University of Sydney Institute of Agriculture

As part of the University's strategic planning 2016-2020, Senate decided in December 2015 to reduce the number of faculties from 16 to six, with three additional schools reporting directly to the Provost, to come into effect 1 January 2017. The Faculty of Agriculture and Environment was to be abolished and become the Sydney School of Agriculture within the Faculty of Science. Resulting from staff consultations the University worked on a Change Proposal setting out the Senate approved structure for the University's new organisation design and proposal for leadership roles for the Faculties of Science, Veterinary Science and Agriculture & Environment from 2017. The Final Change Plan and Final Implementation Plan was issued in December 2016 (DOC2017/57115). The Faculty of Agriculture and Environment became the Sydney Institute of Agriculture (SIA), full name University of Sydney Institute of Agriculture.

In a letter dated 4 May  2017 the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Garton, gave approval for the establishment of the Institute as a Centre effective from 4 May 2017. The approval was for an initial period of 5 years and was subject to the usual requirements and processes set out in the policy on establishment of centres. The Director of the Centre was to report to the Dean, Faculty of Science and designated University Officer.

The Centre was officially launched on 27 September 2017 in conjunction with a research showcase. 

The SIA did not have an undergraduate education mandate but concentrated on research activities. It aimed to provide world-leading, cutting-edge multidisciplinary research for agricultural innovation, industry best-practice and policy improvement.