Seven years of successful sugarcane biotechnology research comes to an end this week as the CRC SIIB* officially winds up its research activities.
According to CRC SIIIB Chief Executive Officer Dr Peter Twine, the CRC's research and development activities will cease on the 30
th of this month, while the CRC SIIB office staff will continue wind up activities at their St Lucia office through till 30 September this year.
Dr Twine said the CRC outcomes were impressive
(see 'Major Outcomes' below) and the CRC would leave behind a strong legacy for the Australian sugarcane industry for many years to come.
This legacy includes value-adding product options, platform technology/ knowledge for future biotechnology research and a cooperative research spirit that is already making Australia known internationally as a leader in the field of sugarcane biotechnology.
Dr Twine said the success of the CRC was proof that a cooperative venture between research, industry, government and commercial groups can make big advances in a short time frame.
The Centre's impressive efforts will improve the long-term commercial and 'green' potential of Australian sugarcane. Research has resulted in state-of-the-art breeding tools to help breed environmentally friendly and higher performing new varieties.
The CRC has also developed promising new products based on sugarcane such as a basis for numerous health products that could tackle diabetes, and a 'green' packaging product which could meet growing national and international demands for recyclable waterproof paper.
"Over the past seven years, our CRC has brought together some of Australia's and indeed the world's best agricultural biotechnologists to map out a new future for the Australian sugarcane industry," Dr Twine said.
"And, 71 postgraduate and undergraduate students have been given the opportunity to work on real-life projects focused on commercial outcomes.
"My belief is the many benefits to flow out of this CRC will combine to help achieve a more secure and profitable future for Australian sugarcane."
To ensure the best possible commercialisation of the Centre's intellectual property, the CRC SIIB has established Biotechnology Company, Sacron Innovations Pty Ltd. The Australian sugarcane industry and CRC SIIB participants have structured Sacron Innovations to enable strong business opportunities to flow on from the CRC's major research outcomes. To find out more go to: www.crcsugar.com.au .
The CRC SIIB was established by the Australian Government under the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program, and supported by a powerful combination of sugarcane biotechnology expertise and commercial investment.
Since its inception in 2003, the CRC SIIB's researchers and students have been making great progress towards harnessing the true potential of Australia's richest energy crop. The CRC SIIB will keep its web site
www.crcsugar.com active until June 2014 as an industry and science resource covering major achievements in sugarcane biotechnology.
Outcome
| Benefit |
High Biomass sugarcane
| The CRC SIIB has developed high biomass sugarcane varieties. These have the potential to produce up to 60% more biomass than regular sugarcane.
|
Waterproofing technology
| The CRC SIIB has developed 'green' technology to waterproof cardboard. The plant-based waterproof compound is 100% recyclable and 100% effective.
|
Powerful GI lowering compound
| CRC research has revealed a GI lowering compound 100 times stronger than the most widely used medicine. The compound has been identified in a readily available form in the sugarcane plant.
|
Biodegradable plastics
| CRC SIIB scientists have identified how to turn sugarcane into bioplastic by producing PHB, a versatile and durable family of plastics, directly in the plant. Bioplastic provides an excellent alternative to petroleum-based plastic products.
|
Education Package
| CRC SIIB education research has produced materials that will contribute to a biotechnology education package for Education Queensland. It is envisaged that better access to quality biotechnology education will help engender broad public support for this emerging field.
|
Nitrogen Efficient Sugarcane
| This CRC helped identify specific genetic traits that may contribute to nitrogen use efficiency in sugarcane. The genetic information will be used by the Australian sugarcane industry to breed future nitrogen-efficient sugarcane varieties.
|
| DArT | DArT is a DNA mapping tool used by wheat and barley plant breeders. The CRC SIIB developed a version of DArT for sugarcane. This is likely to help Australian sugarcane breeders achieve rapid genetic improvement of sugarcane for future varieties. The BSES-CSIRO Joint Venture has commenced using DArT.
|
GM Safety Information
| A unique study (supported by CRC SIIB) into the reproduction of wild sugarcane in Panama, Central America and in Australia, has provided environmentally valuable information for the Australian sugarcane industry. The research will help the Australian industry to safely manage future genetically modified varieties.
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| authorder® | Determining in which order authors should be listed on publications can be problematic. Enter authorder®. Authorder® can solve author order disputes for researchers and help them negotiate this, at times, rocky terrain.
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*Cooperative Research Centre for Sugar Industry Innovation through
Biotechnology
Photo caption:
The CRC SIIB will wind up
its research on June 30 2010 after seven years of successful
biotechnology
research on behalf of the Australian sugarcane industry.
For more information contact:
CRC
SIIB Communication Manager
Julie
Lloyd
M:
0415 799 890