I'VE commented on more than one occasion in this column that, in the Australian context, Tasmania:
- has the most decentralised population;
- has the smallest population;
- has the fiercest antagonism between the capital and the regions.
When I came here, to Burnie, many years ago, Hobart was "it", and civilization stopped north of Bridgewater. I was used to the antagonism of Perth versus the rest in Western Australia but I was taken aback by Hobart versus Launceston - this was vitriolic in comparison.
Population-wise, Tasmania has about 500,000 of which Launceston has 110,00 and Hobart 250 000, which leaves about 140,000 scattered all over, the majority in the North-West which includes Burnie.
As to training and education for good fruit and vegetable production, most of this used to be located in Hobart for that 50 per cent.
I was fortunate to meet the new head of what was to be called the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR) when he first arrived here - a very pleasant and productive dialogue developed, and the last word was dropped to emphasise its practical focus.
It is now TIA.
All of this is a prelude to some significant developments reported in the April 2022 issue of the TIA industry newsletter, which defines its role as: "Enabling Tasmanian food producers and processors to accelerate primary sector productivity while maintaining and improving Tasmania's land and water quality for future generations."
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The newsletter included a message from Professor Michael Rose, TIA director.
"We achieved an important milestone earlier this year, with the full Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours degree available for domestic students to study from Launceston for the first time."
"This is a key step towards TIA being headquartered within the new Tasmanian Agricultural Precinct at the University of Tasmania's Newnham campus from 2024.
"We are currently upgrading our research farm capacity with a $7.7 million investment from the University of Tasmania and the State Government to transform facilities at our Dairy Research Facility at Elliot and the Vegetable Research Facility at Forthside.
Getting back to where we came in on this topic, it is now apparent that the "powers that be" have reluctantly accepted that life goes on outside Hobart.
"In other news, we were thrilled to receive $1.7 million from the Tasmanian Government's Agricultural Innovation Fund which will support four new projects, including the use of biochar to deliver Asparagopsis seaweed to livestock, and investigating the production of sparkling wine from smoke-affected grapes."
This really is encouraging, not the least aspect being the proposed location of the new Tasmanian Agricultural Precinct at the Newnham campus in Launceston.
Another aspect is the choice of projects under the Agricultural Innovation Fund.
Regular readers of this column will know that I have a keen interest in increasing the commercial use of seaweed, and only teetotallers would not be interested in sparkling wine.
Getting back to where we came in on this topic, it is now apparent that the "powers that be" have reluctantly accepted that life goes on outside Hobart.
Only time will tell what the Agricultural Precinct will produce (after all, it's not due for take-off until 2024).
Rest assured, I'll be watching for you.
- Dr Walker welcomes feedback: wvipl@activ8.net.au.
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