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Broadacre Cropping Initiative (BACI)

A research collaboration between the University of Southern Queensland and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
   

 

In December 2014, the University and the Department entered into a broadacre grains RD&E partnership to build synergies, critical mass and research capacity to enhance the delivery to Queensland's cropping industries. The collaboration focused on specific fields of wheat pathology, winter crop nematology, summer grain pathology, agricultural engineering and agricultural systems modelling.

Our vision is to provide strategic leadership to ensure Queensland Crop and Food Science RD&E is world class and positions Queensland broadacre cropping and food industries for the future. Our purpose is to enhance Queensland's broadacre cropping industry capability and capacity for sustainable broadacre crop industries.

The Department's investment with UniSQ is focused on Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) activities that will improve the productivity and profitability of Queensland's broadacre cropping sector now and into the future. Enhancing plant production and Driving production systems innovation in broadacre will be critical in contributing to growing Queensland Agriculture to $30B GVP by 2030.
  

 

BACI Research, Development & Extension Activities

BACI projects continue to demonstrate the ongoing strength of the BACI collaboration and its alignment with the Department's strategic objectives. The following projects span key areas such as crop disease diagnostics, smart sensing technology, soil water balance assessment, advanced crop modelling and nematode ecology.

Advanced molecular methods for crop disease diagnostics and management in Queensland

Developing adoption pathways using smart sensing and precision agricultural decision support tools

Novel AgTech sensing for sub-daily assessment of soil water balance in cover-crop performance trials

Realistic 3D crop modelling framework

Detection and monitoring of resistance levels to two fungicide groups in broadacre crop pathogens in Queensland

 

Since the inception of the Broadacre Cropping Initiative (BACI) in 2014, UniSQ researchers have completed 50 projects across strategic objective themes of Crop Health, Soil-Water Interactions, Agricultural Systems Modelling and Agricultural Technology.

The focus of the Department's investment with UniSQ includes those crops that are economically significant and/or important broadacre crops for Queensland. The completed projects included topics such as:

Managing soil pathogens to reduce yield gap

Germplasm enhancement for Crown Rot resistance in winter cereals

Improving grower surveillance, management, epidemiology knowledge and tools to manage crop disease

Genetic options for nematode control

Improved molecular diagnostics for disease management

Nematode epidemiology and management

Crown rot epidemiology and management

New tools for field grains surveillance and diagnostics of high priority exotic pests

Germplasm enhancement for Yellow Spot resistance in winter cereals

Integrated genetic solutions to Crown Rot in wheat

Assessing collections of wild chickpea relatives for resistance to root-lesion nematodes

Agricultural systems modelling of seasonal progress to assist Queensland broadacre grain growers

Rice growing packages & NextGen modelling of rice crops

Disease epidemiology and management tools

Integrated disease management tools for summer crop diseases

Understanding the epidemiology and host association of charcoal rot pathogen on broadacre crops

Intelligent prediction of spatial variability of soil moisture

Genomics empowered research to support mungbean breeding for tan spot resistance

Genome-wide association mapping studies to support mungbean breeding for resistance to tan spot and Powdery Mildew

Root disease of sesame in Australia

Genetics of root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus thornei resistance in mungbean

High resolution mapping of virulence genes associated with net form of net blotch susceptibility in Queensland barley crops

Fungicide resistance detection and monitoring major broadacre crop pathogens in Queensland

Automated crop condition assessment using machine vision to aid on-farm irrigation, nutrient & crop management decisions

Detection and impact of Common Root Rot in Queensland winter cereals

Effect of improvements in soil organic materials and biology on soil moisture and plant-soil-water interactions

Understanding Sesame to support the development of la viable & sustainable sesame industry in Queensland

Enduring protection of mungbean from the foliar disease halo blight

Supporting Queensland sorghum breeding for head blight resistance/tolerance

A review of technology requirements for digital agriculture and autonomy on the DPI Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre (CQSCC) Farm

Resistance of pigeon pea germplasm to Pratylenchus thornei

Automated monitoring of fall armyworm natural enemies

Exploiting Watkins' wheat landrace diversity panel for novel resistance to major diseases and pest affecting wheat in Queensland

Utilising the Phenospex Plant Eye System and AI for monitoring and predicting plant growth under stress

 

The inaugural BACI Science Symposium was held on Thursday, 7th of November 2024. The day included deep diving into the science behind the BACI projects and PhD students presenting the BACI Lightning Talks, speaking new conversations with fast-paced presentations.

The BACI Science Symposium was designed in collaboration with the Department to highlight the latest scientific research undertaken from the BACI investment. Presentations included crop health, soil-water interactions and agricultural system modelling, and agricultural technology. The day also included a demonstration of the PhenoSpex PlantEye Multispectral facility, newly established at the University Agricultural Science and Engineering Precinct.

The event attracted nearly 80 guests, providing an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of meaningful and impactful research being conducted within BACI.

 A presenter speaks to an audience about "Tan Spot" in plants, with slides showing plant images and information on temperature and stress factors.  

A presenter stands at a podium in front of a screen displaying slides. An audience is seated and attentive. Walls display BACI banners and framed documents.

  
 Image 1: Dr Noel Knight presents: Genomics empowered research to support mungbean breeding for tan-spot resistance.    Image 2: PhD student Krishna Alamuru presents his Lighting Talk: The Hidden Spread: Host range of the tan spot pathogen beyond mung beans.  
     
 People seated in a conference room facing a presenter with a projection screen at the front.    People sitting in an auditorium facing a speaker and two screens displaying a presentation on the "Broadacre Copping Science Initiative" (BACI).  
 Image 3: Professor Keith Pembleton presents: ARMonline - tools to help grain growers.    Image 4: Professor Levente Kiss presents: Fungicide resistance detection and monitoring in broadacre crop pathogens in Queensland.  

 

The BACI Research Showcase has provided an opportunity to highlight the Research, Development & Extension (RD&E) activities that improve the productivity and profitability of Queensland's broadacre cropping sector now and into the future.

BACI Research Showcase 2023

26 October 2023

The second BACI Research Showcase attracted agricultural colleagues from senior government, research development corporations, industry, growers, PhD students and the university staff. Across the day, speakers showcased research activities, a panel discussion and poster presentation session. The theme of the day 'Impact through Industry Collaboration' came through strongly throughout the day, with research showcased from BACI researchers at UniSQ and Department of Primary Industries.

Attendees had a great opportunity to network with one another and engage with researchers, especially with the new addition of the poster presentation session, which was a hit! Short, sharp and impactful posters were presented clearly to the audience with much enthusiasm. Great feedback has been received and we look forward to the next showcase in 2025.

Watch the recordings from the BACI 2023 Research Showcase >> UniSQ ILSE YouTube Channel

  

 

BACI team
Back row (L - R): Professor Gavin Ash, Dr David Lawrence, Mr Michael Widderick, Mr Mark Hickman, Dr Rex Williams, Ms Liz Neary
Front row (L - R): Ms Kirsten Vonhoff, Ms Meagan McKenzie, Professor Robbie Girling, Mr David Duperouzel and Dr Angela Mordocco

 

BACI Research Showcase 2021

In 2021, the Inaugural BACI Research Showcase highlighted the research and activities undertaken as part of the Department's significant investment since the start of the partnership in 2014. Over 80 people attended the event with presentations focusing on a wide variety of issues, from fungicide resistance in major broadacre crop pathogens in Queensland to using machine vision technology to aid on-farm irrigation, nutrient, and crop management decisions.

Watch the recordings from the BACI 2021 Research Showcase >>UniSQ ILSE YouTube Channel

 


L - R:Professor Levente Kiss, Mr Chris Downs, DAF and Professor Gavin Ash

Department of Primary Industries

The Queensland Department of Primary Industries is a funder of research and development services for the broadacre industry through the University of Southern Queensland.

The Department's vision is for Queensland to be prosperous and resilient, leading global food security and sustainability.
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Contact us

BACI Program Leader - Professor Levente Kiss
Institute Operations Manager - Ms Liz Neary