James Cook University has opened its Australian Tropic Sciences and Innovation Precinct in Townsville, which will conduct research into sustainable natural resource use in Australia’s tropics.

 

The centre, which is a joint venture between the CSIRO and James Cook University, will be conducting research into the following:

  • sustainable water management
  • sustainable livestock systems for northern Australia
  • intensive production systems in tropical landscapes
  • understanding the genetics and breeding of sugarcane and development of new varieties
  • marine and coastal processes and production systems
  • integrated approaches to managing change in tropical regional communities.

 

The mission statement of the centre includes:

  • position Australia as a pre-eminent provider of knowledge in the world’s tropical regions
  • act as a centre of excellence in tropical science
  • develop the northern Australian economy with knowledge, ideas and innovations
  • provide information for sustainably managing Australia’s northern terrestrial and marine ecosystems.