The meeting will be held on October 31 at 6.30pm at the Crookwell Services Club. The meeting is an important way to inform the community of the proposed centre and gauge community support for the project to go ahead.

For   the   agricultural   industry   to   succeed   into   the   future,   the   next   generation   needs   to   be enticed  to  live  and  work  on  the  land.  

Education  needs  to  be  a  major  focus,  educating;  the   next  generation,  technology  developments  in agriculture,  rural  life  to  tourists  through  open   days  and  a  visitors  centre.     

A  strong  need  exists  to  promote  the  rural  industry  and  life  to  children  so  as  to  generate  a   future rural   industry   work   force   that   can   be   trained   to   meet   the   industries'   needs.   

Such   promotion   would   provide   a   form   of   early   intervention   into   the   psyche   of   potential   rural workers.   

Promoting   the   scientific,   technological   and   innovative   aspects   of   rural   life   will   increase  its appeal  to  younger  generations.     

The  Rural  sector  has  lowest  level  of  formal  post  school  qualifications  compared  to  other industries.  

We  need  to  encourage  skills  development  to  adapt  to,  change  and  implement   innovation. 

Build capability  through  quality  education  and  training.    

This  is  where  the  Australian  Agricultural  Innovation  Centre  comes  in - a  centre  that  allows   students, tourists, farmers to learn  and  experience  agricultural  processes  and  innovation.     

Our  mission  is  to  offer  student  and  visitors  opportunities  to  learn  about  sustainability  and  innovations in rural Australia.   

Direct   experience   of   real   world   rural   developments   and   lectures  that  provide  formal  technical training.  

Australia  has  no  national  multipurpose  agri-­technology   facility,   demonstrating   field   production, small-scale   manufacturing,   energy   initiatives,  interactive,  and  themed  displays.   

Our  multipurpose  facility  will  do  just  that.  

A   50 hectare   working   farm   in   Crookwell   that   is   a   national   showcase,   educational   and   tourist attraction  for  the  Agricultural  Industry.  

An  attraction  that  is  not  only  a  leader  for  tourism  in   our  area,  but  a  leader  in  agriculture interaction/  innovation  and  education.  

Crookwell  has   diverse  agricultural  practices  and  is  within  2.5hr  drive  from  1⁄4  of  Australia’s population.  An   ideal  location  for  the  centre.   

The  Australian  Agricultural  Innovation  Centre  can;  

The  Australian  Agricultural  Innovation  Centre  will demonstrate  and  educate;  

In  summary; Australia  will  benefit  by  providing  a  promotion  mechanism  that  champions   the agricultural  sector  through  childhood  -  tertiary  education,  and  perception  management  of  the broader population,  ie.  a  mechanism  that  reconnects  the  urban  population  with  the   land,  that  is  their  life. This  mechanism  is  the  Australian  Agricultural  Innovation  Centre.        

For more information contact the Project  Manager, Jo  Marshall,  email:  jo.marshall8@me.com  or  mobile 0408976070