Latest news with #CSIRO
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
Australians are choosing foods that contribute to leading causes of disease. Why?
Processed food is being consumed at higher rates than health guidelines recommend. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas New research suggests the cost of living is driving up poor diets in Australia. Poor diet is among the top causes of disease in Australia. Meanwhile, millions of tonnes of edible food are thrown away each year. Just under one in 20 Australians are making dietary choices that are consistent with Australian dietary guidelines. According to CSIRO's latest Food System Horizons report, Australians are experiencing diseases due to unhealthy diets despite a relative abundance of safe, high-quality food. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the local value of Australian fruit production (excluding wine grapes) was $6.3 billion in 2022-23, with 2.7 million tonnes sold the same year. Similarly, the local value of vegetable production was $5.8 billion, with 3.6 million tonnes sold. As a result of large quantities of fresh food remaining unused, 33 million tonnes of organic waste are generated each year. The CSIRO's report estimates that Australia's production, distribution and consumption of food is worth $800 billion and employs around 3.5 million people. But researchers say it's not delivering for everyone, and that lack of affordable and nutritious food is a leading cause of disease in the nation. Larelle McMillan, research director of CSIRO's agriculture and food sustainability program, said the cost of food and health issues is "hitting Australians hard". She said a lack of choice is partially responsible for this situation. "Health-related epidemics and issues are often interpreted as an acceptable consequence of personal choice," she told SBS News. "However, there are elements to that personal choice that can lead us away from healthy food." In particular, the cost of healthy food (like fruit and vegetables) compared to processed ones can make a nutritious diet out of reach for Australians on a smaller budget. People living in regional and remote areas are more likely to see higher prices at the checkout and have fewer options available, which could influence their food choices. According to the report, 6 per cent of those in regional areas only have access to a single food retailer, and that figure rises over five times to 34 per cent for residents in remote areas. These factors are contributing to a vast number of Australians not getting enough nutrition in their diet, which is leading to health consequences, the report says. Less than 5 per cent of Australians are eating enough fruits and vegetables as recommended in the federal government's Australian dietary guidelines. In comparison, twice as much non-essential or "discretionary food" like biscuits and processed meat is being consumed. A lack of nutrition in one's diet can contribute to risks such as obesity, among other health issues. Dietary risk is one of the leading factors contributing to disease burden in the country, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. While cost is a driving factor in food insecurity, convenience also plays a role in how consumers choose to shop in the modern age. Lilly Lim-Camacho, a principal research scientist at CSIRO, explained that convenience can drive our habits when it comes to what we buy for our meals. "When it comes to purchasing food, buying fresh food to prepare yourself isn't as convenient when compared to other things," she told SBS News. "In addition, it can be seen as expensive, not only because of the increased cost but the increased time that goes into preparing food." The environments we are exposed to when buying food also play a part, as people can be swayed by marketing, she added. The CSIRO report highlights that fast food outlets are heavily concentrated in areas of socio-economic disadvantage and around schools, which could be driving poor dietary patterns among these groups. "For example, children's exposure to fast food advertisements can affect what they want to eat afterwards," she said. The report added that people who are living with socio-economic disadvantage within regional and remote areas faced the biggest harms of food insecurity. Australian food relief charities that assist people in accessing affordable and nutritious food say the cost of living remains a major barrier to healthy eating. At the same time, millions of tonnes go to landfills each year, according to Foodbank Australia. "Australia wastes over 7.6 million tonnes of perfectly edible food a year," the charity's chief operating officer, Sarah Pennell, told SBS News. "We want to see more of that good surplus food diverted to charities like Foodbank rather than landfill. With the right incentives and infrastructure, we can dramatically reduce waste and boost food relief efforts." Food charity Second Bite's CEO, Daniel Moorfield, told SBS News they rescue around 25 million kilograms of food each year, which is equivalent to 50 million meals. But there is more they could do with support. "We strongly support the National Food Donation Tax Incentive, which encourages more businesses to donate surplus food rather than waste it, helping to feed more Australians in need," he said. "This straightforward policy can help deliver millions of healthy meals to Australians in need, improving food security and nutrition while advancing our national food waste reduction goals." One way to encourage people to make healthy choices, according to the CSIRO, is a levy on unhealthy foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, adds the report. The World Health Organization encouraged a similar tax on sugary drinks in 2022. Pennell said such a levy would need to be considered in the light of its impact on low-income households. "We would support well-thought-out policies that improve dietary health and fund food relief efforts – but only if they don't make life harder for those already struggling to afford the basics."
ABC News
11 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
Six months of major marine events in south-east Tasmania
Hobart's River Derwent and other south-east Tasmanian waterways have experienced some extraordinary marine events since December: jellyfish population explosions, toxic algal blooms, wild shellfish health alerts, and mass salmon and sardine deaths. Water quality scientist Christine Coughanowr said it was not uncommon to see one or two such events in a typical summer, but "rarely would you see this many events over such a short period of time". "I think it is quite plausible that at least some of these events are related." A spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) said the incidents were "being closely examined". "While these events can occur independently, it is uncommon to see several in close succession," the spokesperson said. "It is important to note that marine events such as algae blooms are typically driven by a range of environmental factors such as water temperature, nutrient levels, and runoff from various sources, not solely agriculture and aquaculture. "However, the potential for larger toxic algal blooms exists and the ShellMAP program continues to monitor local algal species." NRE Tas and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have engaged the CSIRO to help better understand why the events occurred. "This work will inform the development of state-of-the-art tools that can be used to investigate the contributing factors of events like those experienced over the past summer," an EPA spokesperson said. "And to establish near real-time modelling tools to foster understanding and support more informed decision-making around policy, regulation, planning and incident response." The presence of warmer than usual waters is "likely to be an important factor contributing to the proliferation of marine organisms along the east and south-east coast of Tasmania", according to an EPA spokesperson. Ms Coughanowr, co-chair of Tasmania's Independent Science Council and former CEO of the Derwent Estuary program, said "increasing pollution from human activities, combined in some cases with increasing water temperatures and changes in ocean circulation" were key causal factors. "Excess nutrients, in particular, stimulate microscopic algal blooms in near-shore coastal waters, which can set off the whole cascade above," she said. December 12, 2024 — An unprecedented number of small jelly-like creatures called "salps" are seen at beaches and bays across south-east Tasmania. Lisa-ann Gershwin, a jellyfish and bioluminescence expert, told ABC Radio Hobart an abundance of phytoplankton caused by excess nutrients from aquaculture and agricultural runoff had attracted the salps, which feed on phytoplankton. Dr Gershwin cautioned that salps "literally wiped out" the phytoplankton wherever they occurred, so everything else starved. December 19, 2024 — People warn against swimming at many of Hobart's beaches after industrial waste from the Cadbury factory knocked out a wastewater treatment plant, resulting in sewage flowing into the River Derwent next to the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona). Public health alerts include "do not swim" advice applied to the River Derwent between Austins Ferry and Old Beach in the north, and Sandy Bay across to Howrah in the south. December 20, 2024 — Some residents in Hobart and surrounds post photos to social media showing a pink substance in the water. Dr Gershwin told ABC Radio Hobart the pink hue was a kind of bioluminescent algae called Noctiluca scintillans or "sea sparkles", caused by an increase of nutrients coinciding with the salp die-off. While not toxic for humans, the blooms can be a problem for fish farms, due to the fish being unable to escape should a pen be impacted by the algal bloom. December 23, 2024 – Public health mostly lifts warnings against swimming in parts of the River Derwent due to untreated sewage, except for the western end of Bellerive Beach due to a localised issue. January 1, 2025 – There are more widespread reports that Tasmania's south-east coast was aglow with the bioluminescent algae Noctiluca scintillans. It is the biggest "bloom" in almost a decade. Dr Gershwin told ABC Radio Hobart the algal bloom could lead to a spike in jellyfish populations across the state's south. She described it as an environmental red flag, which could be fatal for other sea life. January 23, 2025 – Large blooms of Aurelia aurita – moon jellyfish – are seen in the River Derwent and halfway up Tasmania's east coast. The jellyfish naturally occur in the river, but not usually in such large numbers. Dr Gershwin said the bloom had been caused by an oversupply of nutrients in the water, from runoff, overfishing, and a natural upwelling in the ocean. She said "huge amounts" of nutrients came from salmon hatcheries upriver and fish farms. February 16, 2025 – Chunks of biological waste are discovered on a southern Tasmanian beach, prompting community calls for testing and an investigation into the nature of the waste. EPA later confirms the waste, which washes up at other beaches in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel over the following weeks, is congealed fish oil from dead salmon. February 20-21, 2025 – The Bob Brown Foundation shares images and videos of dead salmon floating on the edges of fish pens, and piled up in industrial skip bins. There are reports the salmon industry in south-east Tasmania is grappling with a widespread bacterial disease outbreak that is causing mass mortality events. March 20, 2025 – Tasmania's Chief Veterinary Officer Kevin de Witte makes a statement about the salmon deaths, saying the mortality event in the lower D'Entrecasteaux Channel is largely due to an endemic bacterium known as Piscirickettsia salmonis (P. salmonis). The bacterium did not present a human or animal health, or food safety risk, Mr de Witte said. "The bacterium also does not pose a risk to freshwater fish nor is it known to pose a threat to other marine [saltwater] species." May 5, 2025 – Tasmania's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) reports a decline in fish deaths after the mass salmon die-off and says water-quality monitoring no longer detects the presence of antibiotics used to treat the fish infection. May 8, 2025 – Public health issues a wild shellfish alert for Boomer Bay in south-east Tasmania. It warns toxic algal blooms (also known as harmful algal blooms or HABs) are present in Tasmania and that elevated levels of algal toxins have been detected in shellfish in the area. May 16, 2025 – Public health expands its wild shellfish alert to include the Mercury Passage in Eastern Tasmania. It advises not to eat "recreationally harvested mussels, oysters, clams, pipis, cockles, wedge shells abalone and scallop roe". May 17, 2025 – Hundreds of small fish, later confirmed to be sardines, are found dead along the shoreline of the River Derwent. A few days later, Kevin de Witte, tells ABC Radio Hobart the sardines most likely died "due to a toxic algae" called Heterosigma. In Tasmania, the EPA is the primary statutory regulator for water quality and its management, alongside NRE Tas. Both were involved in testing and reporting during and following the recent salmon mortality event. The Derwent Estuary Program also plays an important role coordinating a range of projects aimed at restoring and promoting the estuary and reducing pollution. Following the salmon mortality event, the EPA conducted an internal debrief to "capture lessons from the mortality event" and participated in an inter-agency debrief that extended to consultations with the three salmon companies, an EPA spokesperson said. "Mortalities are a known aspect of salmon farming worldwide. From an EPA perspective, the critical issue is timely collection and management of mortality waste in an approved manner." Ms Coughanowr said more "robust monitoring" of both the condition of, and many activities affecting the health of, our rivers and coastal waters was required. "Often people just call up and report what they are seeing, but we need a more systematic approach than that. Ms Coughanowr said a marine event of the scale of South Australia's toxic algal bloom, which is bringing unprecedented destruction to the state's marine environment, "would be a terrible outcome for Tasmania". "It is important that we don't just blunder into this with our eyes closed," she said. A spokesperson for NRE Tasmania said Biosecurity Tasmania was continuing to look into the recent deaths of the sardines found along the shores of the River Derwent. "At this stage, investigations indicate this mortality event is not linked to the salmon mortality incident in south-east Tasmania from January to April," the spokesperson said. "Biosecurity Tasmania understands it is not pollution-related and the events are likely due to different infectious causes. From ongoing testing, and POMV have been ruled out as the cause of the sardine deaths. "Initial results of testing conducted of the sardines indicate it is likely to be a result of Heterosigma, a type of algae. It is currently not believed to be a bloom, however further testing continues." Ms Coughanowr said whatever the cause of the most recent fish deaths, the health of our waterways needed to be a priority for Tasmania. "We need to reduce pollution and other pressures on our rivers and coastal waters to make them as resilient as possible," she said. Members of the public who observe dead fish, pollution events or suspected biological material can call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 or the EPA Incident Response Hotline on 1800 005 171.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Authorities try to protect Australia's vulnerable wildlife as H5N1 bird flu approaches
Karl Hillyard is a busy man. As the South Australian Department for the Environment and Water's bird flu preparedness coordinator, he has been working with colleagues across the country and the world to prepare for the arrival of the H5N1 bird flu in Australia. The flu has had a devastating effect on birds and wildlife across much of the world, but has not yet reached Australia or New Zealand. However, it has been identified in most of the seal species in Antarctica. Dr Hillyard said he had a soft spot for the common and sometimes maligned ibis, but much of his work at the Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills was for the protection of rare birds. He said planning could be difficult when dealing with an evolving situation which had affected "mind-boggling" numbers of water birds and marine mammals. "Overseas in wildlife, there are some really tragic stories and impacts on particularly vulnerable and threatened species," Dr Hillyard said. A trial has started in the US to see if a vaccine against the flu has been effective in protecting the rare California condor. Research has also been carried out by the CSIRO to see if the vaccine could be used in small Australian bird species. Meanwhile, the first line of defence at Cleland will be social distancing of a sort, by making sure captive birds at the park are kept separate from wild birds as much as possible. Dr Hillyard said the "tyranny of distance" had protected Australia so far. "Effectively, sick birds, sick animals are going to struggle to make it here," he said. "And that's really sad. "But it's also what's probably been helping us out so far in Australia." He said work was also being done to assess where the virus might first arrive in South Australia. Wayne Boardman, from the University of Adelaide, said the virus had taken a circuitous route around the world since emerging in China in 1996. He said more wild bird and mammal deaths became apparent in Europe after a 2020 mutation which had spread to Africa and then North and South America. Dr Boardman said the virus would "almost certainly" arrive in Australia at some stage, potentially via islands in the sub-Antarctic or by migratory birds coming through the shorebird flyways from China and Southeast Asia. Dr Boardman said the virus had already caused a devastating loss of Peruvian pelicans and sandwich terns in Europe, and had occurred in more than 500 species of birds and more than 60 species of mammals. "We hope that these species will recover in time, but it could be that the virus is going to circulate for some time and will continue to cause mortality over the next five, 10, 15 years," he said. Dr Boardman said there were concerns that the disease could affect endangered species to the point where recovery would take a long time or could even lead to extinction. One of Dr Boardman's biggest concerns was for the remaining Australian sea lion population, which numbered less than 14,000 and lived mainly around South Australia's coastline. Dr Boardman's concern for the sealions is shared by Independent Member of the Legislative Council, Tammy Franks. Ms Franks has called for the state government to co-fund a field research station in the Coorong, where many thousands of migratory birds arrived each year. She said a 2024 outbreak of avian cholera in the wetland was only able to be confirmed because a fisherman delivered fresh carcasses to biosecurity officers within hours of the birds' death, when useful test samples could still be extracted. She said without the ability to sample and test on the ground in the Coorong, the opportunity to identify the arrival of avian flu could be missed. Coorong Environment Trust Board member Faith Coleman said a suitable property for a laboratory facility was available at Woods Well, on the banks of the south lagoon. She estimated the total cost of purchasing and establishing the facility would be about $1 million. "They [the state government] would only need to contribute a portion," she said. "It would be really helpful if they could meet us halfway." The Minister for the Environment and Water has been contacted for a response.
Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Science
- Daily Maverick
X-rays have revealed a mysterious cosmic object never before seen in our galaxy
After the initial discovery, we began follow-up observations using telescopes around the world, hoping to catch more pulses. With continued monitoring, we found the radio pulses from ASKAPJ1832 arrive regularly — every 44 minutes. This confirmed it as a new member of the rare long-period transient group. In a new study published today in Nature, we report the discovery of a new long-period transient — and, for the first time, one that also emits regular bursts of X-rays. Long-period transients are a recently identified class of cosmic objects that emit bright flashes of radio waves every few minutes to several hours. This is much longer than the rapid pulses we typically detect from dead stars such as pulsars. What these objects are, and how they generate their unusual signals, remains a mystery. Our discovery opens up a new window into the study of these puzzling sources. But it also deepens the mystery: the object we found doesn't resemble any known type of star or system in our galaxy – or beyond. Watching the radio sky for flickers There's much in the night sky that we can't see with human eyes but can detect when we look at other wavelengths, such as radio emissions. Our research team regularly scans the radio sky using the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP), operated by CSIRO on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia. Our goal is to find cosmic objects that appear and disappear (known as transients). Transients are often linked to some of the most powerful and dramatic events in the universe, such as the explosive deaths of stars. In late 2023, we spotted an extremely bright source, named ASKAP J1832-0911 (based on its position in the sky), in the direction of the galactic plane. This object is located about 15,000 light years away. This is far, but still within the Milky Way. A dramatic event After the initial discovery, we began follow-up observations using telescopes around the world, hoping to catch more pulses. With continued monitoring, we found the radio pulses from ASKAPJ1832 arrive regularly — every 44 minutes. This confirmed it as a new member of the rare long-period transient group. But we did not just look forward in time — we also looked back. We searched through older telescope data from the same part of the sky. We found no trace of the object before the discovery. This suggests something dramatic happened shortly before we first detected it — something powerful enough to suddenly switch the object 'on'. Then, in February 2024, ASKAPJ1832 became extremely active. After a quieter period in January, the source brightened dramatically. Fewer than 30 objects in the sky have ever reached such brightness in radio waves. For comparison, most stars we detect in radio are about 10,000 times fainter than ASKAPJ1832 during that flare-up. A lucky break X-rays are a form of light that we can't see with our eyes. They usually come from extremely hot and energetic environments. Although about 10 similar radio-emitting objects have been found so far, none had ever shown X-ray signals. In March, we tried to observe ASKAPJ1832 in X-rays. However, due to technical issues with the telescope, the observation could not go ahead. Then came a stroke of luck. In June, I reached out to my friend Tong Bao, a postdoctoral researcher at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, to check if any previous X-ray observations had captured the source. To our surprise, we found two past observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, although the data were still under a proprietary period (not yet public). We contacted Kaya Mori, a research scientist at Columbia University and the principal investigator of those observations. He generously shared the data with us. To our amazement, we discovered clear X-ray signals coming from ASKAPJ1832. Even more remarkable: the X-rays followed the same 44-minute cycle as the radio pulses. It was a truly lucky break. Chandra had been pointed at a different target entirely, but by pure coincidence, it caught ASKAPJ1832 during its unusually bright and active phase. A chance alignment like that is incredibly rare — like finding a needle in a cosmic haystack. Still a mystery Having both radio and X-ray bursts is a common trait of dead stars with extremely strong magnetic fields, such as neutron stars (high-mass dead stars) and white dwarfs (low-mass dead stars). Our discovery suggests that at least some long-period transients may come from these kinds of stellar remnants. But ASKAPJ1832 does not quite fit into any known category of object in our galaxy. Its behaviour, while similar in some ways, still breaks the mould. We need more observations to truly understand what is going on. It is possible that ASKAPJ1832 is something entirely new, or it could be emitting radio waves in a way we have never seen before. DM
Mercury
4 days ago
- Business
- Mercury
NIM hot on the heels of gallium host rock
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. NIM hits gallium host rock at Block 3 discovery in WA Gallium is a critical mineral that has surged since China imposed export restrictions The company has immediately moved to the third phase of drilling. Special Report: Nimy Resources has intersected gallium host rock during phase 2 drilling at its Block 3 project in WA. The project is in the Mons greenstone belt, northwest of the Forrestania nickel and lithium district, where recent exploration uncovered the gallium opportunity. This could lead to the junior becoming the first primary producer of the critical mineral in WA. Interest in the specialty metal – a key component in computer chips critical to electronics, AI and defence – has surged since market leader China initiated export controls in 2023. Production is almost entirely sourced as a by-product of alumina and zinc refining but Nimy Resources (ASX:NIM)is hoping to change that with its Block 3 project, where it has uncovered gallium grades far higher than those typically associated with bauxite deposits. Nine holes out of a total of 11 in the latest drilling program hit chlorite/mafic schist – which has been identified by CSIRO as the host rock for high-grade gallium mineralisation at the project. While assays are pending, the company is confident of the potential to expand the extent of the discovery, and identify additional chlorite schist material along trend. Unlocking full extent of gallium discovery Notably, this style of deposit is the same from which gallium has been extracted from a mine in China and CSIRO thinks it could run between 400-800ppm gallium. That could present an opportunity to significantly upgrade the economic prospects of a future resource through ore sorting. Due to the success of second phase drilling, the company has immediately moved to phase 3, looking for gallium mineralisation beyond the original exploration target as well as the recently discovered outcropping schist. In the background, Nimy is also conducting metallurgical testwork and progressing early-stage downstream discussions, an integrated approach that the company says reflects its commitment to unlocking the full potential of this emerging critical minerals opportunity. 'The consistent intersections of schistose material across completed drill holes at Block 3 is an exciting development that continues to reinforce the scale and potential of this high-grade gallium prospect,' managing director Luke Hampson said. 'Assays are pending and phase 3 drilling has commenced, we are well positioned to rapidly advance what is a significant critical minerals discovery in Western Australia.' This article was developed in collaboration with Nimy Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions. Originally published as Nimy Resources intersects gallium host rock at Block 3 discovery
