CSIRO purchases new research farm

CSIRO has purchased 290 ha of land at Boorowa, NSW, for its agricultural research program.

The purchase of the property will see CSIRO continue its investment in agricultural sciences with the help of a purpose-designed research farm, according to Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane.

“Agricultural science and technologies which improve the competitiveness of Australian agribusinesses are an important part of CSIRO’s research,” Macfarlane said.

“The purchase of the new farm in Boorowa ensures CSIRO’s research will continue and will better enable CSIRO to develop and deploy the latest in sustainable farming science and technology into the site.”

According to CSIRO Agriculture Director Dr John Manners, “Establishing a new facility in a rural area allows us to take a greenfield approach to the site and our science.

“This can enable us to conduct research into very new ways of farming, including the application of digital farming technologies,” he said. “The new site is approximately 100 km from our current site, allowing our Canberra researchers to continue their field trials on the new site.”

The purchase of the Boorowa property comes after CSIRO’s announcement of a request to the National Capital Authority to include its Ginninderra property as an ‘Urban Area’ on the General Policy Plan for Metropolitan Canberra in the National Capital Plan draft amendment, to be released for consultation this month.

“The Ginninderra site has contributed to major progress in Australian science through the work of our programs in developing novel grains and sustainable and productive agricultural systems,” Dr Manners said.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has favourably described Boorowa as “one of Australia’s most significant areas for primary production”, while the Mayor of Boorowa Shire Council, Wendy Tuckerman, said the purchase of the land by CSIRO is “a big win for the region”.

“We hope that this purchase brings researchers, scientists and staff to the region and pays dividends for both CSIRO and the community,” Mayor Tuckerman said. “We look forward to working with CSIRO into the future for the best outcomes of the region and the country.”