Western Australia’s new agriculture research collaboration is gaining momentum, welcoming grains industry funding and a new participant to drive research and development to strengthen the State’s primary industries.
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan officially launched the Western Australian Agricultural Research Collaboration at an industry event in Perth today.
Edith Cowan University now joins other collaboration participants, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Murdoch University.
Backed by $25 million in State Government investment over the first three years, the initiative will attract additional funding from its participants and industry-based research and development corporations, to boost WA agricultural research.
This has been supported by a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) up front commitment of $10 million.
The collaboration is now working on the development of its first key programs, across the areas of northern agriculture, grains transformation and climate resilience.
There will also be opportunities for the next generation of early career leading scientists with industry-supported postgraduate positions.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The McGowan Government is committed to supporting our agricultural industries and the scientific research that underpins the great success and high productivity we see in Western Australia.
“This is an exciting WA initiative, that will invigorate our industries and ensure that new, young talented scientists can build meaningful agricultural careers here in WA.
“The collaboration will use State Government funding of $25 million to build larger WA-led research programs and position our State for more national research funding.
“It is fantastic to see this initial funding commitment from the GRDC, reinforcing that industry sees real value in this collaboration.
“It is not often that we see our universities, the State Government and our Federal research partners coming together in this way.”
