February 10, 2003

Australia¹s farm industries have adapted to the forces of deregulation and the same thing is happening in research, traditionally dominated by the public sector.

In agriculture the principal research agencies traditionally have been the state departments of agriculture and natural resources and the CSIRO, with a smaller, often "higher-tech" role for the universities.

In the grains industry, research has been driven for the last decade by the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), with investments guided by three regional panels which themselves have advisory systems ensure research reflects grower priorities.

It has become apparent however, that while these institutions will continue to have a key role in grains research it is no longer appropriate for the GRDC to just rely principally on Australia¹s public sector research in its drive to increase the rate of innovation in the grains industry.

The corporation has noted and welcomed the ever increasing role of private sector consultants and advisers in the grains industry and the similar growth in the number of farmer groups keen to be more involved in the research that affects them.

It made a notable policy decision this financial year by contracting respected Goondiwindi consultant Michael Castor and Associates to lead a project that aims to lift chickpea and mungbean yields in south west Queensland and north west New South Wales.

The Castor team will collaborate with scientists from CSIRO and the Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit on the project and communicate its results to the wider grains industry.

Another example of the GRDC¹s flexible approach to driving innovation occurred on the Liverpool Plains, south of Tamworth.

Here the corporation has co-invested with two farmer groups ­ the Agricultural Marketing and Productions Group and Advance Farming ­ the fertiliser company Incitec and NSW Agriculture to research soil nutrients.

Scientists from the private sector and farmer groups increasingly are playing a role in the GRDC¹s sustainable farming systems research.

The northern component of the corporation¹s recently launched soil biology initiative involves Queensland¹s Departments of Primary Industries and Natural Resources and Mines, NSW Agriculture, Westfarmers-Landmark, the Biological Crop Protection company and farmers.

On a national level, the GRDC is involved in a series of business ventures ­ all promising further benefits for the grains industry by embracing new initiatives and exploring commercial possibilities.

They are diverse investments, ranging from plant genomics wheat and canola breeding, commercialisation of a new fumigant to replace methyl bromide, development of a meter to measure deep drainage and an alliance with a research provider, a local seed company, and an international lucerne breeding and seed production company, to develop new lucerne varieties suited to dryland areas.

These investments occasionally carryg some risk, but they are being carefully planned and implemented.

These examples show that "Driving Innovation", the GRDC¹s new 5-year plan, is both aptly titled and functioning, so watch this space ­ more grains industry joint R&D ventures are under development.