The UWA Institute of Agriculture releases 2020 Annual Research Report

Researchers at The University of Western Australia’s Institute of Agriculture published more than 330 peer-reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters last year – making 2020 the Institute’s most productive year since it was re-established in 2007.

This achievement and many more feature in the Institute’s 2020 Annual Research Report, which was released today.

The 14th annual report provides an overview of UWA’s agricultural research, development, and training in regional, national, and international contexts.

The Institute Director Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique said launching the Annual Research Report 2020 was an opportunity to reflect upon a difficult, yet ultimately extraordinary, 12 months.

“In a year marked by the significant challenges of natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic; the Institute’s researchers and collaborators should be congratulated for their resilience and dedication,” Professor Siddique said.

“Never has our vision to provide research-based solutions to food and national security, environmental sustainability and agribusiness been more pertinent.”

Throughout 2020, collaborative and multi-disciplinary research activities were undertaken across six research themes: Crops, Roots and Rhizosphere, Sustainable Grazing Systems, Water for Food Production, Food Quality and Human Health, Engineering Innovations for Food Production, and Agribusiness Ecosystems.

Professor Siddique said the research and development featured in the report spanned a wide range of topics and disciplines at UWA.

“There are countless research achievements to highlight from this research report,” Professor Siddique said.

“Our researchers and collaborators discovered the true cause of faba bean gall disease, coordinated a national project to improve heat tolerance in canola, redefined our understanding of clover disease and applied cutting-edge spatial technology to a variety of projects.

“We also responded to the immediate effects of pandemic, by contributing to a scientific paper that found Australia New Zealand agri-food industries were highly resilient during COVID-19.”

The Institute effectively communicates agricultural research and training activities at UWA, and actively engages with industry, farmer groups, collaborators, funding bodies and alumni.

The Institute hosted its 14th annual events Postgraduate Showcase and Industry Forum to socially-distanced crowds in late 2020, as well as hosting in-person and online lectures and webinars.

A number of research and educational opportunities, presentations, workshops and field visits involving UWA Farm Ridgefield and the Future Farm 2050 Project also took place.

“A major highlight from 2020 was our Industry Forum, which explored the very timely topic of ‘Climate change and agriculture: Challenges and solutions for Australian farmers’,” Professor Siddique said.

Agriculture Science at UWA was recently ranked number one in Australia and 16th in the world in the 2021 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

The Institute played a significant role in achieving this global reputation.

For more information, view and download the 2020 Annual Research Report.