New partnership to benefit rural communities

A new partnership agreement between the State Government and two research and educational organisations will create new opportunities for rural communities, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said today.

At an official ceremony to announce a new agreement between CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, The University of Queensland and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F), Mr Palaszczuk said the agreement would support the Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation – Queensland (CRRI-Q) to explore initiatives for further economic development.

“For the first time, the partnership will draw on a range of skills and talents across the three parties, linking sustainable rural development, Smart State thinking and innovation,” the Minister said.

The CRRI-Q is part of UQ’s Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) based at the University’s Gatton campus and has been a partnership between DPI&F and UQ since January 2003. CRRI-Q works with communities to explore modern strategies for building resilience and sustainable livelihoods in rural and regional Australia.

Mr Palaszczuk said CRRI-Q projects such as Reading Country and Food and Fibre Innovations connecting rural and urban Australians would contribute to fostering better understanding between urban and rural communities.

CSIRO’s Executive Chair Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Steve Morton, said CSIRO was focused on assisting rural and regional Australians build their own capacity for innovation and foster new ideas for community development outside big cities. The three parties working together is a great opportunity to make this happen.

Dr Morton said that while DPI&F and UQ have had a long and close relationship, this is the first time that CSIRO has joined them on an initiative such as the CRRI-Q.

The signing of a “Deed of Novation and Variation,” as part of the official ceremony, endorsed the new partnership between the CSIRO, DPI&F and UQ.

Professor Roger Swift, NRAVS’ Executive Dean, said CRRI-Q would continue offering the highly acclaimed postgraduate programs of its predecessor the UQ Gatton-based Rural Extension Centre, such as the postgraduate program in rural systems management, but now had a broader role.

“CSIRO’s inclusion in CRRI-Q will complement and build on the Centre’s existing and already significant learning and research base and is a move we at UQ welcome,” Professor Swift said.

In addition to the announcement, the Minister launched the new corporate plan, which will guide the work of the Centre for Rural and Regional Innovation Queensland.

For more information, contact Brad Henderson at UQ Gatton on (07) 5460 1229 or 0409.265.587 or Sue Tierney (Minister’s Office) 3239 3007 or 0408 180 152