Glasshouse to throw new light on grains research

A new state-of-the-art glasshouse at the Hermitage Research Station in Warwick could play a leading role in billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates’s mission to increase grain harvests in drought-prone regions of Africa.

Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson said a $700,000 investment by the Palaszczuk Government would enable Hermitage to deliver world-class research and development projects.

Hermitage is the base for Professor David Jordan’s research to improve sorghum breeding programs in developing countries funded by a $3.8 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“The latest innovation at the research station is a 114 square metre glasshouse with a computer controlled internal environment that has just been completed.

“The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has partnered with a range of collaborators at Hermitage to produce crop varieties with greater drought tolerance, improved pest and disease resistance and higher yields and the glasshouse will enhance that capability.

“It means summer crops, such as sorghum and mungbean, can be grown through the winter while in summer precise temperature and humidity control will allow detailed cross-pollination and pest and disease resistant ratings.”

Minister Donaldson said Hermitage was already attracting co-funded research projects with industry and producing sorghum, mungbean, barley and chickpea germplasm for seed companies and growers across Queensland.

“These facilities are essential for the ongoing success of our renowned breeding programs and have played a part in the huge expansion we have seen in Queensland mungbean and chickpea production over the past season.

“Hermitage is home to a range of agricultural research projects funded by the Queensland Government, industry, our research partnership with the University of Queensland through the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the likes of the Gates Foundation,” the Minister said.

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