Centre Origin Story - Establishment of CEI:AgER
In 2021 Dr Andrew Guzzomi founded the Centre for Engineering Innovation: Agriculture & Ecological Restoration (CEI:AgER) at UWA. CEI:AgER's establishment comes on the back of building strong relationships with innovative farmers and industry groups and sustained track record of solving interdisciplinary challenges facing the agricultural and environmental sectors. At CEI:AgER we leverage existing and build new interdisciplinary partnerships between UWA, industry, government, farmers and scientists across Australia and increasingly internationally. Using Western Australia’s unique agricultural and ecological systems as a proving ground, CEI:AgER endeavours are helping us tackle the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The timeline below shows key projects and events that led to CEI:AgER’s formation.
2021
CEI:AgER awarded $2M from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment to develop targeted tillage for row cropping systems.
2021
Dr Andrew Guzzomi establishes CEI:AgER within the School of Engineering with co-endorsement from the School of Agriculture & Environment.
2021
Australian Provisional Patents filed for two direct seeding devices.
2019
Engineers Dr Monte Masarei and Dr Andrew Guzzomi together with UWA School of Plant Biology and King’s Park Science scientists Dr Todd Erickson and Dr David Merritt invent and prototype two direct seeding devices for ecological restoration.
2019
Dr Andrew Guzzomi awarded WA Innovator of the Year (emerging category) for his work on the Weed Chipper.
2018
Dr Andrew Guzzomi wins both a Tall Poppy Award (Australian Institute of Policy and Science) and a 40Under40 Award for forging UWA’s agricultural engineering research strength.
2016
Dr Andrew Guzzomi awarded WA Innovator of the Year (emerging category) for his work on the Seed Flamer.
2016
Multidisciplinary team comprising engineers Dr Andrew Guzzomi and Dr Carlo Peressini, farmer/inventor Ray Harrington, weed scientist (USyd) Dr Michael Walsh and David Nowland Hydraulics technicians Allan Spurling and Karl Teune invent the first functional Weed Chipper prototype.
2014
Multidisciplinary team comprising engineers Mr Alan Ling (student) and Dr Andrew Guzzomi and UWA School of Plant Biology and King’s Park and Botanic Garden scientists Dr Todd Erickson, Dr David Merritt and Dr Kingsley Dixon, invent and prototype the Seed Flamer.
