Plans for a brand new $26 million agricultural hub in northern Tasmania, designed to enhance the sector through research and education infrastructure, have been revealed today.
The new development, unveiled by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture – a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government – will see a high-tech glasshouse, research facility and crop testing areas built at UTAS’s Newnham Tasmanian Agricultural Precinct in two stages next year.
TIA Director Professor Michael Rose said the new facilities represent a “major investment” in understanding future farming challenges and training the next generation of farmers.
“In a changing climate, agriculture sits at the heart of some of the biggest challenges we face in Tasmania and around the world,” Professor Rose said.
The 1,100-square-metre glasshouse will include advanced biosecurity measures and modern technology to control temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels.
The 1,300-square-metre research facility will support tasks like cleaning and storing seeds, processing plants and soil and storing food at controlled temperatures.
“In a setting where we can create and control environmental conditions, this cutting-edge glasshouse will allow us to conduct research Tasmanian farmers need from developing new species of crops to testing pest and disease management under future climate scenarios,” Rose said.
“It’s here that we will be working on new methods of increasing tolerance to waterlogging for our crops, and developing new, climate change resistant pasture species.”
“These types of projects make a difference in our shops – more resilient crops means fewer price spikes as a result of major weather events.”
A development application will be submitted to the City of Launceston in the coming weeks.
