The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is a department of the

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended f ...

which aims to maximise the economic potential for

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

primary industries The primary sector of the economy includes any industry involved in the extraction and production of raw materials, such as farming, logging, fishing, forestry and mining. The primary sector tends to make up a larger portion of the economy in de ...

on a

sustainable Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livi ...

basis through strategic industrial development. The section known as Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for

biosecurity Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, etc.) to animals and plants in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease. In agriculture, ...

matters within the state. The department was formerly known (with varying responsibilities) as: * Department of Agriculture (17 June 1887 – 1 January 1904) * Department of Agriculture and Stock (1 January 1904 – 26 September 1963) * Department of Primary Industries (26 September 1963–26 February1996) * Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry (26 February 1996 – 29 June 1998) * Department of Primary Industries (29 June 1998 – 12 February 2004) * Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (12 February 2004 – 25 March 2009) * Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (25 March 2009 – 3 April 2012) * Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (3 April 2012 – 16 February 2015) after which it assumed its current identity Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Functions

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides expertise and support that increases primary industries productivity, expands markets and assists with adaption to change. It conducts research, policy advice, protects against pests and diseases, maintains

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevit ...

standards, as well as managing fisheries.

History

The first functions of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry began in 1855 when a

sheep scab ''Psoroptes'' is a genus of mites, including the agents that cause psoroptic mange. Psoroptic mange ''Psoroptes'' mites are responsible for causing psoroptic mange in various animals, leading to economic losses among farmers of cattle, sheep ...

inspector began work in the New South Wales colony of

Moreton Bay Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are ...

. After Queensland's Separation, livestock diseases were addressed through regulations administered by the Stock Branch in the Queensland Colonial Secretary's Office. The Stock Branch was established by the Queensland chief inspector of stock Patrick Robertson Gordon.

Biosecurity

The Biosecurity Queensland section is responsible for coordinating efforts to minimise the risks and effects of threatening pests and diseases. Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for

weed management Weed control is a type of pest control, which attempts to stop or reduce growth of weeds, especially noxious weeds, with the aim of reducing their competition with desired flora and fauna including domesticated plants and livestock, and in natu ...

in the state. In 2009, Biosecurity Queensland was successful in its attempt to eradicate a

citrus canker Citrus canker is a disease affecting ''Citrus'' species caused by the bacterium '' Xanthomonas'' (''X.axonopodis; X. campestris''). Infection causes lesions on the leaves, stems, and fruit of citrus trees, including lime, oranges, and grapefrui ...

outbreak in

Central Queensland Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland ( a state in Australia) that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton. The region extends from the Capricorn Coas ...

. The Tree of Knowledge was successfully

cloned Cloning is the process of producing individual organisms with identical or virtually identical DNA, either by natural or artificial means. In nature, some organisms produce clones through asexual reproduction. In the field of biotechnology, ...

in 2008 by workers at the former Department of Primary Industries. The overarching federal legislation, ''

Biosecurity Act 2015 The ''Biosecurity Act 2015'' is an Act of the Parliament of Australia which manages biosecurity risks in Australia. It was enacted on 16 June 2015, after the Bill was passed with bipartisan support on 14 May 2015. It covers both agricultural ...

'', the state's ''

Biosecurity Act 2014 Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, etc.) to animals and plants in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease. In agriculture, thes ...

'', and the ''Queensland Biosecurity Strategy 2018-2023'' govern and guide the department's responsibilities with regard to

Research

In 2009, Primary Industries and Fisheries (now Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) together with the

University of Queensland , mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work , established = , endowment = A$224.3 million , budget = A$2.1 billion , type = Public research university , chancellor = Peter Varghese , vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry , city = B ...

were granted federal funding to study how

methane emissions Increasing methane emissions are a major contributor to the rising concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, and are responsible for up to one-third of near-term global heating. During 2019, about 60% (360 million tons) of methane r ...

from cattle and sheep could be reduced.

Publications

From 1897 to 1921 the department published the ''

Queensland Agricultural Journal The ''Queensland Agricultural Journal'' was a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (formerly the Department of Agriculture and Stock). It was established in 1897, with William Alexander Je ...

''.

Notable staff

George Alexander Currie Sir George Alexander Currie (13 August 18964 May 1984) was an agricultural scientist, university professor and administrator. He was born in Grange, Banffshire, Scotland on 13 August 1896.Alexandre Arsène Girault Alexandre Arsène Girault ( ; 9 January 1884 – 2 May 1941) was an American entomologist specializing in the study of chalcid wasps. An eccentric and controversial figure, Girault was also a prolific and dedicated entomologist. He published mor ...

, entomologist *

Ernest James Goddard Ernest James Goddard (20 February 1883 – 17 January 1948), was an Australian professor of biology. Education Ernest James Goddard was born on 20 February 1883 in Newcastle, New South Wales, one of six sons born to Alfred and Elizabeth Godda ...

, science coordinator *

Bela "Bert" Grof Bela "Bert" Grof (9 June 1921 –17 November 2011) was a Hungarian-born Australian agricultural researcher with contributions to grassland and forage research in the tropics. Education and early professional life Grof was born in Győr, Hungary ...

, agricultural researcher *

Christopher Sheehy Sir Christopher Sheehy OBE (25 December 1894 – 31 August 1960) was one of Queensland's and Australia's leading dairy industry administrators. Early life, family background and education Sheehy was born at Gympie, Queensland, the third of si ...

, dairy administrator * Lindsay Stuart Smith, botanist

References

External links

* {{Government of Queensland Agriculture and Fisheries Agriculture in Queensland