A $2 million key research facility that will enhance the delivery of grains research across southern New South Wales was officially opened by NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Director General Scott Hansen and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Managing Director Nigel Hart this week.

The new Wagga Wagga Agricultural Research Facility (WWARF), which is centrally located within the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, was an investment developed as part of the Grains Agronomy and Pathology Partnership (GAPP), between GRDC and NSW DPI.

NSW DPI Director General, Scott Hansen says the modern facility was crucial to the research and development associated with plant breeding, soil science and crop nutrition.

“This new world class facility will improve our efficiencies and increase our capacity to conduct valuable research and development that will support the grains industry and our primary producers into the future,” Mr Hansen says.

“The new research facility consists of innovative light and temperature-controlled growth rooms, a biosecurity chamber, advanced cold storage solutions, pulse and cereal preparation stations, technical facilities and laboratories.

“This infrastructure investment is a necessary expansion of DPI’s research and development portfolio, to innovate, encourage scientific interest and secure productivity and profitability.”

GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart says investment in the WWARF was critical to ensure researchers had the infrastructure and technology to deliver high quality research to support Australian grain growers.

“We have some of the best researchers and technicians in the world working here and to continue to attract and retain these quality specialists we need to have the best infrastructure and equipment,” Mr Hart says.

“GRDC invests in infrastructure to ensure our research community has every opportunity to drive outcomes that deliver genuine on-farm returns for grain growers.

“This facility in Wagga Wagga will improve protection of valuable germplasm and increase ability to process a greater number of samples. The state-of-the-art technology will also mean improved accuracy and reliability of data and the faster delivery of research results.”

GRDC invested $1 million into the WWARF to support capacity building for the Australian grains research sector. The NSW Government also invested $1 million as part of its $100 million commitment to invest in research infrastructure across NSW to support the state’s world class food and fibre industries.