Funded by the Australian Government’s Regional Research Collaboration Program, La Trobe will lead the project from its Australian Research Council Industry Transformation Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture said protected cropping – also known as greenhouse horticulture – is critical to the National Farmers Federation reaching its goal of a $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030.“The protected cropping industry is the fastest-growing food producing sector in Australia, employing more than 10,000 people, with a ‘farm-gate’ value of $1.3 billion,” Professor Bacic said.“Not only will this project benefit Australia’s emerging medicinal cannabis industry – it will deliver a precise roadmap for improving crops for a whole range of agricultural and food products.”Professor Bacic said plant imaging technology will provide real-time data on critical aspects of the medicinal cannabis plant health, including nutrient status and stress levels.“It will enable us to optimise harvest times, reduce nutrient and watering regimes, and respond quickly to pathogens like viruses and insects – all leading to a healthier, more sustainable and productive crop,” Professor Bacic said.Cann Group Limited Chief Executive Officer Peter Crock said he was excited to be part of a project capitalising on the company’s new state-of-art production facility in Mildura.“Not only will this project bring more cutting-edge technology to this exceptional facility, boosting production, it will help build the agricultural technology workforce – critically needed for a growing industry,” Mr Crock said.In 2019 La Trobe launched a $24 million ARC MedAg Hub to drive better cultivation, breeding and manufacturing practises to support Australia’s medicinal agriculture industry, and ultimately improve health outcomes.The ARC MedAG Hub is located in La Trobe’s world-class AgriBio building within the Research and Innovation Precinct, and was a key component of the University’s $5 billion City of the Future plan.Cann Group’s facility near Mildura is the most technologically advanced, large-scale medicinal cannabis cultivation and production facility in Australia.
La Trobe University: $5 million boost for cannabis research – India Education Diary
