research pri- orities with agricultural needs, reduces barriers to innovation, and ensures that a workforce is available in the lab and on the land to ensure delivery of new tech to the paddock. A Bold Future Awaits The future of Australian agricul- ture depends on our ability to adapt — not just to climate, but to markets, technologies, and
have imagined sitting in a room with a nutritional expert, a law- yer, a process engineer, and psychologist to discuss how plants might be redesigned for new environments, what the benefits might be, and how we can get to an answer in 3 months
aide and the University of South Australia, becoming the fifth largest university in Australia overnight. As part of the merger process, a new research strategy for Food, Agriculture, and Wine was developed. This strategy prioritises local issues, but with
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