Central Queensland (CQ) University’s agricultural research program is recognised as a world leader in delivering practical solutions which are bolstering the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the livestock, horticulture, cropping, and poultry sectors.

CQUniversity's Institute for Future Farming Systems aspires to use its Central Queensland base and the collective skills of its staff to become the major contributor to successful agricultural industry development in northern Australia.

In particular, it is internationally recognised for its specialist skills in the development of precision management technologies, and its research in agriculture has been independently assessed as above world class (ERA ratings of 4 and 5 in the last three assessments).

Importantly, its research is grounded in industry needs – the Institute’s researchers live and work in the communities they serve, with staff working closely with industry partners and primary producers in areas including Bundaberg (Australia’s largest vegetable producing region) and Rockhampton (Australia’s beef capital). The focus on end-user impact is supported by a specialist agriculture education and extension research team with the Institute.

Among its many successes have been the development of the widely adopted hand-held NIRS (near infrared spectrometry) gun, which assesses the ripeness of fruit, bolstering crop productivity through optimised harvest timing and improved fruit quality.

And in the livestock sector, the research team has developed automated data gathering tools to monitor the condition of individual animals and assist graziers to make more informed production and marketing decisions.

The Institute utilises world-class facilities including the laboratories at the Central Queensland Innovation Research Precinct (CQIRP) and the 3200-hectare Belmont Research Station.