Research Highlights

The solid waste left over from wine-making could make a competitive biofuel, according to researchers from The University of Adelaide. The researchers showed that up to 400 litres of bioethanol could be produced by fermentation of a tonne of grape marc (the leftover skins, stalks and seeds from wine-making). Global wine production leaves an estimated 13 million tonnes of grape marc waste each year. Nationally it is estimated that several hundred thousand tonnes are generated annually and it is generally disposed of at a cost to the winery. “This is a potentially economic use for what is largely a waste product,” said Associate Professor Rachel Burton, from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls. “We’ve shown that there is a potential new industry with the evolution of local biofuel processing plants to add value to the grape for an environmentally friendly biofuel.”

The University of Melbourne’s Professor Anne Orford—awarded the ARC 2015 Kathleen Fitzpatrick Australian Laureate Fellowship—will use her $2.5 million research grant to explore the complex legal issues surrounding intervention by external actors in civil wars. “As current debates about the legality of interventions in Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine make clear, the question of whether and under what conditions outside actors can intervene in civil wars is an urgent one,” said Professor Orford. “This project will develop the new legal concepts and frameworks that are needed to respond to the fundamental challenges posed by growing foreign involvement in civil wars.” As the holder of the Kathleen Fitzpatrick Fellowship, Professor Orford is provided with additional funding to undertake an ambassadorial role to promote women in research, alongside her own research programme. She will use the funding to establish a programme of workshops, master classes and visiting fellowships for outstanding female early-career researchers in international law and related fields.

Media issued by The University of Melbourne.

An ARC Future Fellow has provided new insights into how Australian farmers and irrigators may respond to certain market conditions, and when they are more likely to sell their water entitlements. The study, undertaken by Associate Professor Sarah Wheeler from The University of Adelaide, has resulted in a world-first model that could be used to help develop water markets in areas that do not exist, as well as better understanding how to apply environmental policy, such as water buyback schemes. It's also a model that could be used internationally. The selling or buying of water entitlements is a contentious and politically charged issue, with competing environmental and agricultural interests. But it’s also an issue that needs more evidence around it to ensure success, said Associate Professor Wheeler. “Agriculture that relies on irrigation is the largest water user in many countries in the world. Despite water markets being in existence for many years, there has been a real lack of knowledge about water price elasticity—that is, how changes in the price of water entitlements influences changes in supply and demand of water."

Media issued by The University of Adelaide.

Congratulations to ARC DECRA Fellow, Dr Martin Breed, for receiving a 2015 Tall Poppy Award. Dr Breed is developing conservation and restoration solutions from studying plant adaptation and community ecology. Each year the Tall Poppy Awards recognise individuals who combine world-class research with a passionate commitment to communicating science and who demonstrate great leadership potential.

Media issued by The University of Adelaide.