Shaping the future of research and innovation

17 Aug 2018

This week and every week, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) celebrates the science which takes DPI research to support farming, fishing and forestry businesses across the state.

DPI Research Excellence deputy director general, John Tracey, said National Science Week is a fitting time to talk about successes in cropping, genetics, fisheries management, biosecurity and biodiversity.

“This drought highlights the role science plays in developing crop improvements through identifying drought-resistant genes to naturally breed plants which deliver on yield and quality in our variable climate,” Dr Tracey said.

“Viand, a new rice variety for 2018 was bred to target high-value markets and offer growers up to 10 per cent water-use efficiency gains on existing varieties.
“DPI, in partnership with SunRice and AgriFutures Australia, bred the high-yielding, fast maturing, medium grain rice with a shorter growing season to deliver water saving advantages.”

Collaboration gives DPI strength and multiplies outcomes for primary industries.

The product of combined efforts from industry, farmers, scientists and government, a groundbreaking new Wild Dog Alert system is being developed to help protect livestock by sending real-time messages about wild dog presence directly to producers and land managers.

Led by the University of New England, DPI researchers have partnered with Australian Wool Innovation, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Department of Agriculture & Water Resources through the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions to deliver this new tool.

Wild Dog Alert is a solar-powered system with an in-built camera, recognition software and satellite communication, which detects wild dogs and sends an alert directly to landholders, who can take instant action to address issues, not days after wild dogs cause carnage.

Dr Tracey said DPI Fisheries and DPI Forestry are undertaking research which benefits communities across NSW.

“SMART drumline technology is helping manage risks of shark interactions with beach users, protecting people without harming sharks,” he said.

“DPI Forestry research has found evidence of up to 10 times the rate of koala occupancy than previously estimated in north-east NSW forests by recording their bellows to map koala populations."

Find more about DPI’s research: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/research-development