The NCEA develops solutions for a sustainable and profitable rural sector through applied engineering, research, training and commercialization.

During 2009 the NCEA made significant progress expanding our research capability in a number of emerging research areas. These include:

•    Agricultural, water resource, irrigation and agronomic responses to climate variability and change.
•    Agricultural energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
•    Precision crop and livestock management through smart technologies for sensing, decision support and control.
•    Sustainable water and soil management in response to mining and wastewater operations.

NCEA’s national reputation in irrigation and water management has resulted in our providing significant planning and research support to the Federal Government and State governments of Queensland, NSW and Victoria in delivery of the Water for Future program.  NCEA staff have been engaged in activities across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand.

The NCEA were the key organizers and sponsors of the 2009 CIGR international symposium of the Australian Society for Engineering in Agriculture titled “Agricultural Technologies in a Changing Climate” which was held in Brisbane in September 2009.

NCEA expanded its international linkages during 2009 through establishment of collaborative arrangements with the University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa and Technical University of Cartagena, Spain including hosting of PhD students and visiting academics.

The NCEA were awarded more than $2,0million in grant and consultancy funding during 2009.