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Bigger will definitely be better for more than 3000 students who plant sunflowers on Tuesday (23 February) in the .

Students from more than 90 schools in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia are expected to compete in this year’s competition.

The aim is to grow the largest and heaviest sunflowers and beat the 2014 record of 4.45kilograms, set by  Brisbane.

Back to back winners from Downlands College in the 2012-2013 Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Sunflower Competition

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­’s Sunflower Competition, now in its 17th year, promotes the science behind agronomy and horticulture.

The competition is an interactive learning opportunity to encourage a new generation of plant scientists to uphold Australia’s position at the forefront of agricultural production.

Teachers use the competition to deliver the science curriculum in a plant-based context.

About 300 students and teachers will attend the official weigh-in day on 17 May at .

Students will compete for prizes, hear from industry experts and scientists and participate in hands-on science activities.

Schools in remote and regional areas who cannot attend the weigh-in day are encouraged to enter the Communicating Science category of the competition for a chance to win prizes.

The competition is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, The Australian Sunflower Association (ASA), Pacific Seeds, AgForce, Nuseed, Queensland Agriculture Teachers' Association (QATA) and the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Gatton Past Students Association (Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­GPSA).

Media: Karli Kollegger, k.kollegger@uq.edu.au, +61 (7) 5460 1279 or 0488 780 229.