Sustainable food and agriculture

The production of high-quality crops, foods and plant-based medicines is critical for food security, health and wellbeing, and the environment.

La Trobe researchers develop cutting edge methods to improve capability and capacity, to secure a sustainable agricultural and food production future. Our researchers do this by working in partnership with primary producers, the food industry and government.

Goal:

Production of high-quality foods and medicines for improved health, reduced environmental impact and enhanced economies​.

Our priorities are to:

Enhance crop yield and quality

Our researchers produce plants and soils with characteristics which increase crop yield, along with resilience, quality, productivity and profitability.

Create plant-based medicines

Our researchers use medicinal plants and biotechnology to develop safe and sustainable natural product therapeutics. 

Develop innovative farming practices

Our researchers are evolving sustainable agricultural practices to increase viability and biodiversity, and to enhance agribusinesses and regional communities, while maintaining soil health and ecosystems.

Discover our latest research

New tech tackles plastic farm waste

New tech tackles plastic farm waste

New tech gets plastic farm waste into the circular economy

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Food's an issue to chew over

Food's an issue to chew over

One consequence of the floods in Victoria as farmers deal with another climate related disaster will be more expensive food.

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New rapid water test reduces outbreaks

New rapid water test reduces outbreaks

La Trobe University researchers have developed a 30-minute test to identify sewage in recreational and environmental waterways

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Protecting abalone from deadly threat

Protecting abalone from deadly threat

As part of a world-first study, La Trobe University researchers are trialling innovative techniques to protect the Australian abalone industry from a deadly threat – the abalone herpesvirus.

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Growing importance to understand farm Natural Capital Value

Growing importance to understand farm Natural Capital Value

Providing farmers with a tool to measure where their farms sit environmentally for the first time.

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La Trobe announces new Sustainable Agriculture and Food Institute

La Trobe announces new Sustainable Agriculture and Food Institute

Government ministers and key agricultural science stakeholders were briefed today (8 August) at Parliament House, on La Trobe University’s newly announced Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF).

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