The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.
Biodiversity: Benefits and Threats - Enhancing ecosystem function by managing invasive pests, beneficial invertebrates and microbes at landscape scales, involving both agricultural and native habitats. Learn more>
Enzymology and Synthetic Biology - Manipulate enzyme and structural protein function and structure to create new biochemical pathways and biomaterials, and understand the biomolecular basis of odour and taste detection. Learn more>
Dr Mark Lonsdale is Chief of CSIRO Entomology and has extensive experience in studying plant ecology and biological invasions in the United Kingdom, Africa and Australia.
Dr Tara Sutherland is developing advanced biomaterials from invertebrates, including researching into insects as a source of novel biosilks and elastic proteins.
Mr Hobern is developing a flexible online encyclopaedia of biodiversity that will act as a portal to access biological information held in collections around Australia.
Artificial neural networks, specifically self organising maps (SOM's) can provide an objective method to help assess worldwide pest species assemblages and biosecurity risks.
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.
This information sheet discusses natural enemies associated with native vegetation and how they can reduce pest pressure in cotton and grain systems as part of integrated pest management. (2 pages)
This document outlines details of a report on alert and sleeper weed species that were assessed for their change of potential distribution due to climate change in Australia.
To maintain Australia's position as a global leader in wine production, the Food Futures Flagship is working closely with the wine industry on research into biosensors and flavour identification in wines and grape berries.
In support of a developing bioeconomy in Australia, CSIRO Entomology is conducting research on industrial biotechnology and biomaterials; environmental biotechnology and enzymology; and sensory biology.
The process of weed biocontrol involves many steps and often requires a huge investment of time and resources to be successful at managing and controlling a target species.
Hotter temperatures and reduced rainfall in South Australia due to climate change could prompt a period of ‘weed change’ across the state, according to a new report from CSIRO.
Climate Adaptation Flagship research is developing and delivering adaptation options to protect Australia’s marine and terrestrial species, ecosystems and the services they provide from the impacts of climate change.
Research into the use of natural and synthetic enzymes may assist manufacturing industries, agricultural and environmental biotechnologies and biosecurity.
CSIRO has a history of biological control successes and our scientists are using their expertise to find more natural enemies of introduced weeds and insect pests.
The National Invertebrate Pest Initiative (NIPI) brings together Australian scientists from State Departments, Universities, growers and CSIRO to improve pest management in Australian grain crops.
This 39-minute video captures a seminar given by CSIRO's Biodiversity Research Director, Dr Mark Lonsdale as part of the United Nations’ International Day for Biological Diversity 2009. Watch the video below, or download the accompanying PowerPoint slides. (51 pages)
If they're small, they fly, crawl, sting or bite, CSIRO’s Dr John La Salle wants to know about them. In this video podcast, Dr La Salle describes the race to save our insects. (3:07)
On the hunt for exotic species for biological control use in Australia, Dr Tim Heard, a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO, often finds himself in faraway places offering rewarding experiences.
Mr Tom Weir is regarded as one of the country’s foremost authorities on water bugs and beetles, investigating diverse habitats in Australia to find them.
This brochure discusses research into conditions affecting the low establishment rate of the bitou bush leaf-rolling moth and how to monitor for population establishment. (2 pages)
CSIRO Entomology and New South Wales Agriculture collaborated on a project to rear, release and evaluate the performance of the leaf-rolling moth Tortrix species to help control bitou bush.
Physical or chemical processes that remove high levels of dormancy would enable this condition to be introduced into barleys grown in rain prone areas.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.