In today’s fast-evolving world of research and industry, precision matters more than ever. Biora - born from MineARC Systems' expertise in life-saving refuge chambers, delivers cutting-edge controlled environments that fuel breakthrough innovations across a wide range of sectors. From agriculture to biotechnology, and even mining. Whether growing resilient crops, pioneering medical research, or optimising resource extraction, Biora’s state-of-the-art solutions provide the reliability and precision needed to achieve exceptional outcomes by engineering and manufacturing custom design, portable controlled environments.
Biora controlled environments are more than just technology—they’re a platform for success, enabling researchers and industries to push boundaries and drive real-world impact with their tailor-made controlled environment solutions.
Established by MineARC Systems in 2017, Biora aims to offer advanced controlled environments for scientific and biotechnological research. The company launched its first major project in 2020, supplying a large walk-in controlled environment to an Australian university. With MineARC’s 25 years of expertise in engineering and manufacturing refuge chambers for the mining and petrochemical sectors, Biora's transition into biotechnology solutions was a natural progression. MineARC’s engineering capabilities and industry knowledge have uniquely positioned Biora to deliver reliable, custom-configured controlled environments for research and agriculture on a global scale.
Some of the noteworthy projects where Biora chambers have been used include:
1. Queensland University – Repurposing Research Facilities
Just prior to the COVID pandemic, the University of Queensland approached Biora with the need for a Tissue Culture Research Chamber. Biora’s solution was a portable walk-in chamber which mitigated the need for renovations and construction at the university premises. To further the university’s cutting-edge research into plant propagation, an advanced portable facility was engineered and manufactured by Biora. The chamber enabled researchers to precisely control environmental variables within the chamber - essential for growing diverse plant species. In later years, the same chamber was repurposed and reengineered to become a custom plant growth chamber at the same university. Thanks to the portable nature of the chamber and the in-house manufacturing and engineering capabilities of Biora, this transformation was extremely successful and saved the university downtime, as well as additional construction costs.
2. Curtin University – Empowering Cereal Crop Research with Lighting Upgrades
Biora’s partnership with Curtin University goes beyond simply providing equipment— it enables pioneering discoveries. Curtin had existing grow rooms that required better grow lights to allow Curtin’s Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM) to deliver high-impact research in cereal, oilseed and pulse crops. Biora was able to upgrade Curtin’s existing facilities with Heliospectra and Valoya LED grow lights. The Valoya BX120 AP67 lights were installed on multi-shelf units for rapid accelerated production of cereal and pulse crops. The Heliospectra MitraX lights were installed in single-shelf rooms to produce superior-quality plants for seed increases and experimental plants for disease inoculation experiments. The new lighting products enhanced energy savings and streamlined operational efficiencies, allowing CCDM research to lead to discoveries that improve the profitability and sustainability of Australian farming systems.
3. DPIRD – Heat-stress Solutions For Critical Crops
With the increasing threat of rising temperatures influencing grain production and quality, research projects on these topics have become more needed than ever. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developments used Biora's In-field Heat chambers in barley heat tolerance studies in 2020 and 2021. The Biora In-field Heat allowed heat treatments to be applied to field-grown barley plants at the desired developmental growing stage, meaning more control over the timing, intensity, and duration of heat treatment. The design of the Biora In-Field Heat Chamber allows for maximum ingress of natural light while controlling the temperature to the set point evenly in the chamber. Removable ends enable the chamber, riding on pneumatic tyres, to be wheeled by two people on and off research plots without damaging them. The chamber's height suits various crop types, including wheat, barley, canola and sorghum.
4. Little Green Pharma – Precision-Driven Cannabis Cultivation for Medical Advancements
Little Green Pharma is one of Western Australia's leading medicinal cannabis producers. In this collaboration, Biora was able to provide specialised controlled environments for the cultivation of high-quality medicinal psilocybin plants. These environments allowed precise regulation of temperature, humidity, light cycles and airflow ensuring optimal growing conditions while remaining ISO 7 and ISO 8 compliant. The project supported Little Green Pharma's goal of producing pharmaceutical-grade psilocybin for medical use, reinforcing Biora’s versatility in serving diverse biotechnology needs.
For more information on how Biora can support your research or operational needs with advanced controlled environments, contact us today to explore how we can collaborate to drive innovation and achieve your goals.
