Research To Be 3x Faster At Cowra DPI Station

Department of Primary Industries Research Officer Matt Newham says research of crop production will happen three times faster at the Cowra Agricultural and Advisory Research Station, after its new, state of the art greenhouse was unveiled last Tuesday.

Minister of Agriculture Adam Marshall, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and Cowra Mayor Bill West officially opened the $2.1 million glasshouse precinct, which features advanced climate control technology that will allow researchers to analyse a variety of different types of crops in different climates. Wheat, tropical grass pastures and perennial legumes, which includes lucerne and other similar grains, will all be analysed in the greenhouse.

Mr Newham said the greenhouse was built to advance the study of these crops in varying climates.

“We’ll be able to study up to six generations of plants in different climates at a time, whereas previously we could only study two generations,” he said.

“This means we can complete this work at three times the speed of what we could previously.”

Mayor West, a farmer himself, said the new facility would be Cowra’s best kept secret.

“Now is the time to build on agriculture in communities like Cowra,” he said.

“As a farmer I know this research will be very important for sustainability in farming.”

Minister Marshall said the new facility would advance the entire state’s research and development capabilities, enabling new science to help increase the productivity and profitability of the agriculture sector.

“We know our farmers are the world’s best, and by investing in research programs here in Cowra, we give them a platform to become even better,” Mr Marshall said.

• Topics:
• Farming
• Agriculture / Farming