REDLAND City is part Queensland’s push to be the national hub of advanced agricultural research and development with the opening of a new $8.6 million world-class glasshouse facility.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin last week officially opened the state-of-the-art complex at the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Redlands Research Station at Ormiston.
“Plant and food research and development is a multi-million dollar business in Queensland and DPI&F now has the facilities to match with the opening of the Queensland Crop Development Facility,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“The complex will support a new generation of tropical, subtropical and molecular farming for many decades to come.
“The five glasshouses can accommodate all crop species, even trees, and can replicate specific environments using computer-controlled temperature settings.
“The new facilities also feature the latest water-saving technology including four 32,000 litre underground tanks.”
Mr Mulherin said the facility would deliver more than $1 billion worth of economic benefits for Queensland in its first 15 years, based on the value of the projects being undertaken using the glasshouses.
“This world-class facility will encourage greater collaboration between the country’s agricultural biotechnology research organisations,” he said.
“Already we have had discussions with prominent agricultural companies regarding the use of these secure facilities.”
The QCDF is a joint project with investment of $5.6 million from DPI&F, Queensland University of
Technology and the University of Queensland, with additional $3m from the Queensland Government Smart State initiative.
These collaborating institutions will use the facilities to develop new varieties of tropical and subtropical fruit and vegetables, sugarcane, grain, pulses and fodder crops to further boost Queensland’s growing agriculture sector.
Some of Australia’s top plant pathologists and entomologists will use the facility for pest and disease research on plants.
Director of QUT’s Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Professor James Dale, said the glasshouses would be critical in an international project designed to improve nutrition in Africa.
“East African Highland bananas are the staple food of Uganda, but unfortunately these are low in essential micronutrients and as a result vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are major health problems,” he said.
“This project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is working to develop East African Highland bananas that are high in pro-vitamin A and iron.
“QCDF will be critical in assessing the first genetically modified bananas prior to their field trial later this year.”
Covering an area of 1350sq m, the roofs of the greenhouse structures are designed to channel water into underground tanks, which can provide for all onsite water needs for a period of up to three months without any further rainfall.
Floor and roof vents, evaporative coolers and a chilled water plant allow complete temperature control within the greenhouses.
There are additional areas for plant preparation and processing, sterilisation facilities, media bays, offices and amenities – all constructed to Office of Gene Technology Regulator and Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service requirements.
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