Exotic enticement
Queensland’s finest young food and fibre scientists are inspiring the next generation to join them in their challenge to feed the world.
With some people predicting the world food crisis to last another ten years, demand for Australian produce and expertise will continue to rise. This presents an opportunity Queensland can and should grab with both hands.
However, Australia’s agribusiness sector faces many challenges of its own—drought, flood, overseas competition, more jobs than people and a particularly alarming decline in enrolments in agricultural science and related university courses.
In an effort to stem this slide, scientists from Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries held a ‘Revolutionary Science’ student forum at the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology during May 2008.
Local high schools were given a taste of some of the cutting-edge careers in agricultural and food sciences.
Two of the presenters, Drs Heather Smyth and Stuart Johnson, are part of a team of scientists working along the ‘value-chain’—the series of important steps to convert raw agricultural produce into higher value consumer foods.
Heather, a flavour chemist, helps growers to optimise the flavour of their produce by getting a better understanding of which compounds are important to flavour, where they come from, what flavours they generate, and how this effects consumer appreciation of fresh produce.
Stuart’s research focuses on ‘functional foods’ that provide a physiological benefit beyond the supply of basic nutrients. Information about the health benefits of foods can assist dieticians and nutritionists to recommend healthier foods, aid in maintaining the health of the community and help with product marketing.
Other presentations highlighted the use of remote sensing in agriculture, profiled a potential new biopesticide for livestock ectoparasites (a parasite that lives on the outside of its host) and a new ecologically sound approach to aquaculture with the teaming of multiple species in one pond.
Role modelling events like Revolutionary Science seem to be a win-win on many levels. Student feedback and enthusiasm was excellent and as scientist Heather Smyth said, “I thoroughly enjoyed sharing our science with young people and getting them excited about exploring and understanding our awesome natural world.”
Story: Samantha Denley
Last reviewed 17 July 2008
