Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson and Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, today announced the establishment of an Integrated Livestock Centre of Excellence, a collaboration between NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), CSIRO and University of New England (UNE).
“The Centre of Excellence expands on a partnership spanning nearly 40-years and reaffirms our joint commitment to the productivity and profitability of Australian primary producers and Australian red meat industries through delivering commercially applicable research and development,” said Minister Hodgkinson.
“The Centre will pursue these goals together in addition to Government, industry leaders, partner organisations, primary producers, private investors and other relevant stakeholders nationally and internationally.
“We are committed to working more closely together to obtain greater benefits from research and development whilst maintaining a very strong focus on practical, cost-effective outcomes for industry.”
Professor Annabel Duncan, Vice-Chancellor of UNE, said the establishment of the Centre reflects a substantial joint investment from all partners in the future of livestock research and development.
“All partners have made significant contributions to the competitiveness of the Australian Livestock Industry including developing Meat Standards Australia grading scheme, integrated programs for management of animal diseases and BREEDPLAN,” Professor Duncan said.
Dr John Manners, Director of CSIRO’s Agriculture Flagship, said the collaboration signals the Centre participants’ confidence in, and commitment to rural Australia and the livestock industry.
“Combining our expertise and experience will enhance our ability to pursue new investment opportunities and exploit research capabilities in genomics, next generation phenotyping, production systems and supply chains,” Dr Manners said.
Mr Marshall said he is delighted with the strengthening of the partnership, which underscores the importance of the livestock industry to the Northern Tablelands and NSW.
“This is a real feather in the cap for our region and due recognition of the value of the industry and the research already being undertaken by UNE, DPI and the various livestock breed association’s right here in the Northern Tablelands,” Mr Marshall said.
The Integrated Livestock Centre of Excellence will harness the joint expertise and experience of DPI, UNE and CSIRO to:
- Accelerate the exchange of research results to enable increased productivity, and profitability across the Australian Livestock Industries and the Australian economy generally;
- Extend and provide commercially relevant and applied research to established and emerging international livestock industries; and
- Develop and retain world-class researchers in livestock production science essential to Australia’s agricultural productivity and national growth
- Provide more value and capture of value across the value chain
- Build the innovation capability servicing livestock industry