Trans-Tasman livestock research partners ‘tie the knot’

The Agreement aims to extend the working relationship between the two Trans-Tasman animal bioscience agencies to involve more collaborative research projects.
 
The relationship has already generated some impressive results including the highly successful sequencing of the bovine genome that was completed last year in collaboration with several prestigious research organisations in North America and Europe.

CLI Chief Scientist, Dr Peter Willadsen, says collaboration is essential in order that both organisations can compete effectively in the international agricultural biotechnology arena.

“We are highly experienced in working on the major scientific challenges that confront animal industries around the globe and our unique partnership has given us competitive advantage and greatly strengthened our animal bioscience capability,” Dr Willadsen says.

“There is also much commonality in the livestock industry issues across the Tasman and this partnership will result in a more efficient use of government and industry R&D resources.” 

The success of several joint scientific workshops, technician exchanges, seminar presentations and joint promotional activities – at events like the Horizons in Livestock Sciences Conference and the New Zealand National Field Days – auger well for future collaborations, says AgResearch Chief Science Strategist, Dr Stephen Goldson.

 “It is logical that organisations such as ours should try to collaborate wherever possible,” he says.

“Combined R&D power has given us critical mass and global reach, making us an international force in transformational livestock research.

“As Australia is our closest neighbour and – with comparable pastoral production drivers – Australian farmers share many of the same issues as their counterparts in New Zealand, it makes sense to share information and avoid duplication of research activities,” Dr Goldson says.