Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute is the NSW Department of Primary Industries Centre of Excellence for the Environment and incorporates the Coastal Landscape Centre, a collabroation with Southern Cross University. The Wollongbar Institute conducts research, extension, education and regulatory activities that foster the development of sustainable primary industries across NSW.

The Institute works on issues of regional, state, national and international significance with an emphasis on environmental and coastal issues. It manages 283ha of agricultural land on the Alstonville Plateau as well as 191ha of land on the coastal floodplain.

Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute is located in the coastal subtropical region of northern NSW. Favourable climate and soils enable potentially high levels of agricultural productivity and biodiversity. The coastal floodplains of the major regional rivers are used intensively for sugar cane, soy beans, beef and dairy production. The floodplains also provide significant habitats for fisheries. The upper catchment areas are used for horticulture, forestry, beef production and national parks. The region has a rapidly growing population and there are high pressures to sub-divide and develop agricultural land for small farms and urban expansion.

The publication Primary Industries in the North Coast Region of NSW provides more information on the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and mining industries in this region.

The Institute is supported by an excellent library, IT and biometry services. It also has strong links with the NSW Centre for Tropical Horticulture which is located at Alstonville 6 km east of Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute on the Bruxner Highway.