Professor Ian Godwin
Professor

Ian Godwin

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32681

Background

Professor Ian Godwin has over 30 years’ experience in plant biotechnology research, first undertaking sugar beet genetic engineering at Birmingham University in the UK in the 1980s. He joined UQ in 1990, holding an academic position in plant molecular genetics. In 2019 he joined QAAFI as Director of the Centre for Crop Science.

He leads research in the use of biotechnological tools for crop improvement, with emphasis on the sustainable production of grain crops. Major focus is on the improvement of crops for food, feed and bio-industrial end-uses. He has pioneered the use of GM and gene edited techniques in sorghum. Research projects include international collaborations with a focus on food security and plant genetic resource conservation with collaborators in Germany, Denmark, the United States, China, Ethiopia and Pacific Island countries. He is passionate about the public communication of science, and has spoken at many public events on genetics, GM plants and food, animal cloning, and the future of agriculture in a changing climate. In 2003 he was an ABC Science Media Fellow, and has appeared on ABC and BBC radio on numerous occasions.

His popular science book Good Enough to Eat?: Next Generation GM Crops was published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2019.

Availability

Professor Ian Godwin is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural biotechnology Crop and pasture production Plant biology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Agricultural Science, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research impacts

Genetic improvement of plants using molecular and genomics tools. Cereals and grain crops.

Search Professor Ian Godwin’s works on UQ eSpace

261 works between 1951 and 2024
All (261) Journal Article (153) Book Chapter (25) Conference Publication (80) Book (1) Other Outputs (2)

1 - 20 of 261 works

2024

Journal Article

The use of fixed shelling percentage biases genotype selection in hybrid maize multi-environment yield trials

Keno, Tolera, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Jordan, David and Kelly, Alison (2024). The use of fixed shelling percentage biases genotype selection in hybrid maize multi-environment yield trials. Field Crops Research, 315 109437, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109437

The use of fixed shelling percentage biases genotype selection in hybrid maize multi-environment yield trials

2024

Journal Article

Transgenic, high-protein sorghums display promise in poultry diets in an initial comparison

Macelline, Shemil P., Godwin, Ian D., Liu, Guoquan, Restall, Jemma, Cantor, David I., McInerney, Bernard V., Toghyani, Mehdi, Chrystal, Peter V., Selle, Peter H. and Liu, Sonia Yun (2024). Transgenic, high-protein sorghums display promise in poultry diets in an initial comparison. Poultry Science, 103 (6) 103698, 103698. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103698

Transgenic, high-protein sorghums display promise in poultry diets in an initial comparison

2023

Journal Article

Editorial: Genome editing for agricultural sustainability: developments in tools, potential applications, and regulatory policy

Keiper, Felicity J., Sprink, Thorben and Godwin, Ian Douglas (2023). Editorial: Genome editing for agricultural sustainability: developments in tools, potential applications, and regulatory policy. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 5 1324921, 1-2. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1324921

Editorial: Genome editing for agricultural sustainability: developments in tools, potential applications, and regulatory policy

2023

Journal Article

Integrating stay-green and PIN-FORMED genes: PIN-FORMED genes as potential targets for designing climate-resilient cereal ideotypes

Wong, Albert Chern Sun, van Oosterom, Erik J., Godwin, Ian D. and Borrell, Andrew K. (2023). Integrating stay-green and PIN-FORMED genes: PIN-FORMED genes as potential targets for designing climate-resilient cereal ideotypes. AOB Plants, 15 (4) plad040, 1-10. doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plad040

Integrating stay-green and PIN-FORMED genes: PIN-FORMED genes as potential targets for designing climate-resilient cereal ideotypes

2023

Journal Article

Regioselective stilbene O-methylations in Saccharinae grasses

Lui, Andy C. W., Pow, Kah Chee, Lin, Nan, Lam, Lydia Pui Ying, Liu, Guoquan, Godwin, Ian D., Fan, Zhuming, Khoo, Chen Jing, Tobimatsu, Yuki, Wang, Lanxiang, Hao, Quan and Lo, Clive (2023). Regioselective stilbene O-methylations in Saccharinae grasses. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 3462, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38908-5

Regioselective stilbene O-methylations in Saccharinae grasses

2023

Conference Publication

Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes

Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Global Sorghum Conference Sorghum in the 21st Century, Montpellier, France, 5-9 June 2023.

Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes

2023

Conference Publication

Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes

Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Reed, Sean, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13-15 March 2023.

Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes

2022

Journal Article

CRISPR-knockout of β-kafirin in sorghum does not recapitulate the grain quality of natural mutants

Massel, Karen, Hintzsche, Jessica, Restall, Jemma, Kerr, Edward D., Schulz, Benjamin L. and Godwin, Ian D. (2022). CRISPR-knockout of β-kafirin in sorghum does not recapitulate the grain quality of natural mutants. Planta, 257 (1) 8, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s00425-022-04038-3

CRISPR-knockout of β-kafirin in sorghum does not recapitulate the grain quality of natural mutants

2022

Conference Publication

Phenotyping innovations to develop climate resilient taro

Smith, Millicent, Campbell, Bradley, Restall, Jemma, Chapman, Scott, Godwin, Ian, Sukal, Amit and Guzzon, Filippo (2022). Phenotyping innovations to develop climate resilient taro. TropAg International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.

Phenotyping innovations to develop climate resilient taro

2022

Conference Publication

Ensuring the future of taro

Campbell, Bradley, Godwin, Ian, Mace, Emma, Sukal, Amit, Waqainabete, Logo, Restall, Jemma and Smith, Millicent (2022). Ensuring the future of taro. TropAg International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.

Ensuring the future of taro

2022

Journal Article

The impact of drought, heat and elevated carbon dioxide levels on feed grain quality for poultry production

Ledvinka, Harris D., Toghyani, Mehdi, Tan, Daniel K. Y., Khoddami, Ali, Godwin, Ian D. and Liu, Sonia Y. (2022). The impact of drought, heat and elevated carbon dioxide levels on feed grain quality for poultry production. Agriculture, 12 (11) 1913, 19-16. doi: 10.3390/agriculture12111913

The impact of drought, heat and elevated carbon dioxide levels on feed grain quality for poultry production

2022

Conference Publication

Phenotyping innovations to harness genetic diversity for climate resilience

Smith, Millicent, Campbell, Bradley, Restall, Jemma, Dudley, Caitlin, Van Haeften, Shanice, Godwin, Ian, Chapman, Scott, Sukal, Amit, Robinson, Hannah, Ryan, Merrill, Potgieter, Andries and Hickey, Lee (2022). Phenotyping innovations to harness genetic diversity for climate resilience. International Plant Phenotyping Symposium, Wageningen, Netherlands, 27-30 September 2022.

Phenotyping innovations to harness genetic diversity for climate resilience

2022

Journal Article

Genetic modification of PIN genes induces causal mechanisms of stay-green drought adaptation phenotype

Borrell, Andrew K., Wong, Albert C. S., George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik J., Mace, Emma S., Godwin, Ian D., Liu, Guoquan, Mullet, John E., Klein, Patricia E., Hammer, Graeme L., McLean, Greg, Hunt, Colleen and Jordan, David R. (2022). Genetic modification of PIN genes induces causal mechanisms of stay-green drought adaptation phenotype. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73 (19), 6711-6726. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erac336

Genetic modification of PIN genes induces causal mechanisms of stay-green drought adaptation phenotype

2022

Journal Article

Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust

Jambuthenne, Dilani T., Riaz, Adnan, Athiyannan, Naveenkumar, Alahmad, Samir, Ng, Wei Ling, Ziems, Laura, Afanasenko, Olga, Periyannan, Sambasivam K., Aitken, Elizabeth, Platz, Greg, Godwin, Ian, Voss-Fels, Kai P., Dinglasan, Eric and Hickey, Lee T. (2022). Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 135 (4), 1355-1373. doi: 10.1007/s00122-022-04037-8

Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust

2022

Journal Article

Beyond the gene: epigenetic and cis-regulatory targets offer new breeding potential for the future

Crisp, Peter A., Bhatnagar-Mathur, Pooja, Hundleby, Penny, Godwin, Ian D., Waterhouse, Peter M. and Hickey, Lee T. (2022). Beyond the gene: epigenetic and cis-regulatory targets offer new breeding potential for the future. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 73, 88-94. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.07.008

Beyond the gene: epigenetic and cis-regulatory targets offer new breeding potential for the future

2022

Journal Article

Epigenome guided crop improvement: current progress and future opportunities

Zhang, Yan, Andrews, Haylie, Eglitis-Sexton, Judith, Godwin, Ian, Tanurdžić, Miloš and Crisp, Peter A. (2022). Epigenome guided crop improvement: current progress and future opportunities. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 6 (2), 141-151. doi: 10.1042/etls20210258

Epigenome guided crop improvement: current progress and future opportunities

2022

Book Chapter

Genome editing towards sorghum improvement

Wong, Albert Chern Sun, Lam, Yasmine, Hintzsche, Jessica, Restall, Jemma and Godwin, Ian D. (2022). Genome editing towards sorghum improvement. Genome Editing Technologies for Crop Improvement. (pp. 295-321) edited by Kaijun Zhao, Rukmini Mishra and Raj Kumar Joshi. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-0600-8_14

Genome editing towards sorghum improvement

2022

Journal Article

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for low temperature tolerance at the young microspore stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Australian breeding material

Proud, Christopher, Campbell, Bradley, Susanti, Zuziana, Fukai, Shu, Godwin, Ian, Ovenden, Ben, Snell, Peter and Mitchell, Jaquie (2022). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for low temperature tolerance at the young microspore stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Australian breeding material. Breeding Science, 72 (3) 21096, 238-247. doi: 10.1270/jsbbs.21096

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for low temperature tolerance at the young microspore stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Australian breeding material

2022

Conference Publication

The pursuit of excellence; some reflections after 50+ years of plant breeding at The University of Queensland (9771)

Lambrides, Christopher , Basford, Kaye , DeLacy, Ian , Cooper, Mark , Hardner, Craig , Godwin, Ian , Dieters, Mark and Arief, Vivi (2022). The pursuit of excellence; some reflections after 50+ years of plant breeding at The University of Queensland (9771). Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 9-11 May 2022.

The pursuit of excellence; some reflections after 50+ years of plant breeding at The University of Queensland (9771)

2021

Journal Article

Endogenous U6 promoters improve CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiencies in Sorghum bicolor and show potential for applications in other cereals

Massel, Karen, Lam, Yasmine, Hintzsche, Jessica, Lester, Nicholas, Botella, Jose R. and Godwin, Ian D. (2021). Endogenous U6 promoters improve CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiencies in Sorghum bicolor and show potential for applications in other cereals. Plant Cell Reports, 41 (2), 489-492. doi: 10.1007/s00299-021-02816-z

Endogenous U6 promoters improve CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiencies in Sorghum bicolor and show potential for applications in other cereals

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Enhancing drought tolerance and food security in Papua New Guinea: the potential of new taro germplasm
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    North Queensland cotton-grains-cattle farming systems
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Digging deeper to improve yield stability
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2027
    Reducing lodging risk in sorghum to increase grower confidence and profitability
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Evaluating Salinity Tolerance in Diverse Taro (Colocasia) Wild Relatives to enhance Food Security in the Pacific Islands
    Australia & Pacific Science Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2026
    Hy-Gain for Smallholders (2020-2025)
    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    Cereal blueprints for a water-limited world
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    The impact of climate on sorghum utilisation in poultry diet (AgriFutures project administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Traits of importance for aerobic 'DryRice' varieties for the southern Australian rice industry
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Development of sterile Leucaena to enhance red-meat production in new regions of Australia
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Better sorghum: larger grain with more protein
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Proving that PIN genes are associated with drought adaptation in sorghum: A targeted research project to enhance commercialisation opportunities
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Molecular characterization of complex biological polymers
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Sweet sorghum for high-value sugars
    Queensland-Chinese Academy of Sciences (Q-CAS) Collaborative Science Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Towards the Australian Pollen Allergen Partnership for better management of pollen exposure and respiratory health outcomes
    Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2022
    Developing a foundation for the long-term management of basal stem rot of oil palm in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Sorghum with more feed grain energy: bigger grain with higher starch content
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2014
    A preliminary investigation of basal stem rot in oil palm smallholdings in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Breaking the nexus: more biomass in cereal grain
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Accelerated crop development and environmental compliance of agricultural and food systems
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Integrating the genome with the abiotic stress tolerance phenome in sorghum
    Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Smarter fermentations through starter culture genomics
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2018
    Cold tolerant traits and QTLs for improved efficiency of rice breeding program
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Analysis of an engineered seed storage protein gene in transgenic sorghum
    UQ - Purdue University Early Career Mobility Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Environmental monitoring of subtropical grass pollen allergens that contribute to hay fever and asthma
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Phosphorus Use Efficiency (PUE) in Sugarcane Genotypes
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Trait based water efficiency improvement in rice
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    NextGen Sorghum: Genomic approaches to novel renewable bioproducts
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    The control of basal stem rot of oil palm caused by Ganoderma in Solomon Islands
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    eSorghum as a bio-fuel feedstock for arid environments
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Development of sophisticated genotyping methods
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Factors controlling higher-level starch structure
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Graft copolymers from starch and synthetic monomers
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Methods to improve the nutritional value of sorghum for broilers
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Sorghum protein in the manufacture of controlled-release delivery systems for bioactives
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    The wheat phenome atlas and phenome atlas toolbox
    International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Eco-Turf: Water and nutrient use efficient turfgrasses from Australian biodiversity
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Identification of the key attributes affecting starch content and availability in sorghum grain
    CRC for an Internationally Competitive Pork Industry
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    Combining Molecular Plant Physiology And Breeding To Improve Canola (Brassica napus) Performance In Dry Environments
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Adoption Study - Overcoming production constraints to sorghum in rain fed environments in India and Australia (CSI/1994/968)
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Nutriomics of Iron (fe) Sink-Source Relationship in Rice During Grain-filling
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Atrazine residues in Australian subtropical soils
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2008
    Manipulation of protein and starch quality in sorghum
    Grain Foods CRC Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2007
    Manipulation of Protein and Starch Quality in Sorghum
    Grain Foods CRC Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Travel Grant - DNA Fingerprinting Workshop A/P Ian Godwin, Dr E Mace
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Improving moisture stress tolerance of sunflower through enhanced transpiration efficiency
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Improving the digestibility of sorghum grain: Molecular and protein analysis of transgenic sorghum
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Travel grant - Staff at UQ to attend the 12th Australiasian Plant Breeding Conference, Perth, September 2002
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Travel Grant for Ian Godwin to attend 10th International Association for Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Conference, Florida, USA (23-28 June 2002)
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Travel Grant - Dr Izquierdo, Ms Gray, Mrs Williams, Mr Laidlaw, Mr Donohoe, Mr Parh, Mr Chigeza to attend the 4th Australian Sorghum Conference, Kooralbyn Valley
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2005
    Bioscience Australia Pty Ltd Project - School of Land and Food Science
    Bioscience Australia Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Travel Grant - Dr Ian Godwin to attend the American Society of Agronomy - Crop Science Society of America Annual Meeting
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Travel grant- Mr Jason Able to attend the 6th International Congress of Plant Molecular biology - Quebec June 2000
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2003
    Virus indexing and DNA fingerprinting for the international movement and conservation of taro gerplasm
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Attendance at the Plant and Animal Genome VI conference in San Diego, USA, January 1998.
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Travel Scheme for collaborative research by Dr I D Godwin at Instit of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Molecular analysis of a chloroplast genome rearrangement conferring dwarfism and cold terance in banana
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1999
    Genetic engineering of grain sorgham for improved pest resistance
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Ian Godwin is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Ian Godwin directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biofuel
  • Biomass
  • Biomaterials
  • Cereal quality
  • Crops - genetically modified
  • Crops - grain
  • Farming - GM crops
  • Farming - GM food
  • Food - genetically modified
  • Genetic engineering - plants
  • Genetically modified crops
  • Genetically modified food
  • Genetics - plant
  • Genetics - plants
  • GM crops
  • GM foods
  • Grain crops
  • Plant genetics
  • Plant molecular markers
  • Plants - genetic engineering
  • Sorghum
  • Turf grass

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