A multi-disciplinary approach to organic agriculture will see Southern Cross University, Lismore, at the centre of an expanding opportunity within a $1.2b industry.
The university has begun a world-wide search for a centre director, preferably with a science background, with expressions of interest closing at the end of January.
There is already $2m in funding from DPI over five years which will be matched ‘in cash and kind’ from the university.
Compared to the rest of the world Australia lags behind in organic agriculture research, spending $5m compared to the equivalent of $180m in Europe – and yet this country’s revenue from the sector is $1.2b from 17 million hectares under cultivation (2013 figures).
Southern Cross already has a global reputation in plant genetics research but Vice Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said other faculties such as law and nutrition would advance the fields of organic standards – and protect them in the market.
“I am confident we will bring a lot of talent to this project,” he said. “No faculty wouldn’t have an interest.”
Prof Shoemaker said it was vital that the centre develop links with industry, rather than expect long-term government funding, and it would be looking to develop working standards in the organic realm.
Already the university has a working relationship with local dairy co-operative Norco.
“We hope to form alliances for research – a bit like a co-operative,” he said.
“This is not all settled science,” he said. “There is work to be done on yield, on making crops more nutrient dense. “We want to promote organics in an evidence based way. We want to add rigour to what we do.”