South Australia’s next generation of crops, foods and plant-based products is set to get a major research boost, with a new $2 million government-backed plant synthetic biology capability to be established at Adelaide University’s Waite Campus.
The investment will help create a new Adelaide node of Plant SynBio Australia at the Waite Research Precinct, strengthening South Australia’s role in national agricultural innovation and giving researchers, industry and startups greater access to advanced plant science infrastructure.
The funding includes a $500,000 grant through the 2025 South Australian NCRIS Step-Change Co-Investment Program, adding to a $1.5 million investment made in 2024. Together, the funding will support a new world-class facility focused on improving key crops, building resilience in agriculture and accelerating new plant-based products.
The Adelaide facility will work across major crops including wheat, barley, canola and rice, while also supporting innovation in horticulture and emerging plant-based products such as vaccines, pharmaceuticals and next-generation foods.
For South Australia’s farming sector, the investment is aimed at helping producers respond to some of the biggest challenges facing agriculture, including drought, disease and climate change. By backing research that can lead to stronger, more resilient crops, the facility is expected to support higher yields, stronger exports and new opportunities across regional economies.
Minister for State Development Chris Picton said, “Synthetic biology is a major global opportunity, and South Australia has the research excellence, industry base and plant research infrastructure to play a meaningful role in its growth.”
“This investment will help back the expertise and facilities needed to solve real-world challenges, from climate and disease-resilient crops to new opportunities in sustainable bio-manufacturing.”
“The new Adelaide node will help attract talent, support startups, build industry partnerships and strengthen South Australia’s competitiveness in nationally significant research.”
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven said, “This new facility will give researchers and industry the capability to translate research into practical applications for South Australia’s agriculture and bio-manufacturing sectors.”
“It’s important we continue to support our farmers by giving them access to the latest innovations. This will ensure their crops are more resilient to the changing environmental challenges.”
“If our state’s farmers can improve their yields, this increases our exports, creates more jobs and helps grow our economy.”
The new node will build on South Australia’s existing strengths in plant science and further cement the Waite Research Precinct as one of Australia’s leading agricultural research hubs.
Adelaide University Pro Vice Chancellor, Research Services and Infrastructure, Professor Michael Goodsite, said, “The establishment of Plant SynBio at the Waite Research Precinct strengthens our ability to deliver cutting-edge scientific discoveries with real-world applications.”
“The node, and the national Plant SynBio network, creates a powerful platform for collaboration, connecting researchers, industry and government to accelerate innovation in plant synthetic biology.”
Node Director Professor Matthew Gilliham said, “Our node brings together advanced infrastructure and technical expertise to accelerate plant-based innovation,” Professor Gilliham said.
“We can provide partners with access to the full synthetic biology cycle, from molecular design and genetic editing through to transformation and field validation.”
Since 2007, the South Australian Government has committed $73.1 million to support 16 South Australian NCRIS facilities, leveraging $146.7 million from the Australian Government and $61.6 million from host institutions.
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