Secure plant research facility

Australian researchers and scientists will benefit from a $6 million, world standard, plant research facility which has recently opened at the Australian National University.

The plant culture facility (PCF), at the ANU's research school of biological sciences, enables researchers to artificially control many aspects of the environment and grow genetically modified plants.

The PCF has two major components. One part houses facilities for soil mixing, sterilisation, potting and washing, as well as laboratory analysis. A second containment area houses growth cabinets and 20 specially designed walk-in growth rooms. Experiments utilising genetically altered plants can be safely carried out in these purpose-built growth cabinets which enable researchers to control temperature, light, humidity and carbon dioxide levels.

The facility will help to ensure that the research school of biological sciences is well positioned to benefit from the government's additional $3 billion investment in research, announced last year in Backing Australia's Ability.