We develop and apply innovative technologies for the discovery, improvement and deployment of beneficial microbial products for plant protection, plant health and sustainable cropping

We work with microbes(biome) through to their natural products and how we can integrate these into current and future farming practices.

We’re interested in all aspects of plant health, from crop protection to improving crop growth and productivity, and the environment in which they grow. We use environmental samples and in-house collections of biologicals (biocontrol and biostimulant microbes) with their meta-omics data and functional prediction pipelines to discover their hidden biochemistry. We are identifying and developing metrics, indicators and tools to quantify the ‘co-benefits’ of biologicals and their adoption at scale. We are keen to help industry improve their products and adoption on farm, or work with us and delve into our CSIRO collection of beneficial microbes for your needs.

Part of a bigger sustainable farming initiative

As part of the CSIRO Agriculture and Food Biotic Interactions Group, we help farmers and industries work together to improve plant health and productivity without compromising people, the planet or profitability. We enhance the resilience of agri-food & fibre supply chains by enabling pre-emptive management of agripest challenges such as changing climates, limited/declining control options, pesticide resistance or incursions of destructive exotic pests. Meet the other teams:

• Sustainable Disease Management
• Agroecology
• Functional Soil Biology

Our team impact goals

• To maintain/improve crop productivity and enable preparedness for a chemically-limited future, impacts of resistance development, a changing climate and biosecurity threats.
• Our solutions merged with agroecological approaches empower growers and industry to employ sustainable farming practices that promote plant and farming systems health.