Animal focus
 |
| Hitting its straps ... horses will be studied at new centre |
The future profitability and security of the state’s multi-billion dollar animal industries has been boosted through a $33 million animal centre plan.
Construction of the Centre for Advanced Animal Science (CAAS), a regionally based, integrated R&D facility, has commenced at UQ Gatton.
CAAS is a joint project between the Queensland Department of Primary industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) and The University of Queensland (UQ). CAAS will boast world-class research facilities in the areas of animal growth, adaptation, welfare, health and vaccines. Stage 1 will be completed in Sepember 2007.
“These are key areas of strategic investment to ensure continued growth, diversification and protection of Queensland’s animal industries,” UQ’s Executive Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Professor Roger Swift, said. “CAAS will encourage increased national and international collaboration between scientists in the developed and developing worlds. “It will also strengthen the interaction between researchers and industry and ensure that research and development leads to rapid practical outcomes.”
Deputy Director-General of the DPI&F, Robert Setter, said CAAS would make a major contribution to the Queensland Government’s R&D Priorities in developing smart industries, safeguarding Queensland and its environment, and capitalising on the advantages offered by a tropical climate.
“It will have the potential to contribute tens of millions of dollars annually to the Queensland economy through the application of groundbreaking research and technological developments,” he said. “CAAS is part of a major redevelopment of research facilities in Queensland. It will be a centre of DPI&F research in the areas of animal production, health and welfare and biosecurity, and will link to the proposed development of an Ecoscience Precinct at Boggo Road and a Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains, Brisbane.”
Professor Swift said CAAS would provide advanced education and training for future generations of researchers and practitioners in the animal industries. “CAAS complements perfectly the existing animal infrastructure at the Gatton Campus, which includes a modern dairy, piggery, poultry unit, equine centre and wildlife enclosure,” Professor Swift said.
“Proximity to the Brisbane research facilities and an international airport, together with Queensland’s respected animal scientists ensure that CAAS will increase collaboration and visits by other leading animal researchers. There is no comparable centre elsewhere in Australia.”
Animal industries are vital to the economic, social and environmental wealth of Queensland, contributing more than $4 billion annually in gross production value and underpinned by an investment in people, infrastructure and resources in the vicinity of $25 billion. They provide major employment in rural and regional Queensland. Mr Setter said that CAAS had been made possible by funding from UQ, DPI&F and the Queensland Government Smart State Research Facilities Fund.
