ARMIDALE will share in almost $8 million of state funding for research and development in agriculture to bolster on-farm productivity and help protect the $15 billion sector.
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The investment, announced by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair on Thursday, is part of a $50 million roll-out by the state government into the state’s primary industries research stations.
Armidale will be involved in a $7.8 million investment for world-leading genome technology to double productivity gains for plant and livestock industries with Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and Menangle.
Mr Perrottet said this investment underpins the future growth and sustainability of the state’s primary industries which, given the current drought conditions, could not come at a more important time.
“Our primary industries sector sustains communities across rural and regional NSW and the industry directly supports almost 80,000 jobs and a further 75,000 indirect manufacturing jobs,” Mr Perrottet said.
“From one end of NSW to the other, the state’s 26,000 farms and our rural and regional communities will benefit from these state-of-the-art upgrades.”
“This investment recognises the key role of NSW primary industries in driving the state’s economy.
“The sector has grown by more than 32 per cent over the past four years and is now worth more than $15 billion.”
Mr Blair said this Budget commitment into research and development capability is critical for NSW to remain competitive with international markets.
“These upgrades to the state's research stations will cement NSW as Australia’s leader in agriculture, fisheries and biosecurity research,” Mr Blair said.
“We are sending a clear signal to our farmers and the farming sector, who are enduring a cold, dry winter, that we are committed to seeing these times through and continuing the sector’s growth.
“This will deliver a new generation of scientific breakthroughs like drought-tolerant crop varieties, data-driven on-farm decision making, fast-tracked genetic improvements in beef and lamb, and revolutionary biological control of pests.
“New glasshouses, exotic disease diagnostic instruments, networks of on-farm sensor and data technology across DPI institutes, aquaculture and fish breeding research material and plant pathology facilities are all included.
“This investment will ensure that we look after our farmers not just now, but well into the future and for many generations to come.”
The NSW state budget will be handed down on Tuesday, June 19.
