Crops Archives - CSIROscope

Our big breakthroughs in 2019

2019 was a big year for us. Before you head off for the end of year break, let’s reflect on the exciting science we brought to you this year.

Planting early helps farmer weather the drought

Queensland farmer Daniel Wegener is using a technique we developed called early sowing to make the best of the current drought.

Environment

The worm has turned: climate change, the humble earthworm and you

The often-maligned earthworm is vital to the natural world. A study has found climate change could seriously impact them. If it does we’ll all feel the consequences.

To feed the world in 2050 we need to build the plants that evolution didn’t

Synthetic biology lets us explore places where evolution has never gone, to help meet humanity's food needs in a future shaped by climate change.

Nitrogen fertilisers are incredibly efficient, but they make climate change a lot worse

Measurements and modelling have found nitrous oxide emissions, a greenhouse gas 265 times more potent than carbon dioxide, are significantly higher than previously reported.

Farming

Breakthrough in hunt for deadly cereal killer

A cereal killer is on the loose. A team of internal experts are on a mission to uncover the origins of the world’s deadliest strain of cereal rust disease.

Farming

Plants uncovered: extreme serendipity in polyploidy

New research shows how complex the genomes of plants really are. This research can help us grow better and more sustainable crops.

Knowing how cells self-destruct could help feed the world

Our scientists are involved in ground-breaking research into self-destructing cells. Their new findings could help us to develop disease-resistant plants.

Vegan food’s sustainability claims need to give the full picture

We don't know enough about the carbon footprint of vegan foods, and that needs to change.

Farming

Farmers can start 2060 transformation today

Farmers looking to respond to the Australian National Outlook can start adapting today.

Farming

Avengers unite to fight wheat rust

We’re taking an Avengers approach — we’ve combined several super-powered, rust-resistance genes together to fight wheat stem rust. Who will win the battle?

About Us

Science is in the genes, for our award-winning geneticist

Can you inherit a love of science? How do you make a weed less 'weedy'? What do these questions have to do with each other? There's only one way to find out.

Crops