NZ and Tasmania join forces in agricultural research
The agriculture and food sectors of Tasmania and New Zealand are set to benefit from the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Lincoln University and the University of Tasmania.
The MoU was signed as part of a three-day Tasmanian Government-led delegation visit to Lincoln University.
The MoU formalises current research collaborations and paves the way for new research opportunities in dairy, vegetables, viticulture, apples, pasture production, and food safety and innovation.
Another key potential collaboration will be in education and training, including through joint training of postgraduate research students and joint exploration of new flexible pathways into agriculture studies at the University of Tasmania.
The agreement was co-signed by the universities and witnessed by Dr John Hay, interim vice-chancellor at Lincoln University, Tasmania’s deputy premier and minister for Primary Industries and Water, and Education, the Hon Jeremy Rockliff, and Prof Holger Meinke, head of the School of Land and Food and director of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) at the University of Tasmania.
Lincoln University is ranked 13th in the Quacquarelli Symond (QS) World University rankings for universities with less than 5000 students. It is a specialist land-based university and is focused on improving New Zealand’s land-based knowledge, wealth and productivity.
Uniquely Lincoln also offers bridging programs for students who do not have university entry pre-requisites to accelerate them into degree-level study, which is emblematic of their commitment to increasing higher education graduates in their specialised fields.
"Building collaborations between New Zealand and Tasmania through university connections and partnerships offers many potential opportunities for innovation and niche market growth to benefit agriculture and food systems on both sides of the Tasman Sea," says University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Professor Rathjen.
Dr Hay says the agreement offers unique opportunities for joint research and teaching of benefit to New Zealand, Tasmania and the world.
"Through this MoU we will tackle complex research challenges, share knowledge and attract talented students and scientists that will cement both universities’ profiles as world-leading in agriculture education and research," says Dr Hay.
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