A free-enzyme catalyst for the bioremediation of environmental atrazine contamination.

Herbicide contamination from agriculture is a major issue worldwide, and has been identified as a threat to freshwater and marine environments in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in Australia. The triazine herbicides are of particular concern because of potential adverse effects, both on photosynthetic organisms and upon vertebrate development. To date a number of bioremediation strategies have been proposed for triazine herbicides, but are unlikely to be implemented due to their reliance upon the release of genetically modified organisms. We propose an alternative strategy using a free-enzyme bioremediant, which is unconstrained by the issues surrounding the use of live organisms. Here we report an initial field trial with an enzyme-based product, demonstrating that the technology is technically capable of remediating water bodies contaminated with the most common triazine herbicide, atrazine.

Smart sorbers - value adding spent litter fertiliser. A pilot trial

Currently spent litter is not a balanced fertiliser. This project is a first step in improving the ability to reduce environmental contamination and to more fully realise the full fertilizer and soil amendment value of this material.

Maximising spent litter fertiliser returns through nutrient and carbon management

Develop a superior fertiliser product (compared to conventional spent litter and current palletised forms) formulated from poultry litter.

Reef Catchments Catalyst

To interogate spatial data sets including satellite imagery, EM surveys and ground samples to identify the efficiencies of current management practices within Australian cane regions.