Date: 14 October 2025 Boosting productivity, reducing costs, and mitigating disease risks – this ARC Research Hub has redefined the future of Australian farming through AI and collaboration. ARC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ute Roessner, speaking at the wind-down showcase event for the ARC Research Hub for Driving Farming Productivity and Disease Prevention. Image Credit: Supplied. The ARC Research Hub for Driving Farming Productivity and Disease Prevention (the Hub) set out to tackle real-world challenges facing Australian farmers – from boosting productivity to preventing crop disease. Through partnerships between engineers, biologists and industry experts, the team has turned research into tools that make farming smarter, faster and more sustainable. ARC Chief Executive Officer Professor Ute Roessner said the Hub demonstrates the value of collaboration between research and industry. ‘Research translation – from concept to commercialisation – is critical to our national productivity story. It’s about getting smart ideas into use, and ensuring that Australian industries remain competitive, sustainable, and globally connected,’ Professor Roessner said. ‘That’s why the ARC continues to invest strongly in collaborative research programs that bring researchers and industry together to solve practical challenges.’ By integrating AI technologies such as machine vision, machine learning, and quality control systems, the Hub has developed intelligent solutions for harvesting, grading, crop monitoring and disease detection. Its work has delivered tangible results across key agricultural sectors including sugarcane, strawberries, and lobster aquaculture – industries vital to Australia’s food security and export economy. Examples include: live monitoring of billet quality helping farmers optimise planting and reduce waste in sugarcane production, real-time imaging and machine learning to track larvae growth and health, improving survival rates and reducing labour costs in lobster aquaculture. The DeepBerry system for grading fruit at scale with greater precision, improving quality and reducing reliance on seasonal labour. One of the Hub’s standout achievements is the world’s first prototype hyperspectral imaging and deep learning system for early detection of sugarcane smut and mosaic diseases – halving the time needed for disease detection compared to human inspection. ‘The success of this Hub reinforces just how valuable those partnerships are. When we connect world-class research with industry insight, we accelerate innovation and create solutions that last,’ Professor Roessner said. The ARC invested % million in the Hub, which was led by Griffith University in partnership with 4 university partners and 6 industry collaborators. Partners contributed an additional $4.8 million in cash and $6.3 million via in-kind support. Together they have delivered a strong example of how collaborative research can drive productivity, sustainability and long-term impact for Australian agriculture. Explore the work of the ARC Research Hub for Driving Farming Productivity and Disease Prevention.