Animal health & welfare overview

CSIRO has developed many practical tools to assist Australia's rural sector, such as vaccines, diagnostic tests, treatments and mineral supplements. These have meant better health for millions of animals.

Community monitoring of urban bushfire management

We are working with selected Community Fire Units to find ways for communities to measure the effectiveness of their bushfire risk management.

An introduction to physical-statistical modelling using Bayesian methods

This 18-page technical report by CSIRO’s Dr Edward Campbell discusses integrating physical and statistical models using Bayesian methods. This approach helps environmental scientists deal with uncertainty in forecasting.

Dr Greg Smith: ensuring the containment of animal disease agents

Dr Greg Smith is responsible for microbiological and disease security at CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria.

When biofuels and biosecurity meet

A symposium entitled: Biosecurity in the New Bioeconomy: Threats and Opportunities, will be hosted by CSIRO at the Shine Dome in Canberra from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November.

The Bushfire CRC: understanding bushfires through collaboration

The bushfire research program at CSIRO is part of a large-scale collaborative effort.

Paterson's curse

Paterson’s curse is an introduced plant and considered both a valuable pasture species and a toxic weed, out competing other plants and poisoning livestock. Several biological control agents have been released in Australia since the late 1980s to help control this weed.

Biological control of alligator weed

Scientists at CSIRO are researching several new biological control agents for the control of alligator weed in cooler climates and terrestrial habitats of Australia.

The deadly nature of animal-to-human disease (Podcast 28 Jan 2011)

Scientists have identified 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic – meaning they can spread from animals to people. This is likely to increase under environmental intrusion, climate change and progressive urbanisation of the planet. (7:26)

The secret world of Australia's native rats and mice (Podcast 14 Apr 2008)

Why do some mice build huge mounds of pebbles in the desert? And how did stick nest mice become instant barbecues? In this podcast, CSIRO researcher Dr Fred Ford opens up the wonderful world of Australia’s native mice and rats. (4.43)

SiroFire – helping fire authorities predict wildfire spread

Understanding probably wildfire spread is vital to the efficient use of firefighting resources. CSIRO scientists developed SiroFire, a computer-based real-time bushfire spread simulator, to give fire control authorities a fast operational tool to predict wildfire spread.

Preparing Australia for a Russian wheat aphid invasion

CSIRO scientists are studying how Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia successfully overcomes resistance in wheat in order to protect Australian farmers from this devastating invasive pest.

Termites get the vibe on what tastes good

Researchers from CSIRO and UNSW@ADFA  [external link] have shown that termites can tell what sort of material their food is made of, without having to actually touch it. The findings may lead to improvements in the control of feeding termites.

Dr Susie Sprague: caring for canola

Dr Susie Sprague is studying effective farm management in relation to Blackleg - a plant disease that targets canola crops.

Animal health laboratory internationally recognised

Australian scientists will be better prepared to tackle exotic animal diseases, such as avian influenza (AI), following international recognition of CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong as a ‘OIE Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building for Veterinary Laboratories’.

Biodiversity: benefits and threats

CSIRO research is helping to manage the increasing threat from invasive species and the benefits to agriculture from ecosystem services.

Scientists seeking growers’ knowledge on fruit orchard pests

Far North Queensland fruit growers have been asked to share their knowledge and experience of orchard pests to help scientists assess and design sustainable crop protection measures.

Grassland curing

The amount of curing (dead grass in grassland) is an important input into fire danger rating systems. CSIRO scientists are developing improved methods of assessing grassland curing, and are investigating methods of predicting future curing levels.

The Fire Triangle

A fire requires air, heat and fuel to grow. To control the fire, at least one of them must be removed.

Download SiroFire - The Bushfire Spread Simulator

Understanding probably wildfire spread is vital to the efficient use of firefighting resources. CSIRO scientists developed SiroFire, a computer-based real-time bushfire spread simulator, to give fire control authorities a fast operational tool to predict wildfire spread.

Wild radish impacts on crop production in southern Australia

Wild radish has a major economic impact on crop production in southern Australia, with herbicide expenditure alone on this weed exceeding A$40 million annually and herbicide resistance an increasing problem.

The costs and benefits of buffel grass and its management

CSIRO scientists are working with agencies, regional groups and individuals to document the environmental, social and economic benefits and costs of buffel grass.

Biological control of Cape broom

CSIRO scientists are currently investigating two potential agents for release in Australia to help control Cape broom, an introduced weed in southern Australia.

Insect protected cowpeas

CSIRO is making progress toward incorporating 'built-in' insect protection in cowpeas as part of a global initiative to improve cowpea production in sub-Saharan Africa and help reduce food shortages in the region.

Mesquite biocontrol with the sap-sucking psyllid, Prosopidopsylla flava

This fact sheet describes research on the sap-sucking psyllid, Prosopidopsylla flava which was released in Australia as a biological control agent for mesquite.