Archives for November 2016

Description given on Youtube:
The aim of this movie is to visualize the importance of plant research for society and our planet. Plants are pivotal for the development of a sustainable economy, influencing our climate and important for the well-being of our planet. This movie focuses on growth of plants, cell division and root formation, related to the research of the VIB Department of Plant Systems Biology, UGent. Video streamed by www.AllthingsScience.com

Description given on Youtube:
To help meet growing food demands, continual genetic improvement of crops is needed. In the case of wheat, genetic gain must be achieved for several traits including stable grain yield and disease resistance across years in the face of fluctuating temperatures, erratic rainfall, and rapidly-changing pathogen populations. Currently, rates of genetic gain in wheat are not sufficient to meet projections of future demand. Major advances in genomics enable us to inexpensively generate thousands DNA markers on individual breeding lines. In addition, high-throughput aerial phenotyping now allows thousands of phenotypes to be recorded in a matter of minutes for low cost at virtually any location as long as equipment is available. Linking the DNA marker data with data on disease resistance, grain yield, and aerially collected phenotypes from cooperators at various sites across the world, will enable us to develop prediction models that can identify the top performing breeding lines for a range of environments, even at very early stages of breeding without observing the traits of interest. Effective data management, data sharing, and cultural changes in the way we do research and crop breeding will be needed. However, the potential pay-off is well worth facing the challenges. Early results indicate that harnessing this big data-driven approach on a large scale could dramatically accelerate rates of genetic gain- ultimately leading to faster improvements in yield and disease resistance on farmers’ fields.

Description given on Youtube:
Andrew Freeth, from Collie in NSW, received a 2015 Nuffield Scholarship supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation. He studied investment in on-farm grain storage and supply chain logistics.

Andrew works in his family’s 5500-hectare dryland broadacre cropping and livestock enterprise, with typically half the farm sown to cash or fodder crops and the balance running a 2300-head self-replacing Merino ewe flock, prime lambs and some cattle. Andrew is involved in all aspects of the business and has a business background in grain marketing and price risk management.

Andrew believes grain industry stakeholders need to consider the investment horizon for grain storage and freight infrastructure assets that typically sees life spans in excess of 30 years. He believes the importance of long-term whole-of-industry planning and stakeholder knowledge is critical to best target investment that results in increased efficiency, profitability for supply chain stakeholders, better marketing options and improved farm gate returns.

Andrew has visited the USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK to complete his studies.