The UWA Institute of Agriculture Number 36, December 2018
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The UWA Institute of Agriculture Number 36, December 2018 The Stewart family with Dr Shashi Paroda and Dr Raj Paroda. Innovation led agricultural growth and SDGs Diana Boykett of increasing productivity whilst finished the talk by saying sustainable [email protected] reducing cost on inputs, the need development goals can be achieved to make agricultural innovations through an improved social progress Dr Raj Paroda, former director of mainstream and the importance of index (SPI), a much more valuable the Indian Council of Agricultural public-private partnerships. measure than GDP. Research (ICAR),was invited to deliver the 25th Hector and Andrew He said agriculture is not the cause but The Hector and Andrew Stewart Stewart Memorial Lecture at UWA in the solution for achieving sustainable Memorial Lecture is in honour of the November 2018. development goals, and bridging the late Hon Hector J Stewart, MLC, and widening gap between rich and poor. his son, the late Mr Andrew M. Stewart, Dr Paroda has made significant both Wagin wool growers. Mr Stewart contributions in the field of agriculture “The task ahead is indeed difficult, Jr was President of UWA’s Guild of both as a researcher and able but not insurmountable, provided the Undergraduates in 1929 and was administrator. He is well known pace of overall progress is accelerated,” invited to join the teaching staff at the globally for initiating and strengthening Dr Paroda said. University in 1937. He was twice Dean many visionary programs including of UWA’s Faculty of Agriculture. with the UN FAO, World Bank and “Scaling of agricultural innovations CGIAR to meet new challenges faced by can be achieved with the right The inaugural Hector and Andrew the agricultural research system. incentives, policies, institutions and Stewart memorial lecture was 52 years human resources.” ago in 1966 by Professor TJ Robinson In his talk titled Innovation led on ‘Sheep Fertility Research - Its agricultural growth and SDGs, Dr Paroda gave an overview of Potential for Western Australia. Dr Paroda discussed the challenges some high impact innovations and IN THIS ISSUE Engineering students tackle ag issues on UWA Farm P3 | Global Food Waste: Causes and solutions P7 | UWA inspires the Philippines’ Future Rice Farm P9 agricultural scientist and administrator director, CBH Group joined the who has dedicated his career to board in August and is committed shaping agricultural policy and reform to providing advice and industry in both India and internationally. Dr feedback on agricultural issues and Paroda’s lecture was titled Innovation priorities within the industry and led agricultural growth and SDGs and wider community. was well received by the Stewart family and those who attended.During his Finally, I must acknowledge the UWA visit to UWA, he spent time interacting Executive, Theme Leaders, UWA with PhD students and early career Farm Ridgefield committees, IOA researchers giving them tips on how to members and staff for their hard work collaborate and create impact through throughout 2018. We bid farewell their research and development on the to Future Farm 2050 Project Officer international stage. Debra Mullan. Debra joined the team in 2015 and has done an excellent I would like to congratulate IOA job liaising with UWA Farm Ridgefield researcher Dr Michael Considine on staff, developing the Massive Online being awarded a Future Fellowship Open Course and coordinating from the Australian Research Council. outreach activities on the Farm. We It is one of Australia’s premiere wish her all the best in her future Director’s scientific fellowships and is well endeavours. deserved. During the Fellowship, column Dr Considine’s research will focus Season’s greetings and best wishes on crop species, particularly fruit for a happy new year to you and your Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique trees, building on his recent work on family. AM, CitWA, FTSE, FAIA, FNAAS, FISPP [email protected] grapevine and the apple breeding program in Manjimup in Western The 2018 season is looking very Australia (see page 11). promising both in terms of higher than expected yields and strong IOA’s associate director Professor prices – a winning combination that Wallace Cowling was elected will give a much needed boost to Fellow of the Australian Academy the agriculture industry as a whole. of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). Professor Cowling is The UWA Institute of Agriculture has an outstanding contributor to had a busy and productive 2018. Australian agricultural science, Several new students commenced technology and productivity their PhD studies at UWA in agriculture through advances in crop breeding and related areas. A number of and genetics. He is a good example agreements and memoranda of of a ‘Professor of Practice’ and the understanding were signed between fellowship is well deserved. UWA and international institutions. I recently travelled to Indonesia (see I would like to sincerely thank page 12) and China (see page 12) IOA’s Industry Advisory Board to sign agreements with Udayana for their dedication and support University and Lanzhou University. throughout the year. We recently bid farewell to Mr Shane Sander We hosted the 25th Hector and Andrew and Mr Tym Duncanson who Stewart Memorial Lecture in November served on the Board for five and and were fortunate to welcome global three years respectively. During agriculture leader Dr Raj Paroda to the that time they served the university University (see cover story). Dr Paroda and rural industry readily and is an extremely accomplished unreservedly. Mr Simon Stead, 2 The UWA Institute of Agriculture December 2018 Sustaining productive agriculture for a growing world In August, five students from the unit and staff members from the Faculty of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences undertook a field trip to UWA Farm Ridgefield to review the connectivity issues and initiate strategies and designs which could operate under these constraints. The students have since set about developing recommendations for cost-effective Five engineering design students visit UWA Farm Ridgefield engineering solutions for maintaining security at UWA Farm Ridgefield. Engineering design students tackle In addition to gaining knowledge and insight into their project constraints agriculture issues on UWA Farm and design considerations, the students were also given a tour of Professor Dilusha Silva, [email protected] the farm and details on the multi- disciplinary nature of the Future Farm Students studying Electrical and UWA Farm Ridgefield operates under 2050 (FF2050) Project. Electronic Engineering Design Project the constraints of poor connectivity, have been working on improving current, a common problem in regional areas Engineering Innovations for Food and designing new, security measures in Western Australia, and therefore Production is one of IOA’s six research for UWA Farm Ridgefield in Pingelly. provides a perfect real-world themes, and the FF2050 Project provides environment for engineering students exciting opportunities for engineers to This unit requires students to integrate to design systems which solve a help solve agricultural issues. and apply knowledge and skills to a problem and are fit for purpose. substantial real-world design challenge. Pingelly Astrofest 2018 Debra Mullan, [email protected] Experts explained the use and principles astrophotography book The Universe – of telescopes and clearing of the clouds Yours to discover and a grand prize of a In October, over 130 people from later in the evening gave attendees Saxon DeepSky 8” Dobsonian Telescope. both the local community and great views of the moon, Saturn and metropolitan area came together at Mars. Attendees were able to delight Mr Peter Wilson who won the telescope UWA Farm Ridgefield to celebrate in the Scitech Spacedome show which said his eight year old son Andrew is a astronomy and Australian science at ran throughout the evening, participate budding scientist and they are most Pingelly Astrofest. in the science shows and view an grateful to receive such a generous prize. astrophotography exhibition. As part of the UWA Future Farm 2050 Project’s commitment to connecting Dr Luke Davies, a project scientist for with rural communities and bridging ICRAR, captivated the audience with the the city-country divide, IOA once again evolution of galaxies and the structure of partnered with the International Centre the universe and then fielded some well for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) to thought out questions from enthusiastic host the second Pingelly Astrofest. primary and high school students. Telescopes were set up all evening with In addition to fantastic activities, passionate astronomy volunteers, UWA attendees who had registered online to PhD students and ICRAR staff available attend the event went into a prize draw Peter Wilson wins Saxon DeepSky Dobsonian Telescope to guide attendees through the night sky. including ICRAR prize packs with an Sustaining productive agriculture for a growing world The UWA Institute of Agriculture December 2018 3 Dale research site Field Day - Focus on Frost Dr Nic Taylor canola TOS variety choice trials (B The event was hosted by DPIRD and [email protected] Biddulph, J Bucat and I Farre; DPIRD). UWA staff were invited to attend and learn more about collaborative research Dr Ben Biddulf [email protected] Additionally, there was a wheat and frost opportunities with field based frost focus with presentations by and agronomy researchers. The day More than 80 researchers, • R Smith (Living Farm) and B Biddulph concluded with the launch event for the breeders, growers and industry (DPIRD) on Cereal Crop Type x Frost ID Guide (available to download representatives all with a key Sowing Windows. at www.agric.wa.gov.au/frost/frost- interest in wheat frost and canola • K Ryan, G Troup and G Thomas identification-guide-cereals). research came together on (DPIRD) on Debugging; The Role of 11 October 2018 at DPIRD’s Dale Bacteria in Frost. research site Field Day.