Tweed Shire Council Farming Futures Committee member Peter McLaughlin* and Russel Kimmins, Director R&D from Green Plate Pty Ltd, recently (April 22-23) visited the Centre for Plant and Water Science to discuss potential co-operation on 2 new technologies.

The first is a solar-powered light trap with varying spectral properties that can potentially be adapted to attract and capture, or monitor, numbers of different insect pests of horticultural and agricultural crops.

Inspecting a new hydroponics installation

The second is to develop solar-powered cooling and pumping of hydroponic solutions within tropical hydroponic systems.

This is part of a project aimed at linking hydroponics and aquaculture with vermiculture, for efficient nutrient and water recycling, and is focused on energy-conscious city roof-tops and remote rural areas.

Mr Kimmins also met with Jeff Hamilton, from CQU Facilities Management, to discuss options for introducing significant energy savings with a new range of fluorescent and beam lights.

* Mr McLaughlin is also a former President of Northern Rivers Agricultural Development Association Inc.

Russell Kimmins, CQU's Professor David Midmore, Peter McLaughlin, CQU's Dr Brett Roe and CPWS research technician Brock McDonald discuss future projects