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Our Research Priorities
Strategic Research Initiatives
The research priorities of the Graham Centre have been developed since the Centre formed in 2005. The following Strategic Research Initiatives for the next five years (2007-2011) were developed through a consultative process with staff, stakeholders and the Industry Advisory Committee in response to climate change, production and environmental issues and the need to develop more diverse and resilient farming systems:
Conservation Farming and Stubble Management to increase soil carbon and optimise nutrient use efficiency, improve water and air quality and human health. (Leader Prof Len Wade)
Utilising Sustainable Pasture Systems and Forage Conservation to develop and deliver improved technologies for forage conservation to meet production targets for livestock production, drought mitigation, water conservation, and environmental protection. (Leader Prof David Kemp)
Weed Management to develop chemical and non-chemical technologies (e.g. allelopathy, bio-control, competition) for integrated management strategies in crops and pastures to reduce the impact and spread of weeds, reducing land managers' dependence on herbicides and retarding the development of herbicide resistance. (Leader Dr Hanwen Wu)
Australian Bio-Protection to develop alternative non-chemical control tactics for the important pests of agricultural crops through the development of ecologically-based and innovative new tactics and quantify the impacts of agricultural practice on ecosystem biodiversity and environmental stewardship. (Leader Prof Geoff Gurr)
Healthy Food Products to develop new plant and livestock products that have human health attributes for niche markets and value-add post farm gate. (Leader Mr John Oliver)
Animal Parasites to reduce the impact of internal parasites and reducing chemical resistance by developing practical and sustainable methods of parasite control incorporated into whole farm enterprises; providing disease surveillance, thus giving parasite diagnosis and control advice; and evaluating potential impacts from climate change and wildlife reservoirs of disease. (Leader Prof Nick Sangster)
Resilient Farmers to use ‘Resilience Theory' to provide a clear understanding of current farming system drivers and sustainability indicators. We will work with farmers to define limitations of current practice and identify systems that are more attuned to existing and potential landscape resources and constraints. (Leader Dr Peter Orchard)
Supporting research
The Centre supports research and extension efforts of its participants in a variety of ways. One of the most important means of support is the provision of funds for a variety of purposes including travel, conference attendance, workshops, equipment, New Initiative Grants, Student Internships, PhD scholarship top-ups and Honours scholarships.
Information regarding funding opportunities can be found on the Info for Members page and is also posted on the News page.
Monitoring plant-water use at the Coleambally Irrigation Area. Photo: Asitha Katupitiya
Research projects
The research interests of the Graham Centre encompass a broad range of topics across agricultural production and food science, from the management of pathogens in Cambodian rice to the enhancement of olive oils, and from the search for natural herbicides to the study of optimal crop rotations for managing groundwater recharge.
For more information on the research activities of the E H Graham Centre check out our latest news and the Centre Diary or contact the Centre Director Deirdre Lemerle.