AFII's Impact 2025 - Reflections from the Director
Reflections from the Director: December 2025
2025 has been a year of strong momentum for the Agrifood Innovation Institute. Despite the pressures facing the Australian university sector, AFII has continued to demonstrate resilience, leadership and a clear commitment to impact.
Over the past year, AFII has strengthened partnerships across industry and government, secured new investments for the ANU and advanced work aligned with national priorities including climate adaptation, crop resilience and the transition to clean energy.
Among the many activities AFII delivered in 2025, a highlight was our Made and Grown event, which brought together more than 150 leaders from across government, industry, research and investment to explore the future of Australia’s food and biotechnology sectors.
AFII has also had the pleasure of co-hosting the Inspiring Australia in the ACT program, with the program providing opportunities to increase public engagement and interest in science through interactive STEM events and activities (including National Science Week).
Another AFII hosted program, AgConnections, has received increasing interest, with the program’s lead - Dr Rachael Rodney Harris – having recently received the ANU Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Education. This Skilled Work program provides opportunities for agricultural industry, agribusinesses, farm businesses and other stakeholders to connect with ANU students and gain fresh perspectives, untapped skills, innovative ideas and evaluate future talent. By providing facilitated industry internships and work-based learning opportunities, the program provides a path for students to get real world industry experience, where their skills can be strengthened and applied in the diverse career options that the future of agriculture has to offer.
Across the ANU, interdisciplinary teams have delivered world class research that supports farmers, informs policy and strengthens national capability at a time of rapid change. For me, one of the standout investments at ANU was the launch of the Plant SynBio Australia facility at ANU. This major investment cements the university’s world-class plant science capability and creates even more opportunities in Australia and internationally. The facility enables a direct pipeline from hypothesis to rapid testing of novel, climate-ready plants.
I want to thank our Agrifood Hub members for another great year, being a part of our wonderful AFII community and demonstrating to the Canberra innovation ecosystem how ideas can turn into real world impact.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the AFII team – what an amazing team - our partners, collaborators, and the AFII Advisory Board (particularly our Chair, Victoria Taylor) for their dedication throughout the year. It is through our collective efforts that AFII has thrived.
As we look toward 2026, AFII remains focused on building a resilient and sustainable agrifood future through innovation, collaboration and evidence-based solutions. AFII will continue strengthening its role as a trusted partner, connecting government and industry with ANU’s world-class expertise across disciplines. By supporting mission-driven investment, breaking down the barriers between research and application, and building the collaborations needed to translate ideas into real-world outcomes, AFII will continue helping position Australia for a more resilient and competitive future.
Read more about our work in 2025 in our report - Cultivating collaboration: AFII's impact in driving agrifood solutions in 2025.
Professor Owen Atkin, Director, ANU Agrifood Innovation Institute