GM Issues in Australia
 Since our last eNews the issue of GM crops once again found its way into the media headlines. Specifically, GM statistics have just been released and the details are available at http://www.isaaa.org/. These statistics (as much as 125mHa now under GM crops) have been collated and published annually for many years now and are used widely as credible statistics on global GM plantings. I highly recommend the web site.
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In Australia the ‘True Food Network’ has become active as an anti-GM lobby. In particular the group has focussed its efforts on current GM canola plantings. They will soon hold a range of workshops throughout NSW, Vic, SA and WA to discuss the issues.
On a sugar industry position, the Sugarcane Gene Technology Group and our CRC will host a series of industry workshops on the topic of biotechnology and GM sugarcane along the coast in mid March for grower and industry groups. My thanks to our staff who have committed to these workshops. PH Twine | | |
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Project leaders meet
 Our project leaders and executive team pinpointed the benefit of their projects and what they hope to achieve in 2009 and 20010 during our recent project leaders retreat at Couran Cove, Sth Stradbroke Island.
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The focus of the two-day meeting was for each project leader to present on their project’s scientific process and likely outcomes.
According to Peter Twine, the discussion and commitment shown was commendable and highlighted the passion our researchers have for their work. Many of the projects will commence in the coming months.
On a fun note, a couple of hours were scheduled for sporting activities and socialising.
A few members of the group took a walk on the wild side, and decided to be dragged around Sth Stradbroke behind a speed boat on an inflatable banana boat. Others were content to enjoy a relaxing swim or bike ride.
Deon Goosen kept the crowd entertained with his regular lolly awards, but Claudia Vickers was the overall winner for her significant contribution to the discussion sessions. Claudia won a weekend for two at Couran Cove. | | |
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GM the focus at March grower workshops
 Our CRC and the Sugarcane Gene Technology Group are working together to organise a series of grower GM workshops next month. Specifically, our current Education Officer, Ida Fellegara, has been playing a major role in drawing the whole event together.
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The workshops are being held to present growers from far north Queensland right through to northern NSW with the opportunity to learn more about GM issues and to discuss openly, any concerns they might have.
Special guests from BSES Limited, CSIRO, Biotechnology Australia, and Tom Schwartz from USA Beet industry are among the impressive line up of speakers. Five workshops are planned, the first will be held on the 17th of March in Cairns, with the final workshop in Bundaberg on the 24th March. | | |
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World bioplastics expert to work with Stevens
 A world leader in bioplastics research will be working with Stevens Brumbley for the next six months to enhance research into the commercial production of bioplastics in sugarcane. The pair will be based at BSES Limited, Brisbane.
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Professor Yves Poirier, Director of the Department of Plant Molecular Biology (DBMV) at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, is being sponsored by our CRC to spend six months in Australia working on the CRC project.
Yves specialty is plant biotechnology, an area that he honed through work at Michigan State University and the Carnegie Institution of Washington (USA), following a PhD in Canada. | | |
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Congratulations Graham, Smithsonian award winner!
 One of our best known CRC scientists, Graham Bonnett, was awarded a Smithsonian Award at a function in Brisbane on the 24th of February.
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Graham will have the opportunity to fast track Australia’s research into the possible use of GM sugarcane to produce bio-fuels and to assess risk management strategies, through a $25, 000 award and sabbatical with the famed Smithsonian Institution.
Specifically, Graham will spend five months at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), Panama from August to December this year. Here he will follow up on his work with *CRC SIIB to investigate the potential for transgene escape from commercial and GM sugarcane to similar wild cane species which are prolific in Panama. The research will help STRI identify possible control strategies for the wild sugarcane.
eNews will keep you up to date on Graham's adventures in Panama over the coming months! | | |
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Robert Troesdson retires
The SRDC and many from the Australian sugarcane industry recently said farewell to Robert Troedson who retired after 11½ years as program manager and investment portfolio manager. Robert was also an inaugural board member to our CRC from August 2003 until January 2008. More
During his time at the SRDC, Robert managed a portfolio of projects in crop agronomy, plant improvement and biotechnology. In recent years he became responsible for coordinating the entire investment portfolio, project selection and management processes, as well as communications with government stakeholders.
At Robert’s farewell this month, industry leaders acknowledged the enormous contributions he has made to Australian sugarcane. | | |
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Fresh Science opportunity for early-career scientists
 'Fresh science' is staged to help identify the best under-publicised research produced in the past year or so by early-career scientists.
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The date for this year's event is likely to be held either in the last week of May (25-28) or the first week of June (1-4) in Melbourne. Fresh Science is a communication boot camp for early-career researchers (upper limit of five years post doc) – which aims to help participants get their stories out to local, national and international media, and to give them essential communication skills.
Sixteen early-career researchers will be selected to attend Fresh Science where they will receive media training and then present their work to the media, schools and the public. Now in its 12th year, Fresh Science is supported by the Federal and Victorian governments, New Scientist and Museum Victoria.
Nominations close on Thursday 19 March 2009. For more information go to: www.freshscience.org | | |
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New term sheet template
 A term sheet template for both Material Transfer and Licence Agreements will soon be uploaded on to the Intranet and OMS (under the Report Templates located in the Project Submission Page).
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Project Leaders are encouraged to use this template when entering into material transfer or licensing discussions with parties that are external to the CRC.
Please contact Celeste Bennett at our Head Office
( 07 3346 7424 ) if you have any questions. | | |
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Upcoming Events
 There are several events of note that we think you should pencil into your calendars for 2009!
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ASSCT
The ASSCT Annual Conference will be held at Ballina, NSW from Tuesday, 5 May to Friday 8 May 2009. For further information, go to http://www.assct.com.au/. For all presenting authors of CRC research papers/posters, the CRC will consider contributing $500 towards conference costs. Please contact Peter Twine (peter.twine@crcsugar.com) or Ida Fellegara (ida.fellegara@crcsugar.com) for more information.
CRCA Conference
The Annual Conference is convened toward the end of May, and each year is held in a different city across the country. The conference is an ideal opportunity for researchers, educators and industry people to network with CRCA members while gaining valuable insights regarding the nature of cooperative research ventures.
The 2009 CRCA Conference:
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Dates: |
Tuesday 26 May to Thursday 28 May 2009 |
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Location: |
Canberra, ACT |
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Venue: |
National Convention Centre |
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Dinner: |
The Great Hall, Parliament House; Tuesday evening |
Read more information about the 2009 CRCA Conference
Tropical Crop Biotechnology
This second Tropical Crop Biotechnology Conference will be held at Kruger National Park, South Africa, from 22-25 July 2009. This is a follow-up to the very successful first conference held in Cairns, Australia, in 2006. The 2009 event will be an update of progress and prospects in plant biotechnology for the tropics.
For more information on the scientific programme and to register for next mailing contact Jens Kossmann, Institute for Plant Biotechnology, University of Stellenbosch (kossmann@sun.ac.za).
PhD writing workshops
Publishing papers in scientific journals is the most important/effective way of circulating information on new scientific discoveries; however it is a difficult task. This workshop will give our students the required skills to successfully/effectively communicate to other scientist and get their work accepted. For more Information, contact Ida on 3365 7502. | | |
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