Subterranean ecosystems, which exist underground, are known for being highly biodiverse – but also under-sampled and under-sequenced. Our Manager of Molecular Systematics, Dr Joel Huey, has recently contributed to a research paper which provides a roadmap for developing and curating barcode reference libraries for subterranean ecosystems.
Biologic’s Todd Erickson with client Jonathan Fisher from BHP with the Golden Gecko award
We’re excited to announce that a recent Biologic Seed project with BHP has won a Golden Gecko Award!
We are incredibly proud of this project and our team led by our Principal Restoration Ecologist and Biologic Seed Director Todd Erickson
For this project, we partnered with BHP as part of their Banjima Land Rehabilitation Partnership, which is a collaboration with the Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (BNTAC).
The project allowed us to explore new possibilities for restoration projects and provided opportunities for working with members of the Banjima trainee program in seed collection, processing and seed delivery in rehabilitation.
About our project
An ongoing challenge in any rehabilitation project is having enough quality seed available. For this project, our Biologic Seed led the technical delivery of a wild spinifex farm – or Seed Production Area (SPA) – at BHP’s Yandi mine site in the Pilbara. SPA methods are used around the world, but this is thought to be the first scaled spinifex SPA in the Pilbara.
After trialling a range of proprietary seed treatments and working with BHP to precision sow millions of seeds per hectare, we got hectares of thriving spinifex within 12 months. The first harvest suggests we can produce 13- to 26-fold more seeds than what it takes to establish the SPA usually. This project has become a live trial to test and analyse seed treatment and sowing techniques to support future rehabilitation work.
Learn more about the Yandi project
The Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence recognises and rewards leading practices, innovation, and excellence in environmental management within the resource sector — and this win is a fantastic acknowledgement of the team’s dedication, expertise, and innovative approach to environmental restoration. This prestigious award is facilitated by the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration.
We would like to congratulate everyone involved in this award-winning project and all of the finalists for the 2025 Golden Gecko Award for their commitment to environmental excellence and innovation.
