Peter Kopittke

Biography

Peter Kopittke is Associate Professor at The University of Queensland. As a Soil Scientist, he is actively involved in the management and conservation of soil; one of the basic elements which sustain life. Whilst soil takes hundreds or thousands of years to form, it can be destroyed in a matter of years if not managed correctly. The management and conservation of the soil-environment is arguably the biggest challenge we face as we move into the future. We need new ideas to solve the world's problems. Whilst his research spans the areas of agricultural production, water chemistry, and waste disposal, much of Dr Kopittke's current research focuses on the toxicity of trace metals to plants. Indeed, aluminium (Al) toxicity is an important problem in acid soils which cover approximately 50% of Australia's agricultural land, costing Australian agriculture $1.5 billion per year in foregone production. Dr Kopittke is also involved in projects aiming to overcome nutritional constraints in agricultural production systems, with Australia heavily affected by soil zinc deficiency (a global-scale issue which limits crop production and food quality).

Research Interest

Plant and soil sciences