The Waite
The Waite Campus houses the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, which was established
on the site in 1924 following a bequest of Urrbrae House and 300
acres from Mr
Peter Waite to the University of Adelaide. The objective of the bequest was
"to advance the cause of education and more especially to promote the teaching
and study of Agriculture and Forestry and allied subjects".
The Waite has developed into an integrated research and teaching precinct that
has been presented as a model for the collocation of agricultural research institutions
and has established a track record for delivering value to industry through innovative
research and quality education.
Research Excellence
The Waite Precinct in Adelaide is Australia's leading research, education and
commercialisation cluster. It has the largest concentration of expertise in the
southern hemisphere in the areas of plant biotechnology, cereal breeding, sustainable
agriculture, wine and horticulture and land management.
The Waite's unique collection of a number of Australia's leading agricultural
and environmental research organisations is home to 1000 staff and postgraduate
students. The annual research expenditure of the collocated partners is more than
$110 million per annum. This research delivers outcomes of direct significance
to both Australian and international agriculture and wine industries.
We continue to consolidate and extend our partnerships with venture capital
groups, commercial support companies and industry to transfer our technologies,
products and services to market.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programs
At the Waite Campus of the University of Adelaide, the Faculty
of Sciences has leading research capabilities in the areas of horticulture,
plant and pest science, oenology and viticulture, and soil and land systems. These
research activities provide outstanding opportunities for dynamic education and
training through undergraduate, Graduate Diploma, Masters and PhD programs. The
Faculty of Sciences also has extensive research and training links with the collocated
partners, and internationally. Waite is the home of the School
of Agriculture, Food and Wine and contains components of the School
of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
The Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics
The ACPFG combines genetic, physiological and developmental information
with functional genomics to identify and characterise genes controlling adaptation
to abiotic stresses in wheat, barley and model species. The targeted stresses
include drought, salinity, frost and nutrient deficiencies. This information is
used to develop new strategies for enhancing stress tolerance, to develop plants
tolerant to multiple stresses, and to identify mechanisms for extending stress
tolerance well beyond that in existing germplasm.
The Director of the Waite Campus is Professor Geoff Fincher who
runs the Enzymology and Cell Wall Research group.
|
