Challenges to changing populations, food systems and water supply

Australia’s primary industries face a range of interconnected challenges, including climate adaptation, biosecurity, biodiversity, sustainability, transport, regulation and equitable water supply. Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and water resources are national priorities, and are therefore areas where ANU brings immense expertise across plant sciences, environmental sciences, policy, humanities and social sciences,  law and Indigenous studies.

ICEDS

 

The Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions (ICEDS) connects people with climate, energy & disaster-risk research from The Australian National University.

Agrifood Institute

 

Agrifood Institute was established in July 2018 as a joint initiative between the ANU and CSIRO, with support and funding from the ACT Government.

Institute for Water Futures (IWF)

 

The Institute for Water Futures (IWF) leads research to understand change and enable action in Australia and beyond.

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ANU desalination breakthrough to bolster global water security as planet warms

A simpler and more cost-efficient method for removing salt from seawater using heat, developed by scientists from The Australian National University (ANU), could address unprecedented global water shortages.

By 2025, 1.8 billion people will likely face what the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calls “absolute water scarcity.” 

To help combat the water crisis, ANU researchers have developed the world’s first thermal desalination method, where water remains in the liquid phase throughout the entire process. 

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Better dams offer major benefits to farmers and livestock

Managing the water quality of farm dams is critical to the health of livestock as well as boosting crop production, according to new research from the Sustainable Farms group at The Australian National University (ANU).

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Coevolution a driving force behind biodiversity on Earth

Coevolution is a driving force behind generating biodiversity on Earth, explaining why there are millions of different species, according to a new study led by The Australian National University (ANU).

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Australians willing to pay for everyone to access good drinking water

Australian households are willing to pay more than is needed to deliver safe drinking water to every Australian, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU).

The survey of 3,523 people found that Australians are prepared to pay between $324 and $847 per year for 10 years to ensure good drinking water for all.

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The nuclear scientist planning life on other planets

What might life look like if humans were to move to another planet?

How could we have access to clean water, sustainable food sources and create a just society?

Lachlan McKie is part of a group of researchers considering the challenges of terraforming – or modifying the atmosphere, temperature and ecology of other planets to be habitable like Earth.

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