In 2023, the Australian Research Council (ARC) awarded funding to Dr Dongxue Zhao (UQ) to develop an efficient, cost-effective sensing platform for visualising sorghum root systems in the field, generating new knowledge on the association between root structure and improved yield stability under drought stress.

This ARC scheme connects academics with industry to drive research collaboration, translation and commercialisation outcomes across a range of industry settings.

As an industry partner, AirBorn Insight Pty Ltd is supporting this project over 3 years We are providing drone-based phenotyping services to provide above-ground crop data to support the research of the under-ground mapping of the rooting systems and activity.

We intend to use project outputs and IP to develop new products and services that use 3D mapping of root growth and activity for breeding companies, researchers, and agronomists. We are excited about the potential research outcomes that can be unlocked by phenotyping the whole plant system, above and below ground.