High-Tech Instruments Provided to University of Sydney’s New $20 Million Facility

Agilent Technologies Inc. (Singapore) recently announced an extension to its collaboration with the University of Sydney, further strengthening the company’s relationship with one of Australia’s most prestigious universities.

Agilent supports research through placement of advanced analytical instrumentation to the University’s new $20 million facility, the Centre for Carbon, Water and Food (CCWF), launched in April by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

The Centre is the first multidisciplinary research centre in Australia to tackle the nation’s and region’s biggest food security and environmental challenges, through the integrated study of carbon, food and water. Construction of the Centre was co-funded by the University and Australia’s federal government.

“This partnership underlines our commitment to education as well as research and development in the field of sustainability, which has become an area of increasing concern both in Australia and worldwide. We are excited to be part of this program to help establish a sustainable future for many generations to come,” said Rod Minett, General Manager of Life Science Group for South-Asia Pacific and Korea at Agilent Technologies.

Agilent Technologies’ instruments including gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometers will be available in the CCWF laboratories, and will be used by world-renowned researchers and students to conduct studies on food security and sustainable agriculture. Research will focus on crop protection, soil quality, food security, reduction of greenhouse gas emission, and the mitigation of climate change effects on agricultural eco-systems.

“People today are concerned about the impact of agriculture and consumers on our environment. Equally, people want food that is safe and nutritious. Our Centre for Carbon, Water and Food works at this intersection – at the heart of sustainability. We are delighted that Agilent’s support will help us maintain Australia’s position as a regional leader in food production and land management,” said Professor Mark Adams, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment at the University of Sydney.

Agilent Technologies has a longstanding relationship with the University of Sydney. Agilent first collaborated with the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment back in 2010 with a joint project on bushfire research investigating volatiles in Australia’s unique flora. Since then, the collaboration has grown to encompass a number of different projects and disciplines and will soon encompass training for postgraduate students and others in the use of technologies in which Agilent is a world leader.  

“The opening of the Centre for Carbon, Water and Food is a significant milestone for Agilent as a collaborator with the University of Sydney, and we hope to continue supporting the University for many years to come through additional training and support,” added Minett.