Research and Development

As one of Australia's largest primary industries research, development and extension providers, we help deliver outcomes for all primary industry sectors by improving productivity, sustainability, biosecurity and food safety - increasing yields, improving our food security and ensuring industry adoption of best practice.

Research, Development and Extension Strategy

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Research, Development and Extension Strategy, a key recommendation of the O’Kane Review, outlines the ways the NSW Government protects, supports and develops our agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.

Download the Strategy

Research and Development Advisory Board

A key recommendation of the O’Kane Review was the creation of a Research and Development Advisory Board (R&D Advisory Board) to strengthen governance and investment decision-making for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s research and development programs.

In March 2026, the Secretary of the department appointed 4 independent experts to the inaugural R&D Advisory Board for a 3-year term. The Board functions as an independent panel with expertise in agriculture, biosecurity, fisheries, forestry, public administration and research excellence.

Emeritus Professor Mary O’Kane AC (Chairperson)

Professor O’Kane is a company director and Executive Chairman of O’Kane Associates, a company that carries out reviews and advises governments and the private sector on innovation, research, education and development. She was Chair of the NSW Independent Planning Commission from 2018-2024; NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer from 2008-2018; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide from 1996-2001; and Dean of the Faculty of Information Sciences & Engineering at the University of Canberra from 1990-94.

Professor O'Kane is currently Chair of the boards of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Business Events Sydney. She is Chair of the advisory boards of the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania; the ARC Centre of Excellence in Antarctic Science; and Sydney Health Partners and is a member of the board of AusEnergy Services, and of the advisory board of the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

Dr Bryan McDonald (Member)

General Manager, Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, former Executive Director with NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Director Strategy and Innovation and Aquatic Resources Northern Territory. Dr McDonald has more than 25 years’ experience leading research in natural resource management, biosecurity and fisheries. Dr McDonald was formerly Chair of the Northern Territory Research Advisory Committee and served for more than a decade as a member of the Fisheries Research Development Corporation Human Dimensions Advisory Committee. Dr McDonald has a PhD in Marine Ecology from Flinders University and Bachelor of Applied Science from Southern Cross University.

Dr Michelle Freeman (Member)

President of Forestry Australia, Commissioner at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and Board Director of Forest and Wood Products Australia. Dr Freeman was formerly Board Director of the Forest Stewardship Council and Chair of the Future Foresters Initiative for Forestry Australia. Dr Freeman holds a PhD in Quantitative and Applied Ecology and Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Forestry from the University of Melbourne.

Dr Nick Austin (Member)

President of Australia’s Policy Advisory Council for International Agricultural Research, fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and Deputy Chair of the Zero Net Emissions - Agriculture CRC. Dr Austin was formerly Deputy Director General of Science and Research at NSW Department of Primary Industries, Director of Agricultural Development at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and CEO of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. He holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne and Master of Sustainable Management from the University of Sydney.

The Board’s primary focus is to provide advice on the following matters:

support program and portfolio level decision making and investment to deliver on the department’s Research Development and Extension Strategy
portfolio-level research investment and research focus including period revisions of the RD&E Strategy
advising the department on program level changes in research effort and investment informed by annual review and MERI processes
implementation of the recommendations of the Research and Development Review Final Report, and
other R&D risks, issues or opportunities as requested by the Secretary and/or Minister for Agriculture.

What we do

We are ranked in the top 1% of research institutes globally in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, biosecurity, environment, and ecology – we are a world leader in delivery of research explicitly relevant to sustainable primary industries. Combined with 21 locations across NSW, and relationships and networks that go deep into national and international knowledge circles, we influence outcomes that make a difference to prosperity and enhance opportunities.

We have been at the forefront of outcome-driven discovery for more than 130 years, delivering meaningful impact to biosecurity, traceability, and carbon technology advances improving food security, yields, sustainable productivity, and speed to market.

Our researchers have expertise across all primary industries and aquatic environments, all agro-ecological areas and marine bioregions throughout NSW, and the Murray-Darling Basin and across a range of research and development disciplines (pests, diseases, weeds, genetics, nutrition, ecology, fisheries, and more) to provide our collaborators and partners with the scale and diversity of research activities that they need to make an impact where it counts.

Top 1%

We are ranked in the top 1% of research institutes globally in the fields of agricultural science, plant and animal science and environment and ecology.