New national centre for plant genomics

The University of Adelaide has won the bid to host the new $32 million National Centre for Plant Functional Genomics.

Prof Cliff Blake, the university's vice-chancellor, said the centre would be a leader in the agricultural bioscience industry, developing molecular breeding technologies for the grain industries.

Using gene mapping techniques, the centre will produce plant varieties such as wheat and barley that are resistant to drought, salinity and other environments that threaten food production.

Blake said these innovative and commercially valuable platform technologies would contribute to Australia's $8 billion grain industry, the nation's largest exporter.

Initially housing 100 scientists, the number of researchers and students is expected to grow as the centre attracts new government research grants and commercial investment.

The plans also include a new building at the Waite campus to house any new bioscience companies likely to be spun off from the centre.

Funding the centre is the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation, providing $20 million over five years with another $12 million from the south Australian government.

The ARC's CEO, Prof Vicki Sara, linking a government research association and an industry body would allow the creation of an internationally competitive plant genomics centre.

Other nodes for the centre will be based at the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland. These participating universities will provide up to $3.6 million for the centre's research, and the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment will also chip in.