Sugar Research Australia (SRA) has opened its new Innovative Research & Industry Services (IRIS) Laboratories in Brisbane.
Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perret said a $2.8 million Government investment in SAR supported the establishment of the new Acacia Ridge facility, south of the city.
Minister Perret said new facility was a one-stop shop for cutting-edge science in the sugar industry.
He said it would be able to generate faster results, enhanced precision and the ability to develop new solutions tailored specifically to the needs of growers and millers.
“This investment is crucial to reaching the Government’s ambitious goal of growing primary industries to $30 billion by 2030.”
SRA CEO Mick Bartlett said the IRIS Lab was a world-class facility that would drive advancements in plant breeding, genetics, cane and fibre quality, disease and pest screening, and soil and nutrient sciences for the Australian sugar industry.
“With support from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Sugar Research Australia is re-imagining ways to accelerate sugarcane genomics, ensuring we can rapidly develop and deploy high-performing, disease-resistant varieties,” Mr Bartlett said.
“IRIS Lab is not just about research. It’s about shaping the future of the industry, and this facility cements SRA’s role as a global leader in sugarcane innovation.”
Minister Perret said over the past year, Queensland’s sugarcane industry produced more than 27 million tonnes of sugarcane from 330,000 hectares of prime agricultural land, with the crop valued at almost $2.5 billion.
“The Government knows exactly how crucial the sugar industry is to our State’s prosperity, and this investment we’re making with SRA is testament to our commitment to working alongside industry,” he said.
“We’re supercharging scientifically backed research with this facility at Acacia Ridge which will drive the innovation that the industry needs to become more profitable and better protected from biosecurity threats.”
