Premier Chris Minns and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty visited the nation’s largest agricultural field days at Gunnedah today to announce $60 million in additional funding for agricultural research.
The New England is a significant winner from the funding announced by the Premier at AgQuip, which will be invested to deliver vital upgrades to seven research facilities, and five emergency response sites across regional New South Wales.
Research facility upgrades will support the 1,600 staff undertaking research across the state in vital areas such as, animal nutrition, climate change, aquaculture breeding as well as biosecurity surveillance and responses. This includes Tamworth Agricultural Institute and Glen Innes Agricultural Research & Advisory station, which will receive upgrades to glass houses that support climate impact research in crop and pasture species.
Emergency response sites are regularly utilised as operation centres during times of emergency, including floods, bushfires and biosecurity outbreaks. Announced upgrades to these centres will improve the states capacity during these times of crisis, including the installation of solar batteries at Tamworth, and other centre, supporting the NSW Government’s work towards Net Zero, and reducing the centres operating costs.
“In this job I’ve been lucky to visit regional towns all across the state, from Lismore to Walgett what has stuck me is the incredible resilience of these communities,” Premier Minns said.
“One of the best investments we can make as a government is into the vital research which ensures this resilience can continue.”
“It’s often unsung work, but the research being done in these centres is what allows New South Wales to have a thriving agricultural sector, without which our state cannot succeed.”
Other investments include enhancements to animal welfare research at Tocal, Port Stephens, and Wagga Wagga, and funding for Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute and Orange Agricultural Institute to expand their insect storage and diagnostic testing facilities and other biosecurity research.
Future farming focus welcomed
Farmers have welcomed a $60 million boost in funding to drive cutting edge agricultural research in seven research facilities across the state.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the funds would support critical research currently underway into animal nutrition, biosecurity and climate change.
“We know farm businesses are exposed to a high level of risk and variability, and research and development is a key way we can build resilience, adapt to change and sustainably manage the land into the future,” said Mr Martin.
“Australian farmers pull on their boots every day and head into the paddock optimistic they can make a living and help feed and clothe people, and new technologies or techniques discovered through research and development are critical to supporting these efforts.”
With the funding set to benefit more than 1600 research and development staff in NSW, Mr Martin said the package would drive gains in farm productivity and efficiency to help feed the future.
“As the population grows around the world, we need to grow more food, so investments that improve farm productivity in a practical way are very welcome,” said Mr Martin.
“The possibilities are endless when it comes to agriculture, and with the support of governments to drive innovation, farmers can not only keep farming, but farm better than they ever have before.”
Research strategy to be renewed
The New South Wales Government has also initiated a renewal of the sates Primary Industries Research Strategy to ensure it reflects the needs and priorities of regional New South Wales.
The existing strategy has not been updated in over ten years.
Former NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane will Chair a panel of independent experts tasked with developing a renewed strategy which ensures New South Wales continues to deliver world class research now and into the future.
The panel will consult with stakeholders, experts and the community with a particular focus on developing a strategy which ensures research undertaken reflects industry, community and Government priorities and improves outcomes.
“For more than 130 years, NSW Government research has helped the sustainable growth of our agriculture farming, fisheries and forestry industries,” Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture said.
“We have invested in research infrastructure and activities to drive industry growth, the sustainable development of our natural resources, and to support innovation so that industry can manage the risks and take advantage of opportunities for the next century.”
An initial report to Government on the panels work is expected by the end of 2024.
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