Quantum leap to tackle food security and student wellbeing

Sydney, 30 September 2025: Food Ladder, a leader in combating food insecurity through innovative school-based greenhouse programs, has announced a landmark partnership with CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) to apply quantum artificial intelligence (AI) to improve both 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 industry, generating real- world evidence for how advanced technologies can solve complex optimisation challenges in education, health, and food systems.

Leading 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 to find 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.”

“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 significant step in connecting quantum technologies with real-world industries, helping build a healthier and more sustainable future for young Australians.”

Food Ladder’s impact in schools is already well-established. The not-for-profit is scaling rapidly, with a vision to engage more than one million students and supplement 25 million meals annually. Its programs have proven successful in lifting attendance, improving literacy and numeracy, and creating safe spaces for children experiencing distress.

Recent reports from schools highlight how Food Ladder’s greenhouses are becoming critical tools in suicide prevention programs, offering a safe and restorative space for young people in crisis.

At Wellington Public School in Western NSW for example, participation in the program has seen student attendance rates rise from 30 per cent to above 90 per cent, alongside significant improvements in literacy and numeracy. Teachers report that many students now identify Food Ladder as the main reason they come to school.

With the challenges of food insecurity worsening globally – 733 million people face hunger and in Australia 94 per cent of children don’t eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables (ABS & AIHW) – Food Ladder is demonstrating how innovative partnerships can create scalable, sustainable solutions.