QUT research will investigate how to develop a more profitable future for Australian agriculture by transforming farming by-products into valuable new products.
In a new project to be funded under the Australian Government Rural Research and Development for Profit Program, researchers from QUT will develop technologies to convert agricultural and forestry by-products like sugar cane bagasse, cotton gin trash and wood chips into enhanced animal feeds, biochemicals and advanced biofuels.
The project, which will run over three years, is a collaborative research project and includes Sugar Research Australia as the lead agency with QUT leading the research and development activities.
The project will broadly address bioproduct opportunities across various agricultural sectors with other key agricultural industries participating through Forest and Wood Products Australia, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and Australia Pork Ltd.
It has received $3.09 million in Federal Government funding.
A recent study by Deloitte Access Economics and Corelli Consulting, prepared for QUT, found the establishment of rural and regional biorefineries could generate more than $21.5 billion in revenue over the next 20 years in Queensland alone, creating 6,640 full-time jobs.
Associate Professor Ian O'Hara, from QUT's Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities (CTCB), said the project would develop and demonstrate a range of innovative biorefinery technologies that will add value to primary products and by-products.
"The project will develop new technologies including enhanced animal feeds, chemicals from crops and advanced biofuels from agricultural feedstocks," Professor O'Hara said.
"Creating biorefineries which generate higher value bioproducts from waste products is one of the keys to creating a profitable future for Australian agriculture."
Professor O'Hara said the project would create new revenue opportunities for Australian primary producers in the sugar, cotton, forestry and animal industries.
"At the same time it creates opportunities for those same industries to reduce input costs, for example through local production of lower cost animal feeds and fuels," he said.
"This project will show that Australia has a multi-billion dollar opportunity to establish a new manufacturing industry based on biorefineries that will create thousands of jobs."
QUT is a leader in research and development into advanced biorefineries and innovative technologies to convert waste biomass into greener replacements for chemicals, resins, plastics and fuels.
Professor O'Hara said QUT was uniquely placed to undertake the project as it had significant research and infrastructure capability including the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant.
Based in the sugar hub of Mackay in Queensland, the pilot plant allows new technologies to more rapidly transition from laboratory to commercial scale.
RELATED STORIES
QUT forges pathway to new Australian biorefinery industry
Research shows huge potential of sweet sorghum as a multi-product crop
Media contact:
Rob Kidd, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, rj.kidd@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
