Sugar Research Australia (SRA) has officially opened its new Innovative Research & Industry Services (IRIS) Laboratories in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane with an event and facility tour for industry representatives taking place last Wednesday (16 July).
Over the last year, Queensland’s sugarcane industry produced more than 27 million tonnes of sugarcane from 330,000 hectares of agricultural land, with the crop valued at almost $2.5 billion.
SRA's scientists and technicians advance research and provide essential scientific services to the sugar industry, including Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) and disease diagnostics, sugarcane DNA testing, and comprehensive soil, water, and nutrient analysis.
Source: SRA
Laboratory staff from the former site at Indooroopilly started work at IRIS at the beginning of the year, but the facility was only officially opened by Queensland Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett, last week.
The state government is working with industry stakeholders to support the industry, aiming to deliver research, development and extension activities to improve productivity, profitability and long-term sustainability for sugarcane growers, milling companies and regional communities – with investments including:
- $2.85 million annually to Sugar Research Australia (SRA) for co-investment in targeted research, development and extension activities to benefit the sugarcane industry.
- A combined investment with SRA of up to $32.6 million over 4 years for the future of Australia’s sugarcane industry.
- A $500,000 funding package for Canegrowers Queensland will support the development of a Far North Queensland Cane Expansion Plan over 3 years. This plan aims to boost productivity of the sugar industry in the region through integrated research, industry knowledge and grower engagement.
Perrett said the investment supports the Primary Industries Prosper 2050 blueprint – a 25-year strategy co-designed with industry to shape the future of Queensland's primary industries and grow Queensland’s primary industries output to $30 billion by 2030.
“The Queensland 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,” said Perrett.
“Many of Queensland’s rural and regional communities have been built off the back of sugar, and I’m proud to be investing in the future of this important industry.
“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,” he said.
Designed and delivered by FDC Construction, IRIS is a cutting-edge scientific facility housing specialised laboratories for quarantine, pathology, tissue culture, genomics, cytogenetics, entomology, and chemistry.
Originally planned for a seventh-floor installation in a separate building, an unexpected lease cancellation led to a complete redesign to fit an existing industrial space.
FDC stated the existing facility underwent major mechanical and infrastructure upgrades, including new plant areas and enhanced power systems, to meet client requirements and ensure continuous storage of valuable scientific samples.
Sugar Research Australia 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,” said Bartlett.
“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.”
