The McGowan Government today announced an additional $25 million as part of the 2022-23 State Budget to create a new Western Australian Agricultural Collaboration (WAAC) and spur the next generation of advances in the State's agriculture and food sector.
The WAAC will strengthen research, development and extension capabilities to help future-proof the sector and position the State for more national research funding.
The collaboration brings together the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of Western Australia, Curtin University and Murdoch University.
With the financial backing of the McGowan Government, the WAAC will help stimulate further investment for WA-based research and the agrifood sector.
The WAAC will harness and apply cutting-edge science and expertise to the State's unique challenges and opportunities - including managing our drying climate, developing new technology to enhance productivity and reducing carbon emissions.
The collaboration will build on the current research effort and get behind WA growers to adopt new agricultural technologies across grains, livestock and irrigated agriculture.
There will be a strong focus on providing opportunities for the next generation of leading scientists by supporting doctorate students, creating postgraduate positions and early career pathways for researchers.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"The WAAC delivers on our commitment to rebuilding Western Australia's agricultural research and development capabilities.
"It will bring together leading WA research institutions to define a new collective research approach to agriculture in WA to grow our research quality, capacity, careers and foster collaborations inside and outside of WA.
"Ongoing research and development is crucial to ensuring our agriculture and food sector can continue to deliver economic benefits and local jobs for Western Australians.
"A key focus will be to invest in the next generation of leading scientists through doctorates, postgraduate placements and early career opportunities for emerging scientists.
"WA agricultural research will now have a real opportunity to get back a fair share of grower funds and ensure research that is designed to meet the geographic and market conditions in WA."
