About Us

The Challenge

Global agricultural production in the future will be challenged by unremitting land-degradation and structural decline in soil fertility, exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather events, and compounded by the high cost and unreliable supply of phosphorus and other nutrient fertilisers.  The result will mean there will be approximately 20% less arable land to produce up to 70% more food and fibre required to meet the estimate global demand in 2050; and active efforts will be needed to restore soil fertility.

In order to remain profitable, and sustainably provide food security and improved livelihoods, agricultural producers will need to adapt to these challenges, and combine traditional farming with a better use of natural resources.

The Mission

Our mission is to promote development and implementation of innovative farming and farm management practices based on system approaches that harness natural resources (through utilisation of crop and soil microbiomes) to sustainably increase farm productivity, food quality and environmental health.

Crop and Soil Microbiome

Like humans, plants and soil harbour millions of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses, that collectively form the microbiome.  The microbiome of both plant and soil plays an important role in plant growth, health, and stress resilience, by providing access to nutrients and shielding plants from the harmful effects of biotic and abiotic stresses.