Mackay R&D site to get precision fermentation as part of $16 million upgrade

A $3.9 million investment between Queensland University of Technology and the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) Trailblazer program will add the ability to develop precision fermentation-based ingredients at the Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant (MRBPP.) The plant was established over a decade ago at the Mackay Sugar factory, and has focussed since then on biorefining,…

Is there an alternative to 10,000 kilometres of new transmission lines? Yes – but you may not like it

By Magnus Söderberg, Griffith University and Phillip Wild, Griffith University Building transmission lines is often controversial. Farmers who agree to host new lines on their property may be paid, while other community members protest against the visual intrusion. Pushback against new lines has slowed development and forced the government to promise more consultation. It’s not…

“Largely untapped” synthetic biology industry could be worth $30 billion, 50,000 new jobs by 2040: report

Synthetic biology could be an industry worth $30 billion to the nation annually and create 50,000 new jobs by 2040, according to the new Synthetic Biology National Progress Report, with the greatest activity expected to be in food and agriculture, followed by health and medicine industries.  The report was written by CSIRO Futures, with support…

Quasar selected for Catalyst Accelerator

Australian satellite communications business Quasar Satellite Technologies is among seven companies selected to participate in the 13th Catalyst Accelerator, a program run by the US Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV). Quasar has developed a technology based on CSIRO’s phased array research and is able to communicate with thousands of nanosatellites through one…