Organizations

The La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF) is a world-leading research and training institute focused on delivering innovative solutions for sustainable and nutritious food production in a resource- and climate-constrained world. LISAF’s mission is built around five interconnected research domains: farming systems, soils and agronomy; protected cropping; fit-for-purpose seeds; food, nutrition and health; and food business, food security and digital agriculture. Through collaboration with industry, government and research partners, LISAF aims to address critical challenges in agriculture and food systems.

Funded by the Australian Research Council, La Trobe University, and Industry Partners, the Research Hub for Protected Cropping (PC Hub) is dedicated to transforming Australia's horticultural and medicinal crop sectors by addressing knowledge gaps in the PC sector, particularly in plant health, breeding, waste valorization, digital technologies, and plant bioactive extraction and discovery. The resulting knowledge will be applicable across related industries, will build a specialised workforce, and will enable Australian growers and producers to increase the yield and quality of produce and create higher-value premium food products and plant-based medicines in a more sustainable manner.

The Australian Plant Phenomics Network (APPN) accelerates crop research through world-leading phenomics technologies, open access infrastructure, and expertise across the entire Australia. It supports the development of improved crops by offering innovative phenotyping solutions, such as RGB, LiDAR, and hyperspectral (HSI) sensors. APPN aims to tackle agricultural challenges by enabling research, fostering collaboration, and maintaining Australia's leadership in plant phenomics. APPN mission includes providing practical insights into crop performance and developing new plant phenotyping methodologies, supported by the principles of FAIR data.

The ARC Research Hub for Medicinal Agriculture (MedAg Hub) established at La Trobe University, focuses on advancing the production of plant-derived therapeutics through collaboration between agriculture and biomedical science. By combining cutting-edge research capabilities and industry expertise, the hub aims to drive innovation and form a sustainable medicinal agriculture industry in Australia. Its mission includes enhancing the profitability and sustainability of medicinal agriculture, fostering education and training, and ultimately improving the quality of life for Australians.

Photon Systems Instruments (PSI) focuses on developing innovative measurement tools for plant research, specialising in optical signal detection as well as image-based systems. These products support research in plant physiology, such as chlorophyll fluorescence and reflectance analysis. PSI is also deeply involved in advancing agricultural and environmental research, contributing to the study of plant health, growth, and stress. By offering cutting-edge instruments, PSI aids researchers in improving crop production, environmental sustainability, and understanding plant responses to various conditions.

Scientific Instruments Australia (SIA) is dedicated to advancing plant science, biotechnology, and agriculture through the development of innovative instrumentation and software. By focusing on optical signals in plants and algae, particularly chlorophyll fluorescence and reflectance techniques, SIA enables precise monitoring of physiological signals from individual cells to mature crop plants. SIA’s product range spans from handheld devices to large-scale cultivation and monitoring systems. Collaborating with Photon System Instruments (PSI), SIA leverages over 500 products utilised by top research universities worldwide. With expertise in optics, electronics, and software, SIA continually expands its high-end scientific instruments for the biological sciences.