Could native grains and grasses be part of the solution to Australia’s biodiversity and environmental crises? One Basin CRC PhD researcher Anita Bhusal certainly thinks so, and she’s going to great lengths to find out.

Bhusal’s research utilises innovative methods and technologies to improve our understanding of grasses that have supported local First Nations people for at least 60,000 years, and which thrive in semi-arid and arid regions where traditional cereal crops struggle.

“The grassland ecosystems are critical for sustaining biodiversity, and also crucial ecological processes including carbon sequestration and water filtration” explains Bhusal from her lab in Narrabri in the Northern Basin.

They may also be a sustainable alternative to traditional crops, enhancing food security as “they’re resilient, they’re hardy, and they can be good for maintaining landscapes in the context of climate change.” 

Bhusal’s research has taken her a long way. From her home in Nepal, she relocated to Sydney to undertake her PhD at the University of Sydney. After 18 months in the city, she moved again in June to work from the university’s IA Watson Grains Research Centre in Narrabri.

There she can utilise different research settings, including fields, labs, and glass houses, in which to grow and observe different grain species. She will run twelve-month-long experiments using state-of-the-art technology like hyperspectral cameras to observe biomass and other key attributes.

With these tools, Bhusal is aiming to emerge with practical findings for farmers, such as the ideal water and nutrient levels to improve germination and optimise production. In the long run, the goal is to unlock the potential of native grasses to contribute to a more sustainable and diverse agricultural landscape.

These ideas are both innovative and ancient, as they have their roots in local First Nations cultures. Of the over 1,100 native grass species that exist, 42 have been historically significant in Aboriginal diets. 

In the Northern Basin specifically, the Gamilaraay, Yuwaalaraay, and Yuwaaliiyaay people of north-west New South Wales and south-west Queensland have a rich history of using native grains.

While Anita is still new to the region, she is loving her time there. She is already finding exciting collaboration opportunities with nearby industries, and that living in a small town creates a “better connection with people”.

Her research is part of One Basin CRC’s PhD program, which creates opportunities for early-career researchers to address key problems identified with Murray-Darling Basin stakeholders. She is supported by the CRC’s Goondiwindi hub, and she is effusive about the support and guidance she has received so far:

“They’ve provided outreach, communication, and industry engagement which I don’t think I would have received if I was a normal PhD student. The linkage and internship opportunities are great in terms of providing work experience and then future employability.”

She was also able to spend a fortnight at the CRC’s Mildura Hub earlier in the year, meeting local farmers, touring sustainable farming sites, and connecting with other One Basin supported researchers. 

Anita has over two years to go in her research, and then a bright career ahead – whether as a researcher or in industry, she is not yet sure. What is clear is that research like hers points the way forward, towards landscapes that are productive, resilient, and sustainable for generations to come.

For more information about Anita’s research into Native Grains and Grasses, visit the project page here:https://onebasin.com.au/project/ecological-and-physiological-functioning-of-native-grains-production-system/

To explore the current PhD opportunities supported by One Basin CRC, visit our PhD Program page here: https://onebasin.com.au/phd-program/   

Curly Mitchell Grass, one species of native Australian grass.