91成人

$16.7 million commitment to 91成人鈥檚 Agri Tech Precinct

From left to right: Professor Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships and Executive Director, Centre for Western Sydney; Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King; Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO; and Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman.

91成人 has welcomed an announcement by Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King, Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins, of a $16.7 million investment into the University鈥檚 Agri Tech Precinct.

Delivered under the Government鈥檚 Priority Community Infrastructure Program and jointly funded by the University, the approximately $30 million Agri Tech Precinct will be a world-leading hub of innovation, research, incubation, and production to advance sustainable and resilient food systems.

91成人 Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO said the precinct is set to become Australia鈥檚 first high-tech commercial, teaching and research greenhouse creating new jobs, attracting industry and driving agriculture innovation for western Sydney.

鈥91成人鈥檚 Agri Tech Precinct is a multi-million dollar investment in the future of sustainable agriculture production.

鈥淭he precinct will draw on the University鈥檚 expertise and research innovation ecosystem, with a focus on challenges faced by communities globally, to be advanced in genuine partnership with industry, government and community.鈥

Stage 1 of the precinct is expected to open to students in late 2025, generating 150 direct jobs during the construction phase of the project, and up to 240 jobs in day-to-day operations once open, creating much opportunity for those in the region.

鈥淥ffering exceptional work-integrated learning opportunities for students in agriculture and food production, it will create much-needed career pathways and a future jobs pipeline for Australia鈥檚 agricultural sector,鈥 said Professor Williams.

鈥淐ritically, the precinct will also create skilled jobs for Western Sydney and capitalise on the proximity to Sydney鈥檚 premier international airport at Badgery鈥檚 Creek 鈥 strengthening our opportunity to rapidly-export fresh, high-yield produce to the rest of the world.

鈥淥ur Hawkesbury campus has a long history of agricultural education and cutting-edge research. We are delighted this facility continues that proud tradition, cementing Western Sydney鈥檚 position as a world-leading hub for agricultural research and innovation.鈥

From left to right: Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO; Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King; Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman; and Distinguished Professor David Tissue, School of Science and Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said:

鈥淎griculture makes up around 13 per cent of Australia鈥檚 export economy and 55 per cent of its land mass.

鈥淲ith growing demand for sustainable, resilient food systems, the Agri Tech Precinct will help keep Australia at the forefront of innovation in the agriculture sector.

鈥淭his is a smart, long-term investment in both the economy of Western Sydney, and the future of agriculture across Australia.

鈥淥ur commitment to this project is another example of our investment in infrastructure that will deliver benefits for all Australians for generations.鈥

Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said:

鈥淭his is an important investment in the 91成人 Richmond campus.

鈥淭he Hawkesbury is the heart of peri-urban farming in NSW, with a rich tradition in food production and land management, and this initiative opens up opportunities for 21st Century agri-tech.

鈥淣ot only will the Agri Tech Precinct play a growing role in the future of agriculture in Australia, but it will create hundreds of exciting new jobs plus new higher education opportunities in the Hawkesbury and Western Sydney.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud to have this election commitment become a reality and look forward to seeing the results of the investment in the Richmond 91成人 campus over many years to come.鈥

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins said:

鈥淚nnovation is at the heart of growing the agriculture sector鈥檚 productivity. The new 91成人 Agri Tech Precinct will bring students, researchers, businesses and industry together to develop and use new technology and methods to continue Australian agriculture鈥檚 competitiveness and success, which is why our Government is backing it.

鈥淎griculture is increasingly drawing on technology and scientific advances to manage resource use, monitor production and target pests and diseases.

鈥淚 am excited by the prospects of bringing our best minds and technology together in the 91成人 Agri Tech Precinct. Collaboration can encourage innovation and attract investment and will be crucial to growing the jobs Australian agriculture needs into the future.鈥

Spanning approximately 50 hectares (delivered across two stages), the precinct will comprise a high-tech, industry-partnered greenhouse array and house state-of-the-art agriculture technology for teaching, research and commercial food production at scale.

The Agri Tech Precinct will be the focal point of a diverse ecosystem of collaboration and partnerships across the food supply chain, involving investors, agri-tech developers, knowledge partners and resource input providers.

Leveraging 91成人鈥檚 leading research and expertise in agriculture, food science and sustainability, the hub will benefit from co-location with the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment and Schools of Science and Engineering, Design and Built Environment.

91成人 has been named number one in the world for its social, economic and environmental impact in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings for the third year in a row.

For more information, please visit the webpage (opens in a new window).

ENDS

25 September 2024

Media Unit

Photo credit: Kyisoe Han

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