Western Australia
February 15, 2007
Innovation in legume science
and technology remains the focus of the
Centre for Legumes In
Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) as it moves into its third
phase as a research centre within the
University of Western Australia
(UWA).
CLIMA has been headquartered at UWA’s Crawley campus since
commencing in 1992 as a Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) and
transforming in 2000, after its CRC phase ended, into a research
alliance between the WA Department of Agriculture and Food
(DAFWA), UWA, CSIRO and Murdoch University.
The current memorandum of understanding between CLIMA and the
four partners concludes June 30.
This week the CLIMA Board endorsed a plan to continue CLIMA as a
research centre at UWA from July 1, with continued collaboration
with DAFWA, CSIRO and Murdoch University.
Announcing the new phase, CLIMA Board Chairman and UWA Faculty
of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Dean, Professor Alistar
Robertson said industry input to CLIMA’s operations would be
facilitated by the Advisory Board to the UWA Institute of
Agriculture.
CLIMA Director from 2001 to 2006, Professor Kadambot Siddique,
is Director of the Institute.
“I’m very pleased to advise all our partners in the farming
community and industry that CLIMA will continue its R&D program,
but with a fresh and sharpened focus,” Professor Robertson said.
“Productive, profitable legumes in rotations are a key to
sustainable agriculture.
“CLIMA therefore will remain a central research centre, using
its advanced local and international links to maintain the flow
of new germplasm into our farming systems.”
Professor Neil Turner, who in August last year succeeded
Professor Siddique as CLIMA Director, will continue in that
role, as originally planned, until retiring at the end of June
2007, when UWA will appoint a new Director.
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CLIMA Director, Professor Neil Turner,
DAFWA researchers Dr Angelo Loi and Bradley Nutt and
GRDC Western Panel Chairman, Neil Young of Kojonup
at the release this week of AGWEST Sothis, the
world's first commercial variety of eastern star
clover. |
According to Professor
Turner, who spent 30 years with CSIRO and has been involved with
CLIMA since its inception, CLIMA will retain its focus on
beneficial outcomes for WA growers and maintaining strong links
to other Australian and overseas legume research groups.
The international links include several important projects with
the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry
Areas (ICARDA) in Syria and the International Crops Research
Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India.
“This international collaboration has resulted in access to
elite germplasm and faster selection and development of
profitable grain and pasture legume varieties.
“In the past 14 years CLIMA has released more than 45 grain and
pasture legume varieties, many of which are playing prominent
roles in the farming system.
“CLIMA has also produced research outcomes with very significant
benefits for WA farming systems, having trained more than 100
post-graduates in legume science, many of whom have made
significant impacts on the industry,” Professor Turner said.
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