November 22, 2002

CSIRO's Cotton Research Unit in Narrabri celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday, 22 November.

The Unit has contributed significantly to the cotton industry by addressing problems with innovative and practical science. A recent independent analysis has shown that the financial benefits to the industry of the Unit's research work are more than 50-times greater than the costs of the research itself.

The Cotton Research Unit was established in 1972 when CSIRO cotton scientists previously based in Kununurra, Canberra and Griffith teamed up in Narrabri. CSIRO and New South West Agriculture are now both located at the Australian Cotton Research Institute.

"The move was aimed at maximising the synergy between the two organisations and the cotton industry. A particular focus was to bring together cotton research and extension," says Dr Greg Constable, leader of CSIRO Plant Industry's cotton research effort at Narrabri.

When Dr Norm Thomson, Brian Hearn and Angus Wilson started up the Unit, their focus was on developing stable cotton production systems and addressing insect management problems. In the 1990s the Cotton Cooperative Research Centre was established and the Unit now includes over 70 CSIRO staff from the divisions of Plant Industry and Entomology who will soon be joined by scientists from CSIRO Land and Water. "Now, our research extends far beyond its original focus. We have made major achievements in breeding new cotton varieties, developing sustainable cropping systems, improving integrated pest management and delivering science to agribusiness," says Dr Constable.

Scientists from past and present. Back row (lt to rt): Lindsay Heal, Jim Peacock, Peter Reid, Gary Fitt. Front row (lt to rt): Greg Constable, Brian Hearn, Norm Thomson.