AI breakthrough set to advance sorghum breeding efforts

Fellow Centre for Animal Science researcher Dr Eric Dinglasan has been announced as the winner of an Advance Queensland Industry Research Early-Career Fellowship. In partnership with the University of Queensland (UQ) and Pacific Seeds, Dr Dinglasan will expand his work in predictive agriculture to apply FastStack technology to sorghum breeding efforts. FastStack is an AI-guided breeding technology, where instead of selecting the best individual, scientists choose the best chromosome segments that are good for a trait, then identify the optimal crossing path to combine them with other chromosome segments across the genome to develop the ultimate stack.

Dr Bertus Jacobs, Pacific Seeds, Head of Research said the project would focus on heat tolerance traits for sorghum as part of wider research to ensure new hybrids meet changing climatic conditions over the next 20 years and beyond.

“By combining on-ground farm experience, world-class research, and new AI technologies, we’re set to deliver the best possible new hybrids that not only adapt but thrive in the changing climate conditions,” Dr Jacobs said.

Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship recipient Dr Eric Dinglasan with Dr Bertus Jacobs Pacific Seeds Head of Research. Photo: Megan Pope