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Grain growers around the nation will benefit from the new Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI) based at The University of Western Australia.

The centre will be the focus of national efforts to combat herbicide resistance, one of the biggest threats to agriculture. AHRI has evolved from the WA Herbicide Resistance Initiative.

AHRI Director, UWA Winthrop Professor Stephen Powles is an internationally recognised authority on all aspects of herbicide resistance and leads the world-class research team.  He has worked in the field of herbicide resistance for almost three decades.

UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson - an agricultural scientist - said that the University, since its establishment nearly 100 years ago, had supported agricultural industries across the State and the nation, through its research and the training of future agricultural professionals.

The University's high international standing in the agricultural sciences is reflected in its having been ranked in the top 50 in the world by the respected Shanghai Jiao Tong World University Rankings last year - the highest ranking of any Australian university.

"Our high standing reflects the significance of agricultural teaching and research at UWA, as well as the importance of agriculture to the West Australian and Australian economy," Professor Robson said.

"Our University is now equipped to work closely with local and eastern States bodies to develop a unified approach to herbicide resistance issues across Australia - a problem many growers would agree is a major threat to their livelihoods."

Professor Powles has won accolades which include the Centenary Medal in 2003.  He is one of the world's most highly cited plant scientists (ISIhighlycited.com).  He was recently awarded the GRDC Seed of Light award for his research and communication with Australian grain growers.  He is also a wheat, barley and canola grower, with a property at Quairading.

AHRI's research will be multi-disciplinary, ranging from research into how plants evolve resistance at a molecular level to on-farm management practices.

The AHRI launch will be at UWA's Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery (Carpark 20, off Fairway Entrance One) at 5pm on Monday 16 August.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Stephen Powles (+61 8)  6488 7833  /  (+61 4) 18 927 181
(UWA Director of Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative)
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716