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Furbank Group – Improving photosynthesis and crop yield
Research in the Furbank Group focuses on the identification of enhanced photosynthetic properties in crop and model plant germplasm and improving C4 photosynthesis. In rice, the Group is using molecular techniques to install a CO2 concentrating mechanism as part of the IRRI led Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-supported C4 Rice Consortium. In wheat, the Group works closely with the Grains Research and Development Corporation to identify genetic variation in photosynthetic performance and develop new tools for high throughput measurement of photosynthesis.
Group Leader
Postdoctoral Fellow
Technical Officers
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Divisional Visitor
Honours Student
PhD Students
Special Project Student
Technical Assistant
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| C4 Rice Project | Current |
| Decrypting chloroplast signalling networks in C4 photosynthesis at cell type-resolution | Current |
| Improving C4 photosynthesis by genetic manipulation | Current |
Turbocharging photosynthesis the key to a food secure world
Story | Friday 5 February 2021
Australian agriculture plays a key role towards providing food for the planet but it is also expected to be one of the world's most impacted areas from climate change.
Seeing the light: Better plants, better future
Story | Wednesday 3 February 2021
Increasing food production is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The Australian Academy of Science has produced a video featuring researchers who are from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis and the ANU Research School of Biology.
Research to turbocharge rice given major funding boost
Story | Tuesday 3 December 2019
Research that could transform global rice production by increasing yields from the world’s number one food crop has been boosted by five more years of funding.
2019 ANU Federal Election Conversation Series - Food security
Story | Tuesday 14 May 2019
Professor Owen Atkin and Professor Robert Furbank from RSB analyse the ongoing issues around food security and the policy direction needed to ensure Australia's ongoing prosperity.
Human mortality 'plateau' may be statistical error, not hint of immortality
Story | Tuesday 29 January 2019
Human error, not human biology, largely accounts for the apparent decline of mortality among the very old, according to a new report by Saul Newman of the Research School of Biology, ANU. The result casts doubt on the hypothesis that human longevity can be greatly extended beyond current limits.
Designing a more productive corn, able to cope with future climates
Story | Tuesday 2 October 2018
An international research team has found they can increase corn productivity by targeting the enzyme in charge of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Inside leaves, communication is the key
Story | Tuesday 5 July 2016
A new method to quantify plasmodesmata in leaves to compare photosynthesis transport mechanisms in C3 and C4 crops.
Honorary Doctorate of Science for Robert Furbank
Story | Tuesday 10 May 2016
Thirty seven years after finishing his honours degree at the University of Wollongong, Professor Robert Furbank has been awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree (Doctor of Science) by his former University.
