New Era for Sheep Research Launched at UNE

August 24, 2007

The University of New England was the chosen venue this week for former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson to launch the next funding agreement for the new Sheep Industry Innovation Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).

Under the agreement, the new CRC will receive $35.5 million in cash from the Australian Government over seven years, with an additional $20.7 million in cash contributions from 20 leading research and industry organisations, including UNE. A further $54.7 million will be provided by participants through in-kind contribution of staff and resources.

“[The Sheep CRC] is important for the whole of regional Australia; it’s important for our export performance and frankly, it’s an important contribution towards feeding and clothing people globally,” Mr Anderson said.

Chairman of the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation Dr John Keniry said settlement of the funding agreements meant the new CRC would continue the development and implementation of research undertaken by the highly successful Australian Sheep Industry CRC.

“The new CRC will harness the best researchers to work closely with industry with the aim of dramatically increasing the productivity and profitability of Australia’s sheep industry and address the challenge of achieving rapid uptake of new technology in an industry normally cautious about embracing change,” Dr Keniry said. “It’s all about better sheep, better meat and better wool.”

Dr Keniry said the new body would focus on transforming the sheep industry as a whole and specifically target slow adoption rates for new technology as a barrier to productivity and quality.

“It is important to note that we are a sheep CRC,” he said. “We are not a wool CRC or a meat CRC. We are deliberately focused on the whole animal and aiming to optimise its performance.

“In the past, Australia’s sheep industry has often let itself down through slow adoption rates for new technology. Arguably, the gap between the science available to the industry and its application is as large now as it has ever been in our 200-year history. The new CRC is looking to change that dynamic through the application of the latest genetic technology to develop better sheep, better meat and better wool.”

The Sheep CRC has four research programs: transforming sheep and their management; next generation wool quality; next generation meat quality; and the Information Nucleus. The research programs are supported by two programs designed to deliver results to industry: education and training; and commercialisation and adoption.

Pictured are Professor Alan Pettigrew, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of the University of New England and former Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson.

Media Contact: For further information contact John Lamont from the Sheep CRC on 0408 737 450 or Alex Dunn from UNE on 6773 2779.

Posted by lcreedy at August 24, 2007 05:29 PM