The funding will support focused research, including efforts to improve genetic verification of planting material. Pictured: Young vines at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE). Image courtesy TWE
Metabolomics SA, hosted by the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), has established a new research accelerator following a $5.6 million funding boost from the State Government into research infrastructure for thousands of researchers and industry partners.
Metabolomics have been given a $366,143 grant in this round of funding, with $1.41 million planned over four years.
The State Government says that the new investment “will support industry focused research and development across agriculture, environmental monitoring and biosecurity”, including improved pest diagnostics, genetic verification of planting material and honeybees, and earlier detection of plant viruses.
The aim is to help South Australian industries move research into real world and export-ready applications, with five specialist jobs expected to be created by the initiative.
Director of Research for AWRI, Professor Markus Herderich, says that the new research initiative, the ‘Omics Accelerator’ supports the state’s research into “precision breeding, crop improvement, disease resistance, and environmental monitoring”.
“The Omics Accelerator will fast-track the development and commercial adoption of ’omics-based diagnostics services – from the lab to the paddock – and boost the state’s credentials in agri biotech,” he said.
Joe Szakacs, Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, emphasised the importance of access to high-grade technical equipment that allows for the conversion of research into real world industry outcomes.
“The work underway at Metabolomics SA, including the launch of the Omics Accelerator, shows how this investment delivers practical benefits for industry, the environment and the broader economy,” he said.
The investment will provide funding to 11 other South Australian National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) facilities, including The Plant Accelerator and the South Australian Genome Editing Facility.
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