Agribio, Centre for AgriBioscience
AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, was officially opened this week by Premier Dr Denis Napthine. AgriBio is a A$288 million joint venture of the Victorian Government, through its Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and La Trobe University (La Trobe) and is situated on the campus of the university at Bundoora. AgriBio was constructed and is operating under the Partnerships Victoria policy as a public-private partnership with the Plenary Research consortium.
Professor German Spangenberg (Director AgriBio, DPI), The Hon Peter Walsh (Minister for Agriculture and Food Security), Adrienne Clarke AC (Chancellor, La Trobe University), Mr John O’Rourke (Principal, Plenary Group), Dr Denis Napthine (Premier of Victoria), Mr David Hodgett (Minister for Major Projects), Professor John Dewar (Vice Chancellor, La Trobe University)
Premier Napthine was joined by Minister Peter Walsh, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Minister David Hodgett, Minister for Major Projects, Vice Chancellor of La Trobe, John Dewar and co-Directors of AgriBio Professor German Spangenberg (DPI) and Professor Terry Spithill (La Trobe).
AgriBio brings together over 400 scientists who are leaders in their field in Australia’s only integrated systems biology agricultural biosciences research centre.
The Victorian Government has set a productivity growth target to double the state’s food and fibre production by the year 2030. Science at AgriBio will contribute to the target by providing the necessary innovation for farmers and food producers. Major science programs in AgriBio include plant and animal bioscience and biosecurity, which will also expand postgraduate education opportunities for La Trobe.
AgriBio is protecting Victoria’s A$10.3 billion agricultural sector through cutting-edge research and development. Leading genetic platform technologies are applied to achieve step change improvements in productivity. New approaches to plant and animal disease will enhance biosecurity preparedness, rapid detection and response to outbreaks.
AgriBio is an impressive building, equipped to meet the needs of DPI and La Trobe researchers now and in the future. Covering over 30,000 m2 (322,917 ft2) with PC2/QC2 and PC3/QC3 containment laboratories and glasshouses, AgriBio also has 78 controlled environment and controlled atmosphere rooms, and a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility. Working on the principle that science is progressive and ever-evolving, AgriBio’s masterplan includes a large commercial opportunity space and 3900m2 (41,979 ft2) of expansion space for future needs.
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Prof German Spandenberg
- Executive Director of the Biosciences Research Division of DPI Victoria; Professor, Plant Genetics & Genomics at La Trobe University; Director AgriBio (DPI) and Chairman of the Victorian AgriBiosciences Centre.
– Chief Scientist of the Dairy Futures Cooperative Research Centre; Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the agricultural biotechnology company Phytogene Pty Ltd.
