The Western Australian Government has unveiled $2.5 million in upgrades at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
According to the State Government, the improvements to four laboratories at the agricultural research facility will help expand irrigated agriculture and beef production across the Kimberley and Pilbara.
The upgraded laboratories will facilitate horticulture cropping systems, cotton, grain, and fodder production research.
“This investment by the Cook Government will help our tropical agriculture industries diversify and explore new crop opportunities, while lowering business risks,” Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said.
“These new facilities are essential to grow and protect our thriving northern agriculture industries,” Minister Jarvis stated.
The redevelopment includes a versatile seed cleaning and processing facility, humidity-controlled cool room, general purpose laboratory, and soil and plant material drying area.
The State Government noted that the Kununurra research facility has been critical to developing Western Australia’s northern agriculture industry for 77 years.
Over 20 collaborative research projects are underway at the site, involving various crops such as hemp, plantago, mango, safflower, cassava, and cotton.
The facility also houses the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration’s Cropping Enabled Cattle project, which explores north-north cattle feed systems.
The Ord River Irrigation Area’s agriculture production, primarily derived from irrigated crops and sandalwood, contributes $230 million annually to the State’s economy.
“The innovative research at the Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture will boost confidence for local growers to pursue new crop and market opportunities,” Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said.
“The upgraded facilities will attract more quality research and scientists to the region, while also creating employment avenues for the community,” D’Anna added.
