- The Crisafulli Government has signed five-year Memorandum of Cooperation with the Californian Government, during the Premier’s Trade Mission to the United States.
- Partnership to drive collaboration on AgTech, biotechnology, research and innovation and agricultural productivity, as Queensland grows its primary industries to $30 billion by 2030.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering more jobs and better services through a stronger economy, with stronger trade ties to the United States.
The Crisafulli Government has secured a five-year agreement with the Californian Government to strengthen agricultural innovation and grow primary industries output in Queensland.
The five-year Memorandum of Cooperation will drive research and development of farming innovation, including for disaster and pest resilience, sharing the best research between the two states to boost production.
The agreement will be instrumental in Queensland achieving its goal of growing primary industries output to $30 billion annually by 2030.
Premier David Crisafulli met with Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis today in Sacramento as part of his US Trade Mission to sign the agreement, following a delegation of Californian officials and industry representatives visiting Queensland last week.
The five pillars of Queensland’s agreement with the world’s fifth largest economy, include:
- Research and innovation with joint research initiatives, institutional partnerships, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise.
- Commercialisation and Industry Engagement – innovation ecosystems, technology demonstration initiatives, and pathways to commercialisation.
- Trade, Investment and Market Development – business engagement, investment promotion, and initiatives that support market access and growth.
- Skills and Capability Development – student and researcher exchanges, workforce development initiatives, and leadership collaboration.
- Government Collaboration – policy dialogue, information sharing, and the exchange of best practices.
The agreement delivers a framework for Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries to work with the California Department of Food and Agriculture across AgTech, biotechnology, research and innovation, productivity, climate and water resilience, trade and investment.
Premier David Crisafulli said the partnership would create new opportunities for Queensland’s agriculture sector to share knowledge, technology and expertise with California.
“Queensland has a world-class agriculture sector and this is about ensuring our producers can access the newest innovation, research and technology the world has to offer,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“For too long our producers were left to spearhead their own innovation, without the support of government, and without access to the latest international research.
“This is about bringing the best ideas and applying them to a Queensland context and putting our producers in the box seat to lead the next phases of innovation.
“This agreement creates a pathway for greater cooperation in areas including AgTech, biotechnology, research and productivity – as well as for workers and researchers themselves.
“We know innovation is critical to the future of Queensland agriculture, particularly as our producers respond to changing conditions, workforce challenges and the need to keep improving productivity.
“We have an ambitious goal of growing our primary industries to $30 billion by 2030, and this agreement will help us get there.”
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said this agreement would help the sector grow to the next level.
“This is what we’ve needed for Primary Industries in Queensland for a long time and following last week’s delegation I’m confident this will deliver great results for our State,” Minister Perrett said.
“It is now up to the departments to work together to maximise the benefits for growers and producers in Queensland, with world-leading technology, research and innovation shared both ways.”
