The Australian Government has welcomed the appointment of three new directors, including the chair, to the inaugural board of Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA).
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the board appointments is an exciting next step as the board ramps up to drive unprecedented collaboration and coordination of investment in agricultural innovation this year.
"I welcome the new board appointments, in particular the new Chair, Mr Bernie Brookes".
"The new board brings together leaders with extensive experience gained through many executive positions across government, the private sector and industry," Minister Littleproud said.
"Their leadership will be essential to ensuring AIA's investments deliver benefits to Australian agriculture, levy payers and the Australian community.
"AIA is an element of the Australian Government's new National Agricultural Innovation Agenda, contributing to Delivering Ag2030.
"Innovation is the key to enabling Australian agriculture meet its target of becoming a $100 billion sector by 2030.
"The biggest productivity gains will come from long-term, transformational R&D, which will be a focus of AIA's investments in research and innovation.
"AIA will also seek co-investors, including from the private sector, for its research and innovation investments to deliver even greater impact for Australian agriculture."
Fast Facts:
- The three new directors are:
- Mr Bernie Brookes AM
- Dr Anne Astin AM PSM
- Ms Heather Stacy AM
- Agricultural Innovation Australia Ltd was established on 1 October 2020.
- AIA will be managed by an independent, skills-based Board, and invest in strategies that address shared challenges and opportunities to deliver transformative outcomes for the agriculture sector.
- RDCs are responsible for investing around $800 million each year in agricultural innovation. Almost $300 million of this is Australian Government funding from taxpayers, and around $500 million comes from industry levies.
