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Down to Earth
with Professor Vicki
Sara
Profits in poor soil
Wouldn't it be great if we could win the battle against Australia's characteristically harsh farming conditions to be able to grow more crops more often?
You may think this is a fantasy, but home-grown
scientist Professor Mark Tester is getting closer to
overcoming the difficulties associated with growing
crops in saline and acidic soils.
Recently returned to Australia from Cambridge
University in the UK, Mark is a pioneer in his field
of investigating the biology of plants that survive
in poor soils.
"Salinity is one of the major land degradation problems in this country, and yet crop farming is one of our most important industries," Mark says.
"My research is about developing cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, which have an increased tolerance of saline soils, and generating plants with altered concentrations of nutrients in their leaves and grain.
"Farming is a tough job with a lot of variables. I hope that my research will make the job easier by stabilising one of those variables."
Mark says it is important to him that his work has relevance to Australia's agricultural industry and has the potential to make a difference.
"I'm proud that this country was built on an agricultural foundation and I'm thrilled that I can continue my crop research back home," he says.
A science graduate of the University of Adelaide, Mark is back at his old stomping ground, working from the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics at Adelaide University's Waite Institute. He has been able to continue his groundbreaking research as a recipient of a prestigious Federation Fellowship from the Australian Research Council.
As a scientist myself, I'm very excited about the potential application for Mark's work, which could see an increased longevity and net productivity of Australian crop plants.
Additional information about this project is available on the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics website at www.acpfg.com.au.
Alternatively, call ACPFG's Education Officer, Ms Belinda Barr, on 08 8303 7423, or Professor Mark Tester on 08 8303 7159.
Professor Vicki Sara is CEO of the Australian Research Council.
Published in the April 2004 issue of Friday Magazine.
