To finally see this project come to fruition is a credit to all involved. The facilities are state of the art, which the team at the CSIRO are showcasing as a world-leading research, development and environmental hub.

The station is a catalyst for innovation in agriculture in the digital age with real-time on-farm sensing, monitoring temperature and humidity, as well as terrasonde soil and moisture sensors.

CSIRO agriculture and food director Michiel Van Lookeren Campagne told me that the station will be the envy of the world and is perfectly placed to the organisation's network of field trial sites in the region.

Six permanent staff are on-site looking after the day to day activities, as many scientific research and development officers come and go while working on projects.

These include crop breeding and genetics, new digital technologies, crop and pasture agronomy (crop-livestock), soil fertility and soil improvement, mixed farming systems agronomy and longer term ecological studies into soils, weeds and pests.

The CSIRO said it was grateful for the support of investment partner Grain Research and Development Corporation in helping develop the site.

GRDC general manager Nicole Jensen was present at the opening.

She highlighted the importance of the research and development to meet the challenges of agriculture into the future.

Boorowa is now well and truly on the world map, and at the leading edge of agriculture research and development.