New approach to food production

The newly-named Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences has consolidated the University of Melbourne’s strengths in food production teaching and research, in a move that effectively converges three faculties into two.

All activities relating to on-farm animal and plant production at Dookie Campus, including the Bachelor of Agriculture, have been moved from the former Melbourne School of Land and Environment to the renamed faculty.

The former school’s Creswick Campus, which is engaged in forest science, and Burnley Campus, which provides environmental and ornamental horticulture education and research, have been absorbed by the Faculty of Science.

The new structure will not affect current teaching programs. The role of the Veterinary Hospital, and the teaching and accreditation of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and other coursework programs, will continue unchanged. However, the move will create greater cohesion of the University’s learning, research and engagement programs in the production of animal and plant food and fibre, and an increased scope for new initiatives.

Professor Ken Hinchcliff (BVSc(Hons) 1980, Trinity College) will remain Dean of the new Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences. Associate Professor Brian Leury has been appointed Deputy Dean.

“There were already strong synergies between what was the Department of Agriculture and Food Systems and the Faculty of Veterinary Science – for example the Animal Welfare Science Centre worked across both,” Leury says.

“There are other synergies around animal health, microbiology and food production. The new faculty will consolidate the University’s strengths in producing graduates to meet the important challenges and opportunities involved in future food production.”

Read more about how the University is helping students tackle our future food needs at the high-tech Dookie Campus.