Agriculture
Are these Australia’s happiest dairy cows?
The University of Melbourne's robotic dairy is home to some very happy cows; they decide when they're milked, and even enjoy a back-scratch in the process.
Embracing the finite
Ecologist Peter Vitousek explores how living in the Anthropocene will force us to make our way with diminished natural resources.
Silage: Rocket-fuel for cows
Silage provides key nutrition for livestock and allows farmers to manage feed - we ask University of Melbourne experts what it is, and why it smells?
Talking dirty: The conversation between plants and soil
Nitrogen pollution caused by farming practices is a major problem, but University of Melbourne research has discovered an environmentally friendly alternative.
The grand challenge of feeding 9 billion people
Sustainable agriculture expert Tim Reeves on the radical changes required in agricultural practice, public policy and consumer behaviour to feed Earth.
From Burundi to Australia: Transplanting farming know-how
Former Burundian refugees in rural Mildura are helping University of Melbourne researchers discover how different farming methods could be used in Australia.
Losing respect for our food
With increasing populations worldwide, greater demand for meat and an array of environmental issues, agriculture is facing a perfect storm of challenges.
Save our soils: Why dirt matters
Soil health is vital for human nutrition and the environment, but we manage it poorly; around two thirds of Australian agricultural land has unhealthy soil.
Genetic snip and snap
Molecular biologist Professor Jacob Corn on the benefits and ethical challenges of CRISPR gene editing technology, covering human health and food security.
Finding quinoa’s sweet spot to feed the world
The sequencing of the quinoa genome has created an opportunity to breed a quinoa plant that isn't just a superfood, but a sustainable super crop.