UQ Gatton campus showcase for state MPs

23 Aug 2021

SDRIC tour

The University of Queensland’s Gatton campus was pleased to host a visit from members of Queensland’s State Development and Regional Industries Committee (SDRIC) in late July.

Select Queensland parliamentarians were treated to in-field presentations by researchers from UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, School of Veterinary Science and the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation.

MPs were bowled away with the significant research impact occurring on the campus and its development since previous delegations had visited.

Visiting the campus from the SDRIC were:

  • Mr Christopher Whiting MP (Chair), Member for Bancroft
  • Mr Jim McDonald MP (Deputy Chair), Member for Lockyer
  • Mr Jim Madden MP, Member for Ipswich West
  • Mr Tom Smith MP, Member for Bundaberg
  • Stephanie Galbraith, Committee Secretary
  • Rachelle Stacey, Assistant Committee Secretary

The Committee seeks to manage – from a Queensland perspective – state development, infrastructure, manufacturing, water, local government and planning, agricultural industry development, fisheries and the broader development of rural communities.

SDRIC tourThe tour of the Gatton Campus showcased the Crop Research Unit project trials, the Gilbert fields, and the Queensland Animal Science Precinct, all of which play a key part in UQ research into animal, agriculture, and food security research.

Members of the SDRIC were also treated to presentations from Executive Dean of the UQ Faculty of Science, Professor Melissa Brown, and UQ’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Head of School, Professor Neal Menzies, and Professor Matthew Morell, Director of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI).

Participating academics did an incredible job at conveying the importance and impact of their research, with briefings offered by Professor Daniel Rodriguez, Dr Melina Miles, Dr Joe Eyre, Associate Professor Rao RCN Rachaputi, Associate Professor Lee Hickey, Professor Scott Chapman, Professor Michael Bell, Professor Ben Hayes, Ms Milou Dekkers and Dr Brandon Fraser.

Future infrastructure and partnerships were also hot topics – with participants offered the chance to learn more about the new piggery, the new St Lucia plant growth facility, upcoming partnerships with Agrifood Connect (the new agtech and logistics hub in Toowoomba) and numerous industry partnerships in the Lockyer Valley.

The Faculty of Science would like to acknowledge and thank SDIRC members for taking interest in the cutting-edge research UQ researchers are achieving at Gatton and beyond.

The work occurring on campus is playing a critical role in ensuring future food security, better crop management, animal research, and so much more.

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