The Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute (WWAI) is the Industry & Investment NSW Centre of Excellence for Southern Farming Systems and Viticulture.

WWAI is located on 900 ha 10km north west of Wagga Wagga on the western side of the great Diving Range where  the slopes merge into the plains.  It is on the edge of the sheep-wheat mixed farming belt and in the midst of a productive horticultural region.  

Mixed farming in southern NSW consists of approximately 60% winter cropping (mainly wheat) and 40% livestock (mainly sheep). As an industry it employs approx 8,000 people, and produces around 15% of the national agricultural output with a farm gate value of approximately $5.2 billion.

The NSW wine grape industry constitutes about 20% of the horticultural activities in the region, employs approximately 1,200 people, and produces about 25% of the national output with a farm gate value of approximately $270 million.

As such, WWAI through industry-driven research, extension and regulatory services aims to improve the profitability and competitiveness of mixed farming systems in southern NSW and the State's expanding viticulture industry in ways that protect the natural resource base and assist farmers adapt to climate change and variability.

WWAI conducts major programs in Farming Practices and Agronomy; Crop Germplasm Development and Variety Evaluation; Crop Protection; Pastures; Beef Production Animal Nutrition; Weed Science; Entomology; Vine Management; Natural Resource Management; Biometrics and Informatics; Agricultural Economics; Cereal Science and Oil Science.

WWAI is also a key partner in three major alliances:  the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation; the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre; and the NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre.