Western Sydney University received a large investment into its Agri Tech Precinct, which will advance sustainable and resilient food systems
The federal government has pledged $16.7 million to be invested into Western Sydney University’s Agri Tech Precinct, at its Hawkesbury campus, located just outside Richmond, NSW.
The investment will be delivered under the government’s Priority Community Infrastructure Program and will be jointly funded by the university.
Western Sydney University says the approximately $30 million Agri Tech Precinct will be a world-leading hub of innovation, research, incubation and production to advance sustainable and resilient food systems.
It is also set to host Australia’s first high-tech commercial, teaching and research greenhouse, driving agricultural innovation for Western Sydney, the university’s vice-chancellor and president George Williams adds.
“The precinct will draw on the university’s expertise and research innovation ecosystem, with a focus on challenges faced by communities globally, to be advanced in genuine partnership with industry, government and community,” he says.
“Offering exceptional work-integrated learning opportunities for students in agriculture and food production, it will create much-needed career pathways and a future jobs pipeline for Australia’s agricultural sector.”
Delivered across two stages, the precinct will span approximately 50 hectares and will comprise a high-tech, industry-partnered greenhouse array.
State-of-the-art agriculture technology will also be housed for teaching, research and commercial food production at scale, Western Sydney University says.
Stage one of the precinct is expected to open to students in late 2025, generating 150 direct jobs during the construction phase of the project and up to 240 jobs in day-to-day operations once open – creating more opportunity for those in the region.