Agriculture research
With more than one hundred years of continuous scientific research and as the State's largest provider of public sector research, the Science and Research Division of NSW DPI is well-placed to provide cutting-edge research to ensure the continued production of safe and healthy food, sustain a livelihood for NSW's primary producers and the communities they support, improve environmental outcomes, and, assist primary producers manage the challenges ahead.
Key research
Find out about the likely impacts of climate change on agriculture.
Primary industries are a major user of the developed water resources in NSW, and manage 76% of the land.
Key infrastructure
Primary Industries Science & Research investment is focused on key centres, which are strategically located across NSW and linked with the industries and communities that co-invest in their R&D.
Projects
NSW DPI undertakes projects aimed at increasing the profitability, sustainability and adaptability of the agricultural sector.
Partnerships and alliances
Our scientists develop linkages with stakeholders to identify and prioritise areas of research and develop partnerships with other research providers, e.g. universities, other government departments, the CSIRO and funding agencies.
Research units
NSW DPI scientists have been ranked in the top 1% of world research institutions in agricultural science, and plant and animal science. Their agricultural research is focussed in the following areas:
| Science and Research Branch | Research focus, projects and scientists |
| Productivity and Food Security |
Farming Systems (North) |
| Biosecurity Research |
Forest Health Research |
| Climate and Water Research |
Water in Primary Industries |
| Research Operations | Diagnostic and analytical services Biometricians Scientific collections |
| Science Strategy and Planning |
Examines investment and options to achieve sound management of the primary industries' R&D potfolio |
Latest agricultural science news
- 09 Feb 2012Good breeding reduces greenhouse burpsNSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) researchers are contributing to a project which aims to reduce agricultural greenhouse emissions by reducing the amount of methane belched by beef cattle.
- 09 Feb 2012Last call for research scholarship entries [PDF]
- 08 Feb 2012Scientist awarded fellowship of prestigious Royal Swedish AcademyConsulting scientist for NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), Dr Rod Mailer, has been awarded a fellowship by the prestigious Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry at a ceremony attended by the King and Queen of Sweden.
- 31 Jan 2012Research quantifies the viability of travelling irrigation systemsA study by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) has investigated the viability of adopting centre pivot and linear move (CPLM) irrigation systems to replace surface irrigation in the southern Riverina.
- 29 Nov 2011Native critters and plants plus for farmsA new study is exploring the complex relationship between the natural environment, primary industries and the native animals and plants which make farms and forests their homes, in an attempt to boost biodiversity across western NSW.
- 28 Nov 2011Broadleaf crop trial aims to improve grain production and profitabilityAn innovative project is underway in the wheat belt of southern NSW which aims to help farmers adopt broadleaf species in crop sequences to improve grain production and profitability.
- 23 Nov 2011Harvest gets underway at Yanco Managed Environment FacilityHarvesting has begun as part of a $1.6 million project aimed at improving crop yield and quality in drought prone environments, Director, Yanco Agricultural Institute, Dr Mark Stevens said today.