The Centre is a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government. The Centre provides both advice and applied and strategic research capability in food microbiology, chemical residues in foods, and post-harvest physiology to a range of Tasmanian and national clients.

The Cradle Coast campus is home to one node of the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR). Researchers and postgraduate students specialising in dairy and vegetable research undertake work that is critical for primary industry in Tasmania, and in particular the North-West Region.

TIAR is a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Governemnt. TIAR has four research centres: School of Agricultural Science (UTas, Hobart), New Town Research Laboratories, Mt Pleasant Laboratories and the Cuthbertson Agricultural Research Laboratories in Burnie.

The CRC for Forestry is a collaborative venture between forestry companies, governments, universities and the CSIRO. Research concentrates upon plantation species: managing and monitoring for growth and health, high-value wood resources, harvesting and operations, and trees in the landscape.