Singapore: Agilent Technologies extended its collaboration with the University of Sydney, Australia, by providing advanced analytical instrumentation to the university's new $20 million facility, the Center for Carbon, Water and Food (CCWF), which was launched during April 2013 by Prime Minister Ms Julia Gillard.

Agilent Technologies' instruments including gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometers will be available in the CCWF laboratories, and will be used by world-renowned researchers and students to conduct studies on food security and sustainable agriculture. Research will focus on crop protection, soil quality, food security, reduction of greenhouse gas emission, and the mitigation of climate change effects on agricultural eco-systems.

CCWF is the first multidisciplinary research center in Australia to tackle the nation's and region's biggest food security and environmental challenges, through the integrated study of carbon, food and water. Construction of the Center was co-funded by the university and Australia's federal government.

Mr Rod Minett, general manager, life science group, South Asia Pacific and Korea, Agilent Technologies, said that, "This partnership underlines our commitment to education as well as research and development in the field of sustainability, which has become an area of increasing concern both in Australia and worldwide. We are excited to be part of this program to help establish a sustainable future for many generations to come. The opening of the Centre for Carbon, Water and Food is a significant milestone for Agilent as a collaborator with the University of Sydney, and we hope to continue supporting the University for many years to come through additional training and support."

Agilent Technologies has a longstanding relationship with the University of Sydney. Agilent first collaborated with the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment back in 2010 with a joint project on bushfire research investigating volatiles in Australia's unique flora. Since then, the collaboration has grown to encompass a number of different projects and disciplines and will soon encompass training for postgraduate students and others in the use of technologies in which Agilent is a world leader.