Our research is based on best-practice frontier technologies for building and transforming regional and rural industries. Partnering with us is an opportunity to connect with staff and graduates at the forefront of their fields of expertise. Our researchers bring novel, creative solutions to wide-ranging agricultural productivity and trade-related ventures.
Work with us to achieve agricultural solutions
CeRRF plays an important role in the support of agricultural activity, food production and processing. We provide research outputs that are life-changing for communities and enterprises. Our innovative solutions help our partners tackle the issues facing rural and regional industries and communities, both here in Australia and around the world.
In partnership, we can offer agricultural solutions that are sustainable, creative and forward thinking for the direct benefit of people and enterprises for years to come.
Help inform our research
Industry plays a significant role informing our research activity and project-based learning. We strive to integrate global and commercial challenges in our students' problem-solving cases. With our partners, we take a contemporary approach to addressing food industry problems.
Our business aim is to provide sustainable solutions for customers: to deliver increased agricultural productivity, regional competitiveness and build resilience. We also want to learn how best to meet the needs of vulnerable communities when humanitarian crises occur.
Gain access to specialist expertise
By partnering with us, you gain access to specialised expertise that can be difficult to source elsewhere. Our centre is set up to attract a new generation of academics closely aligned with new-thinking paradigms and creative, sound business practices.
Connect with us from anywhere
It’s important we connect with rural industries and communities. We do this by developing digital learning environments that deliver research inputs/outputs and provide valuable learning outcomes. This enables us to connect our rural and regional partners with some of the highest-achieving postgraduate students in Australia.
Major project partners
- Kerrison Asia Pacific Ltd. (Hong Kong, China)
- Kuwait Oil Company (Kuwait)
- South China Agricultural University (China),
- University of Salford (UK),
- South China Normal University (China)
Industry partners
- The Remediation Group
- Alkaloids of Australia
- Continuous Grass
- Grey Innovation
- Young Optics
Join our broad and diverse global network
Due to the multidisciplinary nature of our work, we collaborate with a broad cross-section of partners and stakeholders. These currently include:
Private sector and industry groups
- Romar Engineering Pty Ltd
- Minifab Pty Ltd
- Alkaloids of Australia Pty Ltd
- Agrifutures
- Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)
- Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
- Goanna Telemetry Systems Pty Ltd
- Rice Growers Association of Australia
Government
- Department of Agriculture (Commonwealth)
- Department of Primary Industries (NSW)
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP, VIC)
- Gippsland Local Government Network
- Moro Shire Council
- Southern Grampians Shire Council
- Riverina Local Land Services
- Moira Shire Council
- Environmental Protection Authority (Victoria)
- Hepburn Shire Council
- Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
- City of Greater Geelong
Community, philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors
- Murrumbidgee Irrigation
- National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI)
- G21 Geelong Region Alliance
International
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- The Energy Research Institute (TERI)
Griffith Irrigation
Current major funders are the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, AgriFutures, National Landcare Programme, Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Goanna Ag and Mallee Catchment Management Association.
The group works closely with industry partners across the irrigation industry both nationally and internationally as well as collaboratively with a range of international R,D&E agencies such as IREC https://irec.org.au/, CARDI http://www.cardi.org.kh/, INIA http://www.inia.uy/, RGA https://www.rga.org.au/.
Sustainable Regional Development
- Secretary of Education, Science and Technology (SETI) – State of Parana, Brazil
- National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) - Government of Uruguay
- Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
- Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
- NSW Department of Agriculture
- Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
- Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
- Goulburn Broken Greenhouse Alliance
- Gippsland Climate Change Network
- Gippsland Local Government Network (GLGN) comprised of Wellington Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, Bas Coast Shire Council, East Gippsland Shire Council, South Gippsland Shire Council and Latrobe City Council.
- East and West Gippsland Catchment Management Authorities
- Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Southern Grampians Shire Council, Whittlesea City Council, Shepparton City Council, Benalla Rural City Council, Mansfield Shire Council, Moira Shire Council, Campaspe Shire Council, Strathbogie Shire Council, Murrindindi Shire Council, Casey City Council, Cardinia City Council.
- University of the Republic, Catholic University and University ORT - Uruguay
- University of Mid-West (UNICENTRO, University of Ponta Grossa and Catholic University of Parana – Brazil
- Agraria Co-Operative - Brazil
- University of Chile – Chile
Academic partners
- Michael Breadmore, UTAS
- Craig Priest, UniSA
- Abbas Kouzani, Deakin, School of Engineering
- Jennifer Loy, Deakin, School of Engineering
- Clara Usma-Manfield, Deakin, School of Engineering
- Jun Zhang, Deakin, School of Engineering
- Paul Francis, Deakin, School of LES
- Xavier Conlan, Deakin, School of LES
- Chris Austin, Deakin, School of LES
- Han Ming Gan, Deakin, School of LES
- David Cahill, Deakin, School of LES
- Wren Greene, Deakin, IFM
- Ludovic Dumee, Deakin, IFM
- Luke Henderson, Deakin, IFM
- Emily Kerr, Deakin, IFM
- Bastian Rapp, Neptune Lab, IMTEK, Freiburg
- Heidi Lesscher, Utrecht University
Soil Health Group
Major project partners
With a strong focus on impact, we work with key industries and funding bodies to address critical productivity, environmental and sustainability challenges faced nationally: (Grains Research Development Corporation, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority and National Landcare Programme) and internationally: (ACIAR – Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research), Crawford Fund, CIAT – Centre for International Tropical Agriculture), CATAS (Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences), CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development).
Contact us
Centre for Regional and Rural Futures (CeRFF)
General enquiries
directorcerrf@deakin.edu.au
Deakin University
75 Pigdons Road
Waurn Ponds VIC 3216