Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture

The Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR) 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 Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE, previously DPIW). TIAR is headquartered in Hobart with additional facilities in Launceston, Burnie, Elliot, Forth and Cressy.

Origin and purpose

TIAR logo

The logo of TIAR, the University of Tasmania and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

Agriculture is the 7th largest employment sector in Tasmania and contributes 6% of the state's income. TIAR aims to contribute to income and employment by working closely with industry, including building a centre of excellence in cool-climate agricultural research, development and extension.

Funding

TIAR receives funding from its joint venture partners (UTAS and DPIPWE) as well as agricultural organisations in Tasmania and around the world, agricultural companies and other funding bodies.

Structure

TIAR employs around 160 scientists, technicians, farm hands and administrative staff across the state. It also has a close relation with the School of Agricultural Science at UTAS, providing research opportunities for postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. TIAR is divided into five Centres – Dairy, Extensive Agriculture, Food Safety, Perennial Horticulture and Vegetable – and four Themes – Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Value Chains, and Education and Training.

International research

TIAR has links with agricultural research organisations around the world, it takes on students and researchers from many countries and has researchers active in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Indonesia and many other countries. In PNG, for example, TIAR researchers are currently working on two projects sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR): one on sustainable vegetable production around Port Moresby, another on developing pyrethrum as a cash crop.

Scope of research, deveopment and extension

TIAR 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). TIAR has a close relationship with both Dairy Australia and DairyTas. An example of TIAR'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."

External links

• TIAR website