• Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment tours Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga
• Delegates tour Charles Sturt’s facilities, including National Life Sciences Hub, Veterinary Clinical Centre, the University farm and Rhizolysimeter
• University academics showcase their impactful research to delegates

Charles Sturt University’s innovative research and state-of-the-art facilities in Wagga Wagga were proudly on display as the University welcomed delegates from the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) this week.

Delegates from the DAWE Executive Leadership Team arrived in Wagga Wagga on Monday 20 July, before touring the Charles Sturt campus on Tuesday 21 July.

After an official welcome to Country and welcome to campus, delegates were split into two groups and toured the National Life Sciences Hub, the University farm, Veterinary Clinical Centre and the Rhizolysimeter.

Charles Sturt’s Professor of Food Sustainability the Hon. Niall Blair introduced a research showcase, which included:

• Associate Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation
• Professor Chris Blanchard from the School of Biomedical Sciences and Director of the Functional Grains Centre
• Mr Jonathan Medway, Graham Centre senior research fellow - spatial agriculture
• Professor Lee Baumgartner from the Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS)
• Professor Geoff Gurr from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and Graham Centre
• Associate Professor Skye Wassens from the School for Environmental Sciences and ILWS member.

The delegation will visit other sites around the University and Wagga Wagga, including the Charles Sturt Biomedical Sciences building on Tuesday and the Charles Sturt University Winery and the Kurrajong Recycling facility on Wednesday 22 July.

Charles Sturt Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor John Germov said government visits to the University were important in establishing Charles Sturt as a national and global competitor when it came to sustainable agriculture, land and water usage.

“It is an honour to host the Executive Leadership Team from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga,” he said.

“This visit is a way for the University to showcase our state-of-the-art facilities and globally-competitive research, which predominantly takes place in regional NSW.”

Former NSW Minister for Primary Industries and Trade Niall Blair was appointed as Charles Sturt’s Professor of Food Sustainability in October 2019.

He said the visit by DAWE not only provides an opportunity to show what Charles Sturt has to offer, but also facilitates the University to learn from other industry experts.

“Government and industry visits are always a good two-way learning experience for all those involved,” he said.

“Charles Sturt is paving the way for sustainability, especially when it comes to food production, and any opportunity to showcase that, or learn ways to improve our practices, is of advantage to the University, the region and the nation.”