Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri

What happens at Narrabri

The Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI) is owned by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI). Established in 1958, ACRI is located between Narrabri and Wee Waa in the centre of New South Wales' main cotton production areas. In 1972 CSIRO moved staff to ACRI from Canberra, Griffith and Kununurra to create a cotton research hub in partnership with the then NSW Department of Agriculture. Three successive cotton cooperative research centres (CRC) operated from the site from 1994 to 2012.

Research activities at the ACRI have played a key role in the development of cotton in New South Wales and Queensland. Scientists at ACRI are assisting the cotton industry to develop a sustainable future based on productivity and best practice natural resource, disease and pest management.

The Institute is located on the banks of the Namoi River. The site consists of 277 hectares of land with 183 hectares being irrigated. It includes glasshouses, laboratories, cotton gin, controlled environment growth rooms, insectaries, workshops and conference rooms. Both DPI and CSIRO employ over 100 permanent, temporary and casual staff which include a diverse mix of Researchers, technicians, farm operational and administrative support employees.