Activities in the Pacific

The following summarizes experience and expertise in Asia at Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. For further information, please contact Deanna Behring, director of international programs, or call 814-863-0249.

Australia
The college has entered into an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) of the State of Victoria, Australia. David Huff (Crop and Soil Sciences) and his colleagues at the Plant Biotechnology Centre (PBC)--a world-renowned center in the area of molecular plant breeding--will be working together in many areas, including plant molecular biology and molecular plant breeding of turf, forage, and native grasses, as well as genetic diversity data analysis. The PBC is a key focus of NRE's new technology development in genetic sciences for Australia's plant-based industries. The PBC, located at LaTrobe University, Bundoora, is one of agricultural Victoria's smallest institutes, but one of which it is justifiably proud due to its prodigious output of high-quality research. Under the inspired leadership of Professor German Spangenberg, institute director, the PBC has become recognized as one of the world leaders in plant molecular breeding. In the area of pasture plant production for the world's temperate pasture farming, it is arguably the world's best. The main thrust of PBC's research and development is to develop technologies and products for more efficient production, better quality, and a safer environment. Professor Spangenberg and his team have begun to accomplish this through applying and developing core technological capabilities in gene technology, molecular marker technology, and genomics.