Gerald Lynch
Victorian agriculture researchers now have greater capacity to explore medicinal innovations and improved food production following the opening of new facilities at Agribio research centre at La Trobe University.
Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney opened new research glasshouses at La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus following a $10 million state government investment to expand resources for Victorian agriculture and food research.
“By supporting Victoria’s universities, we can tap into the incredible knowledge and skills of our researchers to build a more innovative and responsive agriculture industry that meets the needs of the next generation of Victorians,” she said.
La Trobe invested $3.5 million of the funding for the glasshouses through the Agriculture Production Platform project.
Agriculture Minister and Kalkallo MP Ros Spence said investments like this have crucial long-lasting benefits for the agricultural industry.
“Research and innovation play a key role in ensuring Victoria’s agriculture industry remains productive, resilient and equipped with the best technology to solve real-world problems,” she said.
The facility supports scientists to develop agriculture innovations, drought resistant plants, crops that need less pesticides and uses high-tech visual apparatus to detect and link plants’ physical characteristics with genes.
The remaining $6.5 million will fund the Applied Industry Agriculture Platforms project to develop dedicated plant phenomics growth chambers with digital access for regional industry, researchers and students.
The project, delivered through the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund, supports 120 jobs related to new and expanded research, industry infrastructure and partnerships.
