Dairy research and development that is beginning to fast track improvements in how farmers feed and breed their cattle will be showcased at the second annual AgriVictoria – State of Opportunity Summit in Melbourne on June 9.
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The Dairy Futures Co-operative Research Centre expects that in the next 10 years its innovations in plant breeding to improve pastures by $500 per hectare per year, while advances in using DNA for selecting superior genetics could improve herd productivity by at least $100 per cow per year.
Diary Futures CRC chief executive officer Dr David Nation believes these major advances in bioscience can be extended across the agricultural sector, resulting in a dramatic improvement in animals and plants that will drive future industry performance.
“The work we’re doing at the Dairy Futures CRC is an excellent case study in how investment in and adoption of R&D can stimulate change to support the growth of the entire agri-food sector,” Dr Nation said.
Industry leader Dr Bruce Kefford said the industry needed to grow if it was to keep up with global consumer demand for Australia’s quality produce. The challenge is how to grow profitably, he said.
“The Dairy Futures CRC developments are leading to exciting step changes that have the capacity to double the rate of genetic change in animals and significantly increase the value and performance of feed.
“This is truly world leading bioscience, developed right here in Victoria. It has revolutionised how plants and animals are bred and it will transform production systems to underpin agriculture’s ability to grow into the future.”
Dr Kefford and Dr Nation are both speakers in the AgriVictoria Summit’s ‘Industry Challenges and Opportunities in Bioscience for Australian Agriculture’ session, as well as Professor John Forster Biosciences Research and professor School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University.
To learn more about the panel and other speakers visit www.agrivictoria.com.au/speakers.html
This session is one of four on the AgriVictoria program focussing on innovation, investment opportunities and technology in the agriculture industry and which can be viewed at www.agrivictoria.com.au/program.html
Launched last year to deliver a premium, outcomes-focused agribusiness event for Victoria’s agricultural sector, AgriVictoria is the brainchild of a partnership between the Victorian Farmers Federation.
The summit will be followed by The Heart of Victoria gala dinner.
For more information about both events, go to www.agrivictoria.com.au/
