Projected climate changes for the Namoi catchment by 2030 demonstrate the equivalent of moving a farm in a north-westerly direction.

In lay terms, Tamworth would have Gunnedah’s climate and Gunnedah would have Moree’s, says Professor Bob Martin, Director of the Primary Industries Innovation Centre (PIIC) in Armidale.

“In fact, modelling indicates that the moderate scenario for the Namoi catchment for 2030 is an increase in temperature of 1.5 degrees and an eight per cent decrease in rainfall,” Professor Martin said.

Professor Martin is widely acknowledged as an expert in farming systems research with more than 35 years experience building project teams in Australia and overseas.

A former weed scientist, he has vast experience in managing research groups such as the Weed Science Branch of the Western Australia Department of Agriculture and the Northern Farming Systems unit of NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

Now, he faces another challenge as the first full-time director of PIIC - a partnership between the NSW DPI and the University of New England (UNE).

There the major research focus is adaptation for climate change, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, and the development of technologies for biofuels derived from non-food crop feedstocks.

Professor Martin said researchers are developing crop, pasture and livestock technologies that capture carbon, reduce emissions and are adapted to climate change.

“It will be an enormous task to develop such strategies for the diverse farming systems across NSW,” he said.

PIIC unites the applied science and extension expertise of NSW DPI with the basic science and teaching capabilities of UNE to produce world-class research outcomes.

Its overall aim is to use the expertise of both organisations to develop solutions to major problems facing primary industries with state, national and international application.

Also in this edition

Farrer medallist calls for rational debate in Australia on climate change