Lumen Winter 2023 - Flipbook - Page 17
Jason Able at the Plant Accelarator, Waite campus
“Climate change is
real and will alter the
landscape as we know
it in the years ahead.”
Other projects that champion a sustainable
future include:
•
Professor Rachel Burton is leading
research into the properties of industrial
hemp and its many end uses, from
providing food and building materials,
to cosmetics, clothing and medicine.
“Shallow roots enable plants to capture
phosphate and surface water, while deeper,
straighter roots can stabilise yield by
accessing deeper water and nitrate. They can
also bury carbon deeper in the soil.”
•
Professor Matthew Gilliham, Director of
the new Centre for Excellence in Plants
for Space, is leading a research centre
funded by the Australian Research
Council and led by the University of
Adelaide that will investigate how to grow
plants in space. This research will also
have important implications for
sustainable agriculture in harsh
environments here on Earth.
Dr Lou undertook the research as part of
a joint PhD program with the University
of Nottingham.
•
Dr Jenny Mortimer, Associate
Professor of Plant Synthetic Biology,
is leading research into the properties
of duckweed – a high protein, nutrientrich plant species that could be used as
a protein substitute for meat products
for astronauts.
So, whether it’s on Earth, or up in space,
researchers from the University of Adelaide
are playing their part in helping to uncover
solutions on how to keep food on the table
for generations to come.
Lee Gaskin is Media Coordinator for the
University of Adelaide.
LUMEN – WINTER 2023 17
