The Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources (ISER) invites you to join us at the Sustainability Spotlight series hosted at the University of Adelaide.

As part of the Sustainability Spotlight series, recipients of the Foci and Magnets for Excellence (FAME) Sustainability grants will showcase their projects and its progress to date.

Topics presented will vary from promoting green technology in the Australian Wine Industry to Green Investment Index and many other interesting projects in between.

At this event, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and network after the following presentation of Dr Shervin Kabiri, PhD candidate Hannah Thwaites and Dr Matthias Solomon

Ameliorated compost or biosolid composite materials with safe and sustainable applications in the agriculture - by Dr Shervin Kabiri

Composting food waste and packaging turns them into useful materials for soil enrichment; biosolids, a by-product of wastewater treatment, are similarly cheap, effective fertilisers used extensively in agriculture. However, despite their advantages, both composts and biosolids contain legacy PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) that can enter the food chain via uptake by plants, affecting human and ecosystem health, and raising safety and ethical concerns over their continued use. This project proposes to incorporate composts/biosolids into a novel composite material that minimises/prevents PFAS from entering the food chain, unlocking the wider application of these products to support an ethical, sustainable circular economy.

Urban agriculture and food forests: A comprehensive review with a preliminary investigation into Adelaide’s residential PFAS soil contamination - by PhD candidate Hannah Thwaites & Dr Matthias Solomon

This project, funded by the FAME initiative, focuses on improving our understanding of urban agriculture through two key initiatives. First, a literature review will be conducted on urban food forests, an under-researched topic within urban agriculture. Second, an assessment of urban garden soils and their PFAS concentrations will be carried out using a citizen science approach.

Urban food forests offer significant potential for improving urban agriculture by integrating trees and food production. Despite their promise, they remain under-researched. This literature review will summarise current scientific knowledge and highlight research gaps, which will set the stage for future research that could improve our understanding of urban food forests and their importance for urban ecosystems and resilient communities.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are contaminants of increasing global concern due to their adverse health and environmental effects. These chemicals can enter soils through a variety of pathways, with urban environments being particularly vulnerable due to the dense human population. This project will use a citizen science approach to collect up to 200 soil samples from gardens in the Adelaide metropolitan area and test them for concentrations of PFAS chemicals. This pioneering study aims to provide valuable quantitative data and insights into PFAS contamination in urban soils.

Presenters' bios:

Dr. Shervin Kabiri is a Mortlock Fellow at the University of Adelaide's School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. With a profound dedication to environmental science, her research primarily revolves around perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS). These substances, found in products such as cleaning agents and non-stick cookware, pose significant threats to human health and the environment. Dr. Kabiri's work aims to understand the extent of PFAS contamination and develop effective methods for their removal and destruction. Her contributions to the field are pivotal in addressing the pressing issues of environmental pollution and public health.

PhD candidate Hannah Thwaites grew up in a household that always valued growing food and growing community. This has translated into a range of activities and experiences through her life – from running her an edible garden business; being involved in community gardens, social enterprises and initiatives; and working as a professional in the tertiary sector to support research and engagement. Now Hannah is relishing the opportunity to bring together her skills and knowledge and applying these to her interdisciplinary (biophysical and social sciences) PhD research, exploring urban agriculture’s potential for building community resilience in the face of climate change.

Dr Matthias Salomon is a post-doctoral researcher specializing in soil health and its implications for sustainable food production. He earned his PhD in soil ecology from the University of Adelaide, with a thesis on beneficial microorganisms in urban agriculture. His current research projects involve emerging crops like agave and urban agriculture. He focuses on optimizing agave production for the Australian agricultural landscape and improving soil health in urban farming systems. Matt’s research aims to provide practical solutions to global challenges, advocating for agriculture to be part of the solution.