2014 ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology

We propose a novel approach to improve sustainable yield by optimising the overall efficiency of energy capture, conversion and use by plants. Efficiency gains in metabolism, transport, and development will be more effective than optimising single nutrient inputs or product outputs. Improving multiple parameters simultaneously is a necessary solution to the increasing demand for more crop yield from finite land, water, and nutrient resources. Unpredictable environmental challenges adversely affect plant growth and further perturb plant energy balance, limiting yield. The epigenetic controls, gene variants and signals discovered will provide a new basis for sustainable productivity of crops and will future-proof plants in changing climates. 

Funding: $26 million over 7 years Centre Director: Professor Harvey Millar Administering Organisation: The University of Western Australia Collaborating and Partner Organisations: La Trobe University  The Australian National University  The University of Adelaide  Agilent Technologies Australia  Grains Research and Development Corporation  Groupe Limagrain – Vilmorin & Cie  Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology  Photon Systems Instruments  Salk Institute of Biological Studies  Umeå Plant Science Centre  University of Massachusetts, Amherst  University of Turku, Finland  Zhejiang University

Please visit the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology website for further information.