July 11, 2002

Australia¹s $9 billion grains industry has a remarkable record of growth over the past decade, thanks to innovative farmers who have swooped on new varieties, crop types, farming systems and equipment technology .

Over the period productivity growth has averaged 3.2 per cent a year, with gross value of production rising by more than 80 per cent and planted area increasing by 50 per cent.

So it¹s no surprise the organisation that oversees scientific development in the industry ­ the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) ­ should choose "Driving Innovation" as the theme for its new, five-year, strategic plan.

The plan, starting on July 1 and running until 2007, reflects grower priorities for grains research and is developed in consultation with the industry¹s national representative body, the Grains Council of Australia.

It accepts the inevitability of major change across the Australian and international grains industry over the coming five years and commits the Corporation to ensuring grower and industry innovation meets the challenges involved.

In particular, the plan predicts major technological change in areas like precision agriculture, biotechnology, grain storage, farm input discovery, processing and extraction techniques, product attribute development, grain and food testing and farming systems techniques.

While the GRDC accepts community concerns about biotechnology, it believes sensitive handling of its development -­ and communication of its potential benefits to consumers and the environment ­ will win increasing public acceptance.

The Corporation¹s investments in biotechnology over the next five years focus on benefits that can be obtained in crop improvement and crop protection, including:

• o discovery of genes and molecular markers related to key performance traits in winter cereals ­ wheat and barley;
• development of technologies for genetic modification of winter cereals and their application to critical input and output traits;
• doubled haploid and molecular marker technologies for pulse and canola breeding programs by Australian and international collaborations, and
• exploring the introduction of desirable genes from related species.

Supported by graingrowers and the Federal Government through the GRDC, Australian scientists will continue to use a range of biotechnologies to deliver improved outcomes in the areas of yield, quality, nutrition and environmental sustainability.

The Crop Doctor, Professor John Lovett, is managing director of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Canberra.