ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers

The ARC Research Hub for Smart Fertilisers aims to transform agriculture by delivering a new class of nitrogen fertilisers and inhibitors designed to increase efficiency of nitrogen use by crops and reduce losses to the environment. Our research addresses the global challenge of low nitrogen use efficiency in agriculture, environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. The Hub will use a novel co- design process involving representatives of the whole value chain from product design through to validation and adoption. The project estimates possible 20% gains in efficiency of fertiliser use, delivering large cost savings and improving productivity, thereby increasing profitability, and reducing adverse impacts on the environment.
The Hub is a partnership between the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and two of Australia’s leading agribusinesses – Incitec Pivot Fertilisers (IPF) and Elders Rural Services. By bringing together a multi-disciplinary industry-university team with significant research experience from nano chemical engineering, synthetic chemistry, plant physiology, plant biochemistry, soil microbiology, agronomy, gaseous emissions and economics, the Hub will address the design, manufacture and adoption of novel fertiliser products through the agricultural value chain.