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Adelaide Coastal Water Study, Seagrass Rehabilitation and Reef Health.  These three projects take a `whole of government’ approach across SA State entities to enhance understanding of the impacts of urban settlement on marine environments and to better manage and rehabilitate SA’s coastal environments.  SARDI’s role is to provide the scientific expertise to deliver a suite of interlinked projects, including ground-breaking methods to rehabilitate seagrass meadows.

The CLLAMMecology Cluster. The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth form one of Australia’s largest estuaries.  This estuary is degraded and several of its fish and bird species are threatened. Through CSIRO’s Flagship Collaboration Fund, the CLLAMMecology Cluster brings together scientists from a range of disciplines to study the ecology of the Coorong and Lower Lakes and develop models of ecological responses to flows and management actions.  SARDI Aquatic Sciences is a key partner, working also with the University of Adelaide and Flinders University, with support from the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage, the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Land & Water Australia and Geoscience Australia. The CLLAMMecology Program provides cutting- edge science to underpin policy and management for the region. A whole-of-systems approach has been implemented where the effectiveness of management actions (eg. flow releases and barrage operations) have been linked to changes in hydrodynamics; biogeochemistry (transformation and food webs) and ecological response in a spatially and temporally explicit manner.

Crown Rot Strategic Initiative, funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). This is aimed at developing innovative solutions for management of Fusarium crown rot in Australia. Major collaborators are CSIRO Plant Industry and the Departments of Primary Industries in NSW and Victoria. 

Harvest Plus, an international Global Challenge Program focused on developing bio-fortification of staple food crops for developing countries.  SARDI’s role is the genetic evaluation of iron and zinc content in wheat seed.

Integrated Biosystems (IBS). This initiative was set up in May 2005 and focuses on the efficient recycling and reuse of both waste nutrients and waste water to prevent organic pollution and enhance production, income and industry sustainability. The project will establish a model for a commercial scale, integrated waste-water treatment system that uses piggery waste.  Scientists cover a wide range of disciplines, including engineers, aquaculture and livestock specialists, microbiologists, agronomists and horticulturists. This initiative is led by SARDI in alliance with the University of South Australia. Collaborators include Murdoch University, Flinders University and The University of Adelaide.

Murray Fishway Assessment Project. Staff from SARDI’s Inland Waters program are major contributors to this Murray-Darling Basin Commission initiated effort to restore fish migration to over 2000 km of the Murray River, from the sea to the Hume Dam. The program comprises a team of scientists and engineers drawn from all states of the Murray-Darling Basin (NSW, Victoria, SA and Queensland) who have: determined fishway design criteria; constructed new fishways; and, are assessing the performance and long term benefits of fishway construction. The multi-state approach represents one of the largest collaborative freshwater research projects ever undertaken in Australia.  

New strategies to improve grain legumes for food and feed, a Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. SARDI will be responsible for the development and distribution of Medicago truncatula (barrel medic) accessions to international laboratories. Dr Ram Nair played a pivotal role in progressing the concept, which will involve collaborating with more than 50 global research bodies.

Pasture Soil Biology Alliance, funded by Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and GRDC. Collaborators include the CSIRO Entomology and CSIRO Plant Industry. The aim of this program is to develop a range of research tools to define and manage soil-borne biological constraints in pastures.

Pulse Breeding Australia, a world-class breeding and germplasm enhancement program which unites SARDI with Adelaide University, GRDC, Pulse Australia and interstate primary industry departments (NSW, Vic, WA & Qld) and industry partners. The initiative will help deliver superior pulse varieties to market more quickly encouraging better coordination, resource sharing and the interchange of ideas.

Processing Potato R & D Program, funded by the Australian Government via Horticulture Australia Ltd, and processing levies to provide solutions for the management of major potato-borne pathogens and virus diseases. Collaborators are the Victorian and Tasmanian Departments of Primary Industries, and New Zealand Crop and Food Research.

SA Food Plan 2007-2010. The project is a State Government Initiative implemented by PIRSA. SARDI’s contribution is to provide robust scientific solutions to meet food targets of the Plan. Researchers organise research resources and also supply contract research services to develop new products, improve shelf-life, package products attractively and ensure exported products meet international requirements for quality and food standards.

Sheep Genomics Program. Initiated and co-funded by Australian Wool Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia, the focus is on the discovery of genes required for optimal production of meat and wool.  SARDI has collaborative links with both national (CSIRO) and interstate primary industries departments, Universities and international agricultural research laboratories.

Tri-State Salinity Project: `Salinity Impact on Lower Murray Horticulture’, a collaborative three-year project between SARDI, the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, the Departments of Primary Industries in NSW and Victoria and the CSIRO’s base at Merbein. The program is funded by Land and Water Australia, the Murray Darling Basin Commission and the River Murray Catchment Water Management Board.

Wine Innovation Cluster: The cluster brings together five leading grape and wine research agencies at the famous Waite Precinct.  The collaboration aims to contribute in an important and identifiable way to the success, reputation and sustainability of Australian wine industry participants, wherever in the value chain they are situated.