La Trobe University has briefed government ministers and critical agricultural science stakeholders today on its newly announced Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food (LISAF).
LISAF Director Professor Tony Bacic was joined in Canberra by La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO to address the relevance of the new institute in securing Australia’s future food security and the competitiveness of the Australian farming sector.
“The new La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food sits within our world-class Research and Innovation Precinct, a core component of our University City of the Future, and connects closely with agriculture, food and nutrition infrastructure and expertise – and with exceptional industry links across the wider agriculture, food and health and wellness sectors,” Professor Dewar said.
He noted that LISAF is a paddock-to-gut project supported by substantial research collaborations between La Trobe and industry.
According to Professor Bacic, LISAF’s programs seek to provide consumers with high-quality food and plant-based medicines, as well as actual competitive advantages for industry, and climate resilience and value addition to agricultural outputs for the country.
“At a time when Australia and the world face real issues of food insecurity, a world-class centre devoted to improving the quality, nutritional value and climate resilience of our global agricultural system has never been more needed; LISAF will be at the forefront of that,” Professor Bacic stated.
LISAF will comprise five research areas: farming systems – soils and agronomy; protected cropping, medicinal agriculture and horticulture; fit-for-purpose seeds; food, nutrition and health; and food business and digital agriculture.
La Trobe University said each research area is supported through at least one major externally funded Centre, Hub, Collaborative Research Centre, Centre of Excellence or similar.
