Food and agriculture set to benefit from new Northern Australia CRC

Headquartered in Townsville, the Developing Northern Australian Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) will direct at least $150 million into commercialising research into food, agriculture and tropical health. It will build on existing research, expertise and networks to identify areas where collaborative research can deliver real-world outcomes that will benefit industries in the nation’s north.

Christopher Pyne, the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, said that extensive consultations over the last four months with industry, research and government stakeholders had also identified the key areas of research for the CRC.

“The CRC will fund research to support the development of technologies and automation for agriculture and aquaculture aimed at addressing challenges unique to the north,” Minister Pyne said.

“It will also focus on improving human health and models of care in the tropics, and identifying the potential for exports and value chain support and development.”

Josh Frydenberg, the Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia, said it was important the CRC focused on areas where the north had particular strength.

“With Asia’s burgeoning middle class on its doorstep, significant opportunities exist to commercialise research and develop and establish new industries in these fields,” Minister Frydenberg said.

He emphasised that funding for the CRC would not be restricted to the CRC’s headquarters, but would be used to support industry-led collaborative research projects across the region.

The Minister for Northern Australia, Matthew Canavan, said the CRC would form a consortium of partners from industry, the research community, government jurisdictions and international organisations.

“The CRC will also work closely with the Industry Growth Centres, sharing knowledge, experience and resources to improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of northern Australia’s industries,” Minister Canavan said.