Food Ladder has announced a partnership with CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) to apply quantum artificial intelligence (AI) to improve food security and student wellbeing.
The four-year research project, funded through the CSIRO Industry PhD program, will be one of the first in Australia to use quantum machine learning in a non-quantum sector. It aims to generate evidence for how advanced technologies can solve complex optimisation challenges in education, health and food systems.
Experts from the three organisations will support a PhD student to explore how quantum AI computing can help:
- Optimise crop growth and food security by using computer modelling to test how greenhouses perform with limited water, energy and fertiliser, and identify new ways to maintain sustainable farming in a changing climate.
- Support student mental health by measuring the therapeutic benefits of greenhouse interaction through wearable devices that track stress indicators such as heart rate variability, skin conductance and movement.
“Food security and wellbeing are inseparable,” said Kelly McJannett, CEO and co-founder of Food Ladder.
“This partnership shows how the smartest minds and the most advanced technology can be applied in the service of students and communities.
“Together with CSIRO and UniSQ, we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – creating schools that not only feed and educate but also heal and inspire.”
The University of Southern Queensland will lead research into the therapeutic benefits of student interaction with plants.
“The mental health benefits of green spaces are well established. This project moves beyond awareness to measuring and optimising those effects,” said Dr Rajib Rana, professor of computer science at the University of Southern Queensland.
“By integrating advanced AI technology with real-world data from schools, we can better understand how programs like Food Ladder help nurture calm, focus and resilience in children facing disadvantage.”
Food Ladder’s impact in schools is already established. The not-for-profit aims to engage more than one million students and supplement 25 million meals annually. Its programs have been shown to lift attendance, improve literacy and numeracy, and create safe spaces for children experiencing distress.
Reports from schools show how Food Ladder’s greenhouses are becoming tools in suicide prevention programs, offering safe and restorative spaces for young people in crisis.
At Wellington Public School in western NSW, participation in the program has seen student attendance rise from 30 per cent to above 90 per cent, alongside improvements in literacy and numeracy. Teachers report that many students now identify Food Ladder as the main reason they come to school.
With food insecurity worsening – 733 million people face hunger and in Australia 94 per cent of children do not eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables (ABS & AIHW) – Food Ladder is dedicating itself to partnerships that can create scalable and sustainable solutions.
“This is one of Australia’s first applications of quantum AI beyond the quantum sector, and a credit to the partnership with Food Ladder and UniSQ,” said Dr Farina Riaz, scientist at CSIRO.
“We’re excited to create quantum-reinforced AI algorithms for resource-efficient hydroponics and evidence-based frameworks for integrating green space exposure into student wellbeing.”
“This collaboration is the first instance in Australia where a non-quantum industry, specifically the agriculture and education sectors, is actively applying quantum-reinforced AI algorithms.
“It also marks a step in connecting quantum technologies with real-world industries, helping build a healthier and more sustainable future for young Australians.”