CSIRO consolidates its agricultural research

According to CSIRO Livestock industries’ Chief, Dr Alan Bell, this will necessitate the closure of the Rockhampton’s JM Rendel Laboratory and the transfer of its cattle research programs to build critical mass where there is an opportunity to share infrastructure with collaborators. 

“Modern natural resource management requires a whole-of-system approach to gain sustainable solutions to the challenges of balancing the needs of rural industry with environmental considerations,” Dr Bell said.

In recognition of the critical role that livestock play in the landscape of northern Australia, CSIRO has decided to integrate some of its Rockhampton-based animal science teams with their CSIRO colleagues based at the Davies Laboratory in Townsville.

The remaining science teams in Rockhampton whose work is focused on animal genetics and genomics will be moved to CSIRO Livestock Industries’ Brisbane site to strengthen CSIRO’s critical mass in this world class research. 

However, CSIRO will continue its 55-year long commitment to providing research solutions to Central Queensland’s cattle industry by continuing with its current research programs at the Belmont Research Station. CSIRO will continue to lease the 3 800 ha property located 32 km north of Rockhampton for field experimentation.  

“CSIRO has worked hard to address the viability issues that have hung over the Rendel Laboratory, particularly since one half of the scientific labs and associated office space were mothballed several years ago,” Dr Bell said.

“Unfortunately our strategies to attract new co-investment in CSIRO livestock science or to attract co-location from other Central Queensland research institutions have not been successful and it no longer was possible for CSIRO to continue supporting a non-sustainable site.”

Dr Bell said that CSIRO remained committed to its current research programs in support of the northern beef industry and any cost savings from the consolidation of research effort would be reinvested in CSIRO science.

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