In 1927 the work of CSIR related mainly to primary industry and fell into a few main sections.  It was decided to refer to the main sections of work as Divisions and to the officers in charge of them as Chiefs.  As such the following Divisions were formed:

The Division of Animal Nutrition;
The Division of Economic Entomology;
The Division of Forest Products; and
The Division of Economic Botany with Dr B T Dickson appointed as Chief in February 1928.

The program of the Division of Economic Botany was divided into four main areas; namely plant pathology, plant physiology, genetics and the investigation of certain agrostological problems.

In 1929, in order to more adequately describe the scope and functions of the Division, its title was changed to the Division of Plant Industry. 

The broad aim of the Division is to increase the understanding of the plant sciences as a basis for increasing Australian agricultural production, efficiency and reliability, and maintaining Australian natural ecosystems in a productive and healthy state.  It supports an extensive program of research into the management of agricultural systems with a view to their optimisation and long term stability.  Besides this the Division is also a major centre for the study of Australian vegetation, its conservation and management.

The Division's main concern is the plant and its genetic makeup, structure and form, growth patterns and processes, nutritional needs, responses to the environment and diseases. This includes also the study of interactions between plants, and the impact of animals on them; and the uses and values of plants, both native and introduced, not only for agricultural and industrial purposes but also for the reclamation and conservation of the quality of the environment.                      


Sources: 

Second Annual Report of the CSIR for the year ended 30 June 1928

CSIR, Fourth Annual Report,  30 Jun 1930

CSIRO Plant Industry Annual Report, 1975

Historical agency address
Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain ACT