The “world-leading” $15.2 million International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture officially opened in Narrabri, NSW last week.
Featuring digital, genetic, agronomy and soil laboratories, plus teaching and industry briefing spaces, the research centre has been delivered by the NSW government in partnership with the University of Sydney, Australian Grain Technologies (AGT), Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and NSW Wheat Research Foundation.
Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty says the centre will enable Australian industry to grow more resilient crops essential for feeding future Australians.
“The International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture in Narrabri cements NSW’s reputation as a regional, national and international agricultural research hub for groundbreaking grain research,” she says.
“Using the hi-tech facilities, researchers will focus on adapting crops for drought-tolerance, providing food security solutions and boosting the productivity of farmers.
“This world-class facility also enhances collaboration between researchers and growers to progress our knowledge and practical implementation of robotic farming and data-driven agriculture.”
The International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture has been funded by the NSW government ($10.5 million), University of Sydney ($1.7 million), AGT ($1.5 million), GRDC ($1 million), and NSW Wheat Research Foundation ($500,000).
