The importance of careers in agriculture, as highlighted by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, in her Australia Day address, has been echoed by a CSU academic and a graduate.

An innovative experimental winery at Charles Sturt University is set to enhance Australia’s reputation for producing a quality product from the fruit of the vine.

Sixty young analytical chemists from around Australia are presenting their research to industry leaders and peers at a conference hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre in Wagga Wagga this week.

CSU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ian Goulter, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon. Chris Evans, of funding of around $8 million to tackle the chronic shortages of tertiary educated agricultural professionals in Australia.

Hunter Valley winemaker and NSW wine industry award winner Phil Ryan described studying at Charles Sturt University in the late 1970s as an exciting period in the evolution of the Australian wine industry.

Leading inland higher education provider Charles Sturt University has specialist researchers available for comment on drought issues such as agricultural production and water use, access to services and impacts on families, regional businesses and communities.

A two day wine industry event on Monday 13 and Tuesday, 14 November at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus will bring together researchers, winemakers and representatives of the peak wine research and funding bodies. Together, they will discuss the future of winemaking and winegrowing in New South Wales.

One of CSU Winery’s sparkling wines has taken out the trophy for best sparkling in the prestigious 2009 NSW Wine Awards.

The Westpac and Charles Sturt University Agribusiness Index for the September 2007 quarter shows a downturn in agribusiness activity and confidence for regional NSW and northern Victoria.