Project overview
To improve low crop diversity associated with the current Australian dryland farm production systems, there is a need to focus on solutions that will ensure long-term environmental sustainability and increase profitability. Much of the farming environment in Western Australia is characterised by nutrient-depleted acidic soils, extreme weather variability and low rainfall. Introducing new native crop species that are well-adapted to the local environment and integrating perennial pastures might enhance diversity and improve fragile soil health in the existing ecosystems. The right balance of these crops and pastures would ensure further profitability and environmental sustainability through ecosystem services provided by legume crops, such as atmospheric nitrogen fixation, soil moisture retention and carbon sequestration.
The primary aim of this project is to conduct foundational research that will inform the development and demonstrate the required workflow for exploring the potential of native Western Australian legume (Faboideae) species as grain crops and pastures. The project will investigate four legume species native to southwestern Australia identified in a previous study a decade ago as important to the development of the grain and pasture industry in the future. The four selected species are Glycine canescens (Silky Glycine), Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa (Native liquorice), Kennedia prostrata (Running postman), and Hardenbergia comptoniana (Native wisteria).
The findings of this research will be instrumental in shaping management strategies for native food plant collection, germplasm evaluation and storage, and safeguarding the unique biodiversity of Australia’s national plant treasures. The methodology could serve as the foundation for developing a sustainable agricultural production system and the domestication of native Australian legumes.
This project is supported by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, and the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration.
Native species
FAQs
Why SMART SPRAYS?
Smart sprays have the potential to reduce evaporation and redirect water for increased crop yield and profit.
Smart sprays components:
- Biodegrade in marine, soil, and compost environments into CO₂, water, and biomass.
- Do not degrade into microplastics in the environment.
- Reduce reliance on fossil fuels and have a decreased carbon footprint as no fossil fuel feedstock is used.
- Do not need to be retrieved from the field – they will biodegrade in situ.
The main component of SMART SPRAYS can be produced by microorganisms through the use of a wide variety of renewable feedstocks, like organic wastes, waste canola oil, brewers waste and glycerol, creating a circular economy.
What’s the different between plastics and bioplastics?
Plastics and bioplastics can be categorised based on their origin/feedstock (biobased vs. fossil fuel based) and their degradation properties (biodegradable vs. non-biodegradable).
Feedstocks
Fossil-based feedstocks: Derived from petroleum, natural gas, or coal.
Biobased feedstocks: Derived from plants, algae, or agricultural waste products.
Differences in degradation
Download the fact sheet to learn more about plastics and bioplastics.
What’s the different between compostable and biodegradable?
Biodegradable materials are those that can be fully broken down into natural substances, such as water and carbon dioxide, by naturally occurring microorganisms. In waste management, the term “biodegradable” is broadly used to describe materials that degrade either under composting conditions or in the natural environment. The key distinction is that compostable materials are designed to break down within a specific timeframe under controlled composting conditions, where factors like temperature, moisture, and microbial activity are optimised to accelerate decomposition and biomass formation.
Certified compostable
Compostable refers to a product’s ability to biodegrade into non-toxic, natural elements within a defined timeframe under specific composting conditions. Both fossil-based and bio-based bioplastics can be certified as compostable. However, compostability claims should only be made if the product has been certified to a recognised standard, such as Australian Standards AS 4736-2006 or AS 5810-2010.
Biobased bioplastic biodegradable
Smart sprays belong to this category.
Bioplastics made from bio-based feedstocks that fully break down into natural substances, either under composting conditions or in the natural environment. PHA bioplastics, in particular, are known to degrade effectively in both soil and marine environments.
Fossil-based bioplastic biodegradable
Fossil-based biodegradable plastics make up a relatively small category, which includes materials like PBAT and PCL. While PBAT is both biodegradable and compostable, improper disposal can still have environmental consequences, as its degradation requires specific conditions to occur efficiently.
Biobased bioplastic non-biodegradable
Bioplastics can be derived from bio-based feedstocks while remaining non-biodegradable. These materials are chemically identical to traditional fossil-based plastics.
Conventional plastics non-biodegradable
These materials do not biodegrade. In Australia, 2.9 million tonnes of plastic waste are discarded each year, with only 13% recycled, while the remaining 87% ends up in landfill.
Reference: State of Bioplastics in Australia, CSIRO, 2024 with permission.
Download the fact sheet to learn more about plastics and bioplastics.
News
- Article, Bursary, Bursary - Curtin - Selassie Ahiakpa
- Article, Bursary, Bursary - Curtin - Selassie Ahiakpa
Resources
- Webinar
- Podcast
- Webinar
External resources
- Not all Water is equal: Water quality is the key to WaterSmart Dams (and Farms)
- WaterSmart Farms: Reverse Osmosis trials giving rural communities fresh water for the future
- WaterSmart Farms: Unlocking Opportunities with Desalination – From Stockwater to Spray Quality
- WaterSmart Farms Deep Drilling project with Dr. Richard George
- WaterSmart Farms: Wongutha CAPS
Collaborators
Project team
Dr Nicholas George
Curtin University, School of Molecular and Life Sciences
Dr Bec Swift
Curtin University, School of Molecular and Life Sciences
Professor Sarita Bennett
Curtin University, School of Molecular and Life Sciences
Selassie E. Ahiakpa
Curtin University, School of Molecular and Life Sciences
Contact
Selassie E. Ahiakpa
PhD candidate, Curtin University
e.ahiakpa@postgrad.curtin.edu.au
Dr Nicholas George
Senior Lecturer, Curtin University
Nicholas.George@curtin.edu.au
(08) 9266 1755
Mary-Anne Glanzlowe
Extension Specialist and Knowledge Broker, South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
mary-anne.glanzlowe@gga.org.au
0400 191 378