Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Type Public
Established 1996
Chairman Dr Michael Vertigan AC
Chancellor Michael Field AC
Vice-Chancellor Peter Rathjen
Director Holger Meinke
Location Hobart, Launceston, Burnie, Elliot, Forth and Cressy, Tasmania, Australia Australia
Nickname TIA
Affiliations University of Tasmania
Website www.utas.edu.au/tia

The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is a research institute in Tasmania dedicated to research and development of sustainable agricultural industries. Founded in 1996, it is a collaborative effort of the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and the Tasmanian Government. TIA is headquartered in Hobart with additional facilities in Launceston, Burnie, Elliot, Forth and Cressy.

Funding

TIA receives funding from its joint venture partners (UTAS and the Tasmanian Government) as well as agricultural organisations in Tasmania and around the world, agricultural companies and other funding bodies.[1]

Structure

TIA employs around 160 scientists, technicians, farm hands and administrative staff across the state.[2] It is embedded within the School of Land and Food at the University of Tasmania, providing research opportunities for postgraduate candidates and postdoctoral fellows.[3] TIA has five Centres – Dairy, Extensive Agriculture, Food Safety, Perennial Horticulture and Vegetable. It's strategic direction is regularly reviewed. The institute hosts over 100 PhD candidates across the entire agriculture and food spectrum.[4]

Scope of research, development and extension

TIA is actively involved in all the major agricultural industries in Tasmania. These include dairy, sheep-meat and wool, cattle, broad-acre crops such as barley and wheat, vegetable production, wine-making [see Tasmanian wine] and grape growing, fruit and nuts, pyrethrum and poppies (for the production of pharmaceutical opioids). TIA has a close relationship with Australia's R&D funders such as Dairy Australia and DairyTas.[5][6] An example of TIA's work in the livestock industry is the Red Meat Targets program. The aims of the program are: "Providing industry-wide financial benchmarking of Tasmania's beef, wool and sheep-meat industries; helping identify the key underlying profit drivers for industries in Tasmania; and providing farmers with opportunities for comparison between enterprises, and within industry comparisons of individual businesses."[7]

Locations and facilities

TIAR (as it was known as then) was established in 1996 and today it has research and teaching facilities at Sandy Bay and New Town in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.[2] Its head office is located at the University of Tasmania's Sandy Bay campus in Hobart.[8] In addition, it has farm research facilities at Elliott, Forth and Cressy.[9]

References

  1. ↑ For example, see the list of funding bodies in the 2010 TIAR annual report.
  2. 1 2 "History of TIA", Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "About Us", Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Organisational Structure Diagram", Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ DairySmart program]
  7. ↑ Farmpoint
  8. ↑ "Contact Us", Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture Strategic Plan 2012–16, University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government. Retrieved 2 June 2013. p23.
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