grdc 2009–10 growers’ report · grdc growers’ report 2009–10| 3 report from the chair and...

GRDC Growers’ Report 2009–10

www.grdc.com.au

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

FROM THE GRDC REGIONS

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

COMMERCIALISATION

THE GRDC TEAM

GRDC INVESTMENT PROCESS

The Grains Research and Development Corporation is a statutoryauthority established to plan and invest in R&D for the Australiangrains industry.

Its primary objective is to support effective competition byAustralian grain growers in global grain markets, throughenhanced profitability and sustainability.

Its primary business activity is the allocation and management of investment in grains R&D.

2 | GRDC Growers’ Report 2009–10

GRDC VisionDriving innovation for a profitableand environmentally sustainableAustralian grains industry.

GRDC MissionTo invest in innovation for thegreatest benefit to itsstakeholders. This will beachieved by being a global leaderin linking science, technology andcommercialisation with industryand community needs.

GRDC Values• Commitment and action in

meeting the needs of ourstakeholders and exceedingtheir expectations

• Winning as a team

• Achievement of superior results

• Creativity and innovation

• Openness and trust in dealingwith people

• A performance-driven culture

• Ethical behaviour in all ouractivities

TELEPHONE: 02 6166 4500

FACSIMILE: 02 6166 4599

EMAIL: [email protected]

INTERNET: www.grdc.com.au

The GRDC

Photo acknowledgements:Front cover: Paul MatthewsOpposite: Mandie O’Shea

GRDC Growers’ Report 2009–10 | 3

Report from the Chair and Managing Director

The year 2009-10 was another verychallenging one for the Australian grainsindustry. Seasonal conditions were againvariable across much of the grain belt and prices were negatively impacted byincreasing global stocks and the highAustralian dollar. These factors, together with relatively high input prices, continued to negatively affect farm profitability.

Australia’s grain growers deserve to becongratulated on the success they haveachieved under these difficult circumstances.The grains industry performs well above theaverage across the broadacre farmingsector, in terms of both cash income andtotal factor productivity. Growers’ willingnessto embrace improved practices, varieties,products and information available, toimprove both the profitability and thesustainability of their enterprises, is animportant factor in this success.

The GRDC continues to drive research anddevelopment to help provide improvedtechnologies to address both the challengesand opportunities presented by a rapidlychanging grains industry.

Grain productionThe production of winter grains and oilseeds in 2009–10 was 35.2 million tonnes,an increase of 2.5 percent in comparison to production in 2008–09.

Summer crop production in 2009–10 was 1.7 million tonnes. This shows a drop of 48.6 percent compared to the previousyear’s production, due primarily to a 54 percent reduction in sorghum production.

Overall, in 2009–10 grains industryproduction was 36.9 million tonnes with an estimated gross value of production of $8.8 billion.

Highlights of 2009-10The GRDC was involved in some majorachievements for the grains industry during the year, at all levels, from strategy to service delivery.

National Grains RD&E StrategyTo provide an effective framework formanaging increasing pressures on RD&Ebudgets and the need to continuallyoptimise investments and demonstratereturns on investments to stakeholders, the GRDC played a key role in thedevelopment of the National Grains RD&EStrategy, which was completed in 2009–10pending endorsement by the PrimaryIndustries Ministerial Council (PIMC).

By increasing cooperation between investors and providers and sharing ofcapability across the grains industry, thestrategy will help to ensure that RD&Eprograms deliver benefits to growers,industry and government stakeholders.

Wheat classificationThe Wheat Classification Council and Variety Classification Panel met expectations and more than 100 varietieswere successfully classified. The councilalso made recommendations, based onindustry feedback, on how wheat varietyclassification can be structured and funded into the future.

An overview of the GRDC, its 2009–10 investmenthighlights and current activities throughout the regions.

Keith PerrettChair

Peter ReadingManaging Director

■ Northern region 21.56■ Southern region 41.67■ Western region 32.65





CROSS-COMMODITY($95.88m total)

COARSE GRAINS($6.61m total)

GRAIN LEGUMES($5.07m total)

OILSEEDS($3.10m total)

WHEAT($6.09m total)


TOTAL($116.75m total)

5

4

3

2

1

0

6

7

8

9

10

Million tonnes

11

12

13

14

15

■ WA ■ SA ■ Vic (incl Tas) ■ NSW ■ Qld

2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10

Where your 2009–10 research dollars were invested ($m)

Total grain production per state over the 5 years 2005–10


report from the chair and managing director

GRDC structureThe GRDC is based in Canberra andcurrently has 51 staff and operates underthe direction of a Board of eight directors.A team of executive managers lead thecorporation’s business activities. As wellas advising the GRDC Board, themanagement team is responsible forrealising the Board’s priorities andmanaging and evaluating R&D investmentsin the Australian grains industry.

The GRDC coordinates a national portfolioand market-driven approach to grainsR&D. At the operational level, the GRDC’sorganisational structure is divided intothree Lines of Business (LOBs):

• Practices

• Varieties

• New Products

These LOBs, or ‘output groups’, aresupported by three enabling functions:Corporate Services, Legal & Procurementand Corporate Strategy & ImpactAssessment.

A fourth group, Communication &Capacity Building, delivers the outputs of the communications and capacitybuilding programs that are managedwithin the three LOBs.

The LOBs coordinate the GRDC research investments within theirrespective business areas.

The panel systemThe panel system is a key strength of theGRDC. The Board makes decisions withthe support of a national advisory panel,informed by the knowledge andexperience of three regional panels andthree program teams. This network helpsto ensure that GRDC investments aredirected towards the interests of all itsstakeholders and the strategic objectivesof its programs.

National PanelThe GRDC National Panel includes thethree regional panel chairs, the GRDC’sManaging Director and the GRDC’sexecutive managers.

The National Panel addresses nationalR&D priorities across the GRDC’s

investment portfolio, takes advice fromprogram teams and advancesrecommendations to the Board. TheNational Panel also assists the Board tomaintain links with grain growers, theAustralian Government, state and territorygovernments and research partners.

Regional panelsThe three regional advisory panels,covering the northern, southern andwestern grain-growing regions of Australia, are composed of grain growers,agribusiness representatives, researchersand the GRDC executive managers, withprovision for other industry experts toparticipate as appropriate. Panelmembers are contracted to carry out theirrole and are not employees of the GRDC.

Supported by the GRDC programmanagers, the three regional panels:

• develop, monitor and identify regionaland national grains industry issues thatare relevant to the grains industry

• communicate to the growers in theregions about the GRDC’s investments,research outcomes, activities andstrategic direction

• interact with local advisory researchcommittees, which refer research issues

• make recommendations to meetregional R&D needs to the NationalPanel.

The panels’ work, and the expertise oftheir members, is crucial to thecorporation’s success.

Program teamsThree program teams, each composed ofprogram managers, members from eachregional panel, an executive manager and a panel chair are responsible fordeveloping, implementing and reviewinginvestment strategy and advising onproposed investments. Other activitiesinclude evaluating projects, prioritisingpotential investment opportunities andmonitoring project performance.

Note: For the purposes of performance reportingagainst the GRDC Annual Operational Plan2009–10 and Prosperity through Innovation,the corporation’s five-year Strategic Research and Development Plan 2007–12, each line ofbusiness corresponds to an output group. The fourth output group, Communication &Capacity Building, is a combination ofcommunication and capacity-building programsmanaged within the other three output groups.

GRDC Board

NorthernPanel Chair

SouthernPanel Chair

WesternPanel Chair

ExecutiveManagement Team

Practices Varieties New Products Corporate

Services

CorporateStrategy & Impact

Assessment

Legal &Procurement

GRDC Program Teams

Northern Region Panel

Southern Region Panel

WesternRegion Panel

GRDC National Panel

Enabling FunctionsLines of Business

Communication & Capacity Building

PracticesGRDC-supported programs:

• implemented forecasting systems forstripe rust and wheat streak mosaic virusin Western Australia and blackspot in fieldpeas in Western Australia and SouthAustralia

• prepared information packages ondisease resistance, ready for incorporationinto integrated pest management ofsclerotinia and white rust in canola

• completed a baseline survey of farmingmanagement practices acrossagroecological zones, to enable thedevelopment of targeted extensionprograms for each region

• developed plans for national integratedweed management and integrated pestmanagement programs.

VarietiesThe breeding programs released fourvarieties of wheat, three varieties of oats, five varieties of pulses (two chickpeas, one broad bean and two lentils).

National Variety Trials showed that newwheat and barley varieties respectivelyyielded up to 12 percent and 16 percentmore than the current dominant varieties withcomparable quality and disease resistance.

New ProductsGRDC-supported work to develop newproducts to assist the grains industry saw:

• the launch of JumpStart®, a growth-enhancing phosphorussolubilisation product for use on cereals and canola

• progress in the development of yield-enhancing traits in wheat

• field testing of the advanced prototype of the Harrington Weed Seed Destructor.

Communication & Capacity BuildingMore than 4,000 people attended the GRDCResearch Updates and specialist workshops

on topics including frost, precision agriculture,grower strategies and pest control.

The GRDC website was upgraded and thereports of more than 11,000 R&D projectscommenced publication on the site. The GRDC also:

• published 26 fact sheets, six supplements,seven research reports and two technicalmedia articles

• supported 24 Travel Awards, 11 IndustryDevelopment Awards, 31 conferencesand 50 new training scholarships,including 12 Agricultural Training Awards,17 Grains Industry UndergraduateHonours Scholarships and 18 GrainsIndustry Research Scholarships.

GovernanceThe triennual review of the performance of the GRDC Board, conducted by BlakeDawson, concluded that the GRDCcontinued to attain a high standard ofcorporate governance.

External and internal financial analysis ofGRDC projects showed benefit to cost ratios ranging from 2.3:1 to 13:1.

The GRDC was the winner of the NAB Grant Thornton Risk Management Award category and a finalist in the OppeusGovernance Award category at the 2009NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence.The GRDC’s Annual Report 2008–09received a gold award at the Institute ofPublic Administration Australia ACT awards and a silver award at theAustralasian Reporting Awards.

Challenges going forwardThe grains industry environment in which the GRDC operates continues to changerapidly. The business environment in 2010-11 will continue to be influenced byvolatility in seasonal conditions, grain prices and other impacts on growerprofitability.



The quality and extent of Australian grains research, extension and education is enviedthroughout the world. The unique method of public and industry research funding,national coordination and structure – and ultimately extension – provides continuingscientific and management breakthroughs for grain growers. This translates intoproductivity gains essential in maintaining competitiveness in world markets.

Depending on seasonal conditions, the grains industry invests around $100 millioneach year through the GRDC on research. This is funded by a combination of:

• growers paying a statutory levy of 0.99 percent of the net farm gate value of grainproduced (maize is levied at 0.693 percent)

• a sliding scale of matching contributions from the Australian Government. Dependingon the prevailing market value of the various grains, this sliding scale means thegovernment contributes around 30 to 40 percent of total GRDC revenue.

The Australian Government matches the levy income up to a maximum of 0.5 percentof the gross value of grains production, provided the government contribution doesnot exceed grower levies.

This system of joint statutory collections raised over $120 million in 2009–10 which wasin turn invested back into the industry via the funding of hundreds of research projects.

The 25 leviable grain crops are: wheat; coarse grains—barley, oats, sorghum, maize,triticale, millets/panicums, cereal rye and canary seed; pulses—lupins, field peas,chickpeas, faba beans, vetch, peanuts, mung beans, navy beans, pigeon peas,cowpeas and lentils; and oilseeds—canola, sunflower, soybean, safflower and linseed.

How the GRDC is funded

(From left) Mark Sweetingham, WA Department of Agriculture and Food Director Grain Industries Development,Peter Reading, GRDC Managing Director, and Terry Redman, WA Minister for Agriculture and Food, at the GRDCoffices in June 2010. Photo: GRDC

The Rural R&D Corporations (RDCs) arecurrently being reviewed by the ProductivityCommission. The GRDC welcomes thisreview and actively supports ways toimprove the R&D model in Australia.

We will also place a major emphasis onworking with our R&D partners, federal, state and territory governments and industryto implement the National Grains RD&EStrategy, to identify and prioritise issues and develop and deliver RD&E outcomes for Australian grain growers and the broader community.

Having your say!The GRDC determines its investmentpriorities jointly with industry, government andresearch partners, and acts in partnershipwith public and private researchers, otherR&D funding organisations, agribusinesspeople and groups of grain growers.

There are various ways you can have yoursay about anything to do with the GRDC,including general or specific researchdirection. The GRDC engages with growersin many different ways including: liaisonthrough the regional panel system; paneland Board meetings and regional tours;Regional Advisory Committees; face to face meetings with growers and the GRDCstaff; meetings with farming systems groups and representative organisations;attendance and interaction at conferencesand workshops; the GRDC Grower andAdvisor Updates; as well as direct feedbackthrough emails, phone calls and the website.

New ideas are the life-blood of the grainsindustry so feel free to get in touch with staff,panel members or Directors. Regional panelmembers are always happy to hear from you at any time, to put forward an idea to the corporation for consideration.

The GRDC’s achievements depend on theeffective and timely implementation of thecorporation’s strategies, which in turndepends on the cooperation of the Board,panel members and staff, and strongrelationships with research partners andgrowers. The GRDC will continue tocollaborate with other RDCs, federal, stateand territory governments, and researchpartners. We thank them for their contributionsto grains industry R&D in 2009–10.

Keith Perrett Peter Reading Chair Managing Director



R&D prioritiesThe GRDC’s role is to invest in R&D and related activities to benefit Australian graingrowers, industry and the wider community.

There are four key strategies the GRDC follows to achieve this:

• The coordination of a national grains R&D agenda and portfolio;

• Delivering results according to Australian Government priorities;

• Growing and leveraging total grains R&D investment; and,

• Ensuring that grains R&D is market-driven.

In short, the GRDC invests in grains research where difficulties to the industry’sprogress exist. This means allocating available funds across a range of investmentareas including:

• the investigation and evaluation of the requirements for R&D in the grains industry;

• the coordination and/or funding of R&D activities; and,

• helping with the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation of the results of R&D.

Like all successful businesses, the GRDC periodically sets various goals and plansso your invested dollars are accurately aimed at favourable end results.

Key drivers of change in the GRDC’s Strategic R&D plan 2007-2012 – Prosperitythrough Innovation – include water availability, productivity growth, growers’ terms oftrade, grain market dynamics, customer expectations and farm demographics.

The plan encourages stakeholders and research partners to meet clearly definedperformance measures and outcomes. At the end of the day we need growersadopting technologies and practices to help them remain globally competitive.

Where you want R&D funds investedCurrent R&D priorities for growers were identified during the development ofProsperity through Innovation. This involved consultations with local research advisorycommittees, grower groups and organisations and individual grain growers.

Your main R&D priorities included:

• Farm management– integrated farming practices and technologies– integrated management of weeds, diseases and pests– herbicide resistance management

• Variety development– biotechnology for improving genetic gain– superior new varieties

• Environmental– responses to climate change– improved water use efficiency– sustainability and resource management– soil health and biology

• New and innovative product development

• Capacity building– improving skills, training and education in agriculture– farm business management.

Investing in these grain grower prioritiesDuring 2009–10 the GRDC has invested in many projects which directly address theissues you have asked to be investigated.

Many of these projects are outlined in the GRDC Regional Reports and InvestmentHighlights sections of this Growers’ Report.

Where is the money spent?

GRDC financials at a glance

a Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) estimates for the number of broadacre farms planting at least 100 hectares for grain production—from the Australian Grainsreport series, 2006 to 2010.

b Latest ABARE estimates for the gross value of production (GVP) of grains and oilseeds, excluding rice—from the June 2010 Australian Commoditiesreport. Figures for 2007–08 to 2008-09 restate the GVP estimates shown in previous GRDC Annual Reports in accordance with this change to using ABARE data.

c Latest ABARE estimates for total summer and winter crop production, excluding cottonseed and rice, from the June 2010 Australian Crop Report.

Note: Figures for the 2005–06 to 2006–07 reporting periods have been restated in accordance with a new accounting policy regarding grant income.



■ Coarse grains $14.3

■ Grain legumes $6.1

■ Oilseeds $8.6

■ Wheat $45.1

■ Practices $49.0

■ Varieties $45.5

■ New Products $13.8

■ Communication and CapacityBuilding $5.8

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

1998

–99

1999

–00

2000

–01

2001

–02

2002

–03

2003

–04

2004

–05

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

2009

–10

—— Reserves/Equity —— R&D Payments—— Total revenue

INCOME 2009–10 EXPENDITURE & INVESTMENTS 2009–10=

■ Industry contributions 74.07

■ Commonwealth contributions 50.07

■ Interest income 7.02

■ Project refunds, royalties & other income 12.66

$m90

75

60

45

30

15

0

$m120

100

80

60

40

20

0■ R&D payments 116.75

■ Employees 6.45

■ Suppliers and others 10.17

■ Movement in reserves 9.85

2009–10 2008–09 2007–08 2006–07 2005–06

Grower R&D levies collected $74.1m $89.2m $76.6m $50.9m $60.9mAustralian Govt. Matching contribution $50.1m $43.9m $37.6m $35.8m $43.1mInterest, royalties & other income $19.6m $17.3m $13.0m $11.9m $12.9m

Total GRDC revenue $143.8m $150.4m $127.2m $98.6m $116.9m

R&D expenses $116.8m $106.3m $89.1m $105.6m $116.1mEmployees, suppliers, administration, dep’cn $12.0m $11.7m $11.5m $11.3m $11.2m Asset revaluations $4.6m $3.3m $1.9m $1.3m $0.2m

Total GRDC expenditure $133.4m $121.3m $102.5m $118.2m $127.5m

Operating surplus/(deficit) $9.8m $28.5m $24.1m ($19.8m) ($10.6m)Total Assets $176.7m $159.1m $117.5m $106.0m $127.7mTotal equity $128.5m $118.7m $89.7m $65.6m $84.1m

Number of Projects 868 771 611 680 798

Grains industry profileEstimated number of grain farmsa 25,139 28,455 28,081 29,000 30,900Estimated gross value of productionb $8,838m $10,448m $10,756m $5,024m $8,540mTotal grain production—summerand winter crops (million tonnes)c 36.93mt 37.68mt 29.76mt 19.20mt 43.64mt

Where 2009–10 research levies came from ($m)

GRDC Investments in 2009–10 byLine of Business ($m)

How the 2009–10 figures stacked up

R&D investment by line of business and region in 2009–10

Practices Varieties NewProducts

CCB Other SouthernRegion

WesternRegion

NorthernRegion

0

$49.0m(42.0%) $45.5m

(39.0%)

$13.8m(11.8%)

$5.8m(5.0%) $2.6m

(2.2%)

$50.9m(43.6%)

$38.8m(33.3%)

$27.0m(23.1%)

10

20

30

40

50

60

GRDC financial overview

GRDC reserves, R&D payments andrevenue ($ million)

$m

The 2010 winter season has seen anextraordinary turnaround in both commodityprices and rainfall in the Northern Region. It is one that will be long remembered for its challenging growing conditions and therain that just kept coming.

The season had fantastic potential and hasseen a quantum shift in prices back to amore profitable level but it’s going to prove a very expensive and difficult-to-manageyear for growers. It has certainly shownareas where the industry, via the GRDCinvestment, has made gains in managingissues such as rust, weed management and ascochyta blight.

It has also shown we still have a long way togo with genetic improvement to cope withextraordinary seasons such as this one and we shouldn’t forget to aim for continualimprovement on diseases such as rust.

The high in-crop rainfall and large chickpeaplantings across much of the region havealso brought issues with pathogens such asascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould ina crop favoured for its drought tolerance.

A shortage of fungicides has hampereddisease control efforts. The season testedthe ascochyta tolerance of the new chickpeavariety PBA HatTrickA, developed with

GRDC funding, which has performedrelatively well under unusually wet conditions.

Season tests researchrecommendationsA season such as this highlights howimportant it is to have a focused research,development and extension (RD&E)investment model that can efficiently ground-truth research and ensure rapidgrower uptake of recommendations and new technologies.

For example, management strategies forstripe rust and crown rot in winter cerealshave been tested this year and growers who have adopted the practices scoped out in GRDC-funded farming systemsresearch have been better off.

This includes recommendations such asbreak crop rotations for crown rot; andchoosing resistant varieties, controlling

the green bridge of volunteer cereals andweeds, and ensuring timely fungicide spraysfor rust.

Consultation on new RD&E structureThe GRDC Northern Panel’s vision for thefuture of RD&E is a clearly-defined plan thatoutlines where the GRDC and each of itsresearch partners will operate. The aim is to ensure that research – wherever it isconducted – is developed regionally andextended locally.

Part of this is addressing the worrying issueof succession in a research environmentwhere many of the leading researchers arereaching retirement age. Ensuring continuityof quality research is a high priority.

The panel is committed to implementing thenew national RD&E strategy in the NorthernRegion. To this end, the panel has beenconsulting with growers, consultants andresearchers throughout the year and earlierthis year launched a discussion paper,Optimising Investment in RD&E for the


From the GRDC regions

BY JAMES CLARK, GRDC NORTHERN PANEL CHAIR

NorthernRegion

Where your 2009–10 research dollars wereinvested in the North ($m)

■ Cross-commodity $21.56



■ Oilseeds $0.96

■ Wheat $1.95

$26.97m TOTAL

James Clark, Northern Regional Panel Chair.Photo: Rachel Bowman, Cox Inall

The 2010 winter cropping season has been extraordinarily wet in the Northern Region resulting in concurrently high-yield crops and widespread disease issues.

Northern Grains Region, with the support of NSW Farmers Association (NSWFA) and AgForce.

The draft discussion paper was outlined at several GRDC Updates and RACmeetings this year and can be downloadedat www.grdc.com.au/northernrdestrategyand feedback directed via email [email protected] or directly to panel members. Now is the time to shape how RD&E looks going forward.

New short and medium termfarming systems projectsA new two-tiered funding system reflects the panel’s ongoing approach to GRDC’sinvestment and will ensure RD&E isdelivered to growers in efficient and useable ways.

The successful NGA and Grains OranaAlliance (GOA) farming systems projectmodel has been extended in a major newinitiative that now sees NGA operatingacross northern NSW and into southernQueensland and GOA operating in thewestern plains region of NSW.

New central Queensland and coastalfarming systems projects are also beingrolled out.

An example of local development andextension is GOA’s windmill grassmanagement and windrow timing to boost the profitability of canola.

Work into the big issues of crown rot, rootlesion nematodes and stripe rust willcontinue with short term research focusingon growers’ immediate one- to three-year

issues and longer term three- to eight-yearprojects.

The Northern Panel’s spring tour took it to areas west of the Newell Highway innorthern NSW to Moree, Mungindi, Walgett,Coonabarabran and across the border toDirranbandi and St George.

These cropping areas are set to benefit from the GRDC’s ongoing investment insorghum prebreeding, a potentially valuable break crop for crown rot andprofitable summer crop.

Panel applicationsApplications for the GRDC panels will open in June 2011 and I urge any grower or industry profession who is keen to

influence the direction of the grains industry to consider applying.

The panel system is vital to GRDC’s success and the organisation relies on panel members to contribute robust opinions based on professional and practical grains industry experience.

The GRDC panel members are the linkbetween grains industry stakeholders andthe funding body allocating research anddevelopment dollars from grower levies and government funding.

I thank the current panel members for theirongoing commitment and input during whatis an exciting and challenging time for theAustralian grains industry as it shapes thefuture of RD&E.


from the grdc regions

GRDC Northern Panel member Jodi McLean, Newcastle and Penny Heuston, Warren catch up with Moree-basedagronomist, Rob Long, B&W Rural.

The GRDC Northern Panel and Board members toured northern NSW and southern Queensland recently to talk to growers and consultants about research needs.

Grower groupsThe GRDC continues to support growergroup research across the Southern Region.Our focus for research is around improvingwater use efficiency and each group targetslocal issues that are of greatest concern totheir grower members.

These issues include stubble retention, crop rotations, improving the management of subsoil constraints and finding suitablevarieties for local conditions.

Many of these issues were encountered andappreciated first-hand by members of theSouthern Regional Panel during this year’sspring panel tours. Panel members this yearvisited southern NSW, north-central Victoriaand South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, Lowerand Mid North and Eyre Peninsula regions.

The annual spring tours enable panelmembers to remain informed of the keyissues impacting on growers and howGRDC-funded research can be used mosteffectively to address these concerns.

Deciding what to grow and when is still amajor talking point in the visited regions and of course these requirements differ from one grower to the next. GRDC research will continue working towardsdeveloping varieties with higher yields andstress tolerance, as well as more profitablebreak crops.

The need for statistical validation throughlarge-scale trials in a wider spread of regionsis a requirement regularly presented to panel members and this will be given dueconsideration when assessing futureprojects.

The seasonFor many growers in the south, season 2010 was shaping up as one of the best onrecord. Substantial late winter and springrains were ideal for crop establishment and promoting growth.

For some parts of the region, notably centraland south-west Victoria in September andsouthern NSW in October, the rains wereexcessively abundant and waterlogging andflooding was a real issue. It is hoped theseason will end favourably for all growers andthat the harvest will indeed be a bumper one.

LocustsThe most pressing issue facing growers inthe southern region in season 2010 wasundoubtedly locusts.

To support growers in their preparations foran assault on locusts, a fact sheet wasdeveloped and made available on the GRDCwebsite, providing the latest information oninsecticide use, chemical rebates, locust riskzones and updated predicted hatching dateson a region-by-region basis.

The fact sheet was produced by the GRDC and the Australian Plague LocustCommission, state departments, theAustralian Pesticides and VeterinaryMedicines Authority (APVMA) and membersof the National Agribusiness ReferenceGroup (NARG).

Other pests and diseasesThe GRDC funding supports the researchinto – as well as the active monitoring of – a broad range of crop pests and diseasesthroughout the Southern Region.

Investment in activities being conducted bystate-based agencies and organisations isproviding growers and industry with vital and timely information about incursions andinfections, as well as appropriate control and management measures.

On-farm grain storageGreater emphasis is being placed bygrowers on on-farm grain storage. This islargely as a consequence of deregulatedgrain marketing. Good information on suitabletypes of storage and the management ofstored grain insects is needed.

The GRDC continues to support researchinto alternative chemicals to phosphine withsome promising leads for new chemical andnonchemical control measures likely to beavailable shortly. The GRDC also stronglypromotes the latest technical grain storageinformation to growers through fact sheets,web-based resources, media materials andat the GRDC Grower Updates series.

The importance of grain quality to processorswas underlined at technical workshops inBallarat and Adelaide this year. The first suchworkshops to be funded by GRDC, theywere attended by grain industry advisers,agronomists, consultants and growers.

Improving P efficiencyRising fertiliser prices and diminishingreserves of phosphate are driving researchinto ways of improving the efficiency of Pand other crop nutrients. This is beingtackled on several fronts.

Work is being undertaken to provide agenetic solution by the development ofplants that can more efficiently accessnutrients. There is also research intomobilising locked-up nutrients in the soil and making them available to plants.



BY DAVID SHANNON, GRDC SOUTHERN PANEL CHAIR

SouthernRegion

Where your 2009–10 research dollars wereinvested in the South ($m)




■ Oilseeds $1.20

■ Wheat $2.24

$50.96m TOTAL

Inspecting the Bayer Crop Science product demonstration trial site at Pinery in SA during the Southern RegionalPanel’s annual spring tour are, from left, Bayer Technical Adviser Rob Griffith, GRDC Southern Panel member Chris Blanchard, GRDC Plant Breeding Project Manager Alok Kumar, Bayer National Technical Advisory ManagerGreg Skinner, Bayer Business Development Manager Paul Wilcox, GRDC Southern Panel members Andrew Rice,Richard Konzag, GRDC Executive Manager Legal & Procurement Geoff Budd, GRDC Southern Panel member Andy Barr, Bayer Agronomist Andrew Reese and GRDC Board member Colin Butcher.

The GRDC is also looking at alternativesources of nutrients from waste streams fromindustry and from animal manures.

Soil biology initiativeDisease suppressive soils are those that canwithstand or reduce the extent of cropdamage from soil-borne diseases. Whilefarmers who know their soils well wouldrecognise suppressive soils on their farms,understanding exactly what makes thesesoils suppressive is often difficult.

The GRDC is funding research into betterunderstanding disease suppression and soilbiology through a collaborative initiative.

Harnessing the biological potential of soilsinitiative will address:

• the main areas of nutrient acquisition

• the suppressive soil phenomenon

• soil monitoring for improved decisionmaking.

The initiative aims to bring together scientistsin an integrated effort to tackle thechallenging issues related to soil biology and grain profitability.

Herbicide resistanceRandom surveys of weed populationsacross southern Australia have identifiedconsiderable levels of herbicide resistancein annual ryegrass. There are variationsacross regions, reflecting differences incropping practices and hence herbicide usepatterns. Trial-based research continues inthe Southern Region to determine the mosteffective measures and management toolsavailable to growers.

In addition, the focus on integrated weedmanagement has sharpened since thedevelopment of widespread resistance inryegrass and other weed species.

Figures from the CRC for Australian WeedManagement indicate that growers insouthern Australia spend around $80 perhectare each year on herbicides.

Even with this level of investment, weeds arehaving a major impact on crop productivity.The GRDC-funded research is makingsignificant progress in enhancing thecompetitive ability of wheat against weeds.

New pulse varietiesPulse crops are becoming increasinglyimportant, both agronomically andeconomically, for growers in the SouthernRegion. Providing growers with pulsevarieties that improve yield, harvest-ability,

disease resistance, tolerance to abioticstresses, quality and weed management is a GRDC priority.

The GRDC supports the efforts of PulseBreeding Australia (PBA) – a world -classbreeding and germplasm enhancementprogram – which in spring 2010 releasedtwo new field pea varieties and two newlentils.

The two new high yielding red lentil varieties,PBA BlitzA and PBA JumboA, are expectedto further boost production and marketingprospects for growers in southern Australia.Lucrative prices for lentils in 2009 haveencouraged growers in Victoria and SA toexpand their acreage of lentils by 37% thisyear. The release of the two new varieties willsupport this expansion even further.

Two new field pea varieties, PBA GunyahA

and PBA TwilightA, will offer growers in theSouthern Region more options to manageand optimise their field pea production.

Farm business managementIn the past, the GRDC has focused verystrongly on agronomy and plant breeding aspathways to improving grower profitability.The GRDC is now putting more effort intofarm business management to help drivegreater grower profitability.

A pilot program looking at improving theskills of agronomists who advise growers,

will be run out across the Southern Regionthrough a series of workshops and shortcourses.

This will provide agronomists andconsultants with an understanding of thecomplex decision making process thatgrowers undertake in running their farmbusinesses.

Farm business issues are becomingincreasingly critical to grain growers and the success of their enterprises, and it isimportant that such issues are factored into consideration by advisers during theirconsultations with growers. Assistingadvisers to integrate farm businessmanagement into their current advisory roles and to enhance their appreciation oftheir clients’ overall situation is seen by the GRDC as an important step in raisingawareness of the factors that contribute towhole farm business performance.

Moving forwardI would like to thank growers, advisers andresearchers throughout the Southern Regionfor their support over the past year and look forward to that valuable relationshipcontinuing.

I also extend my thanks and gratitude to the GRDC Southern Regional Panelmembers for their tireless support, input and contributions in working with growersand industry to represent their views andRD&E needs.

The GRDC panel selection process willcommence next year, resulting in theappointment of a new panel mid-year.

I encourage growers to think about applying for a position on the panel. Being a panel member is a rewarding andenriching responsibility – you know you arehaving a direct influence on researchpriorities and are involved in development of the programs in conjunction with program managers and staff.

Panel members, representing growers intheir respective regions, are also part of themonitoring and evaluation of the researchportfolio. In fact, the panels are not isolatedfrom any part of the investment process,ensuring that the research commissioned is applicable, focused and relevant.

This panel model is not replicated in any other research organisation and itseffectiveness, positive influence and theregard in which the panels are heldcontinues to attract panel members of the highest quality.



Wayne Hawthorne (right), a senior Pulse CropDevelopment Manager with Pulse Australia, ispresented with the GRDC Seed of Light award for2010 by GRDC Southern Regional Panel chair DavidShannon. One of Australia’s most recognisedauthorities on pulse agronomy, Mr Hawthorne wasrecognised for his efforts and achievements incommunicating the outcomes of research.

While a small minority of Western Australiangrowers have experienced a reasonableseason in 2010, for most it has been a yearthey wish they could forget. Droughtconditions across much of the WA grain belt, particularly in spring, have had a severe impact on crop production.

Extremely low rainfall compounded theeffects of a difficult season in 2009, whenuniversally low grain prices and high inputcosts combined with a poor finish to leavegrowers with tight budgets heading into 2010.

Despite such a dry year, many growers are getting some returns from their crops,whereas similar conditions in the past would have left them with no crop at all. This is because WA farmers have excelled at adopting new technology and farmingsystems, many of which are the direct resultof past investment by the GRDC.

The GRDC Western Panel viewed examples of grower innovation and use oftechnology when it toured the Midlands andnorth-eastern grain belt during its annualspring tour in 2010. Panel members saw the benefits of early planting, no-till farming,excellent weed control and awareness oflikely disease pressure. But unfortunately,even the best methods and technologycannot produce a crop if there is not enough rain.

The GRDC Western Panel spring tourreinforced to panel members that keypriorities for WA growers are drought, break crops, non-wetting soils and frost.These issues were also identified aspriorities during an industry consultationforum hosted by the GRDC Western Panelearlier in the year.

Many growers and consultants at theindustry consultation forum were optimisticabout the potential role that biotechnologycan play in speeding up advances in thesekey areas of research.

A significant event for the WA grainsindustry, announced early in 2010, was theState Government allowing the commercialproduction of genetically modified (GM)canola in WA. The commercial availability ofGM canola will hopefully be the first step in a whole pipeline of benefits the technologycan bring to WA growers – benefits alreadyexperienced by competing canola growersin other parts of the world.

I thank members of the GRDC western panel for their significant contributionreviewing projects, liaising with growers and stakeholders, and identifying researchpriorities. Panel members play a vital role in the GRDC investment process. Growersand other members of the grains industryare invited to apply for a position on the GRDC Western Panel when the panelselection process starts early in 2011.Successful applicants will take up theirpositions in June.

Some of the issues being tackled by GRDCinvestments in 2010 are outlined below.

Managed Environment FacilitiesA significant investment by the GRDC in2010 has been establishing ‘ManagedEnvironment Facilities’ (MEFs) in threelocations in Australia, including Merredin in WA, as well as Yanco and Narrabri in New South Wales.

GRDC-funded trials at the MEFs will allowresearchers to replicate conditionsexperienced during both difficult andexcellent seasons, so crop breeders canproduce better varieties, faster.

Early data has already been gathered onestablishment rates from crops seededunder ‘marginal soil moisture conditions’, as well as other key traits such astranspiration efficiency and canopytemperature.

Yield data will begin to flow at harvest time,and full results from the first year of trials will be formally reported early in 2011.

Non-wetting soilsThe GRDC is funding two new five-yearprojects, launched in spring 2010, aiming toprovide answers on managing non-wettingsoils. Stephen Davies, of the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA), will lead a project to help growers identify their water repellent soils, and choose whichmanagement option best suits their needsand is likely to be economically sensible.

A research project led by Margaret Roper ofCSIRO will complement the DAFWA researchby exploring management techniquespromoting water infiltration in to non-wettingsoils.

Septoria and yellow spotSeptoria and yellow spot are key diseaseproblems for WA wheat growers. Yellow spotcan cause up to 30 per cent yield losses.

Septoria is a particular problem for wheatgrowers in the southern half of the WA grain belt.

A recent breakthrough in combating theeffects of these diseases is a new laboratory



BY NEIL YOUNG, GRDC WESTERN PANEL CHAIR

WesternRegion

Where your 2009–10 research dollars wereinvested in the West ($m)




■ Oilseeds $0.94

■ Wheat $1.91

$38.83m TOTAL

GRDC Western Panel members during the 2010 spring tour, from left, deputy chairman Richard Oliver, RalphBurnett, Leecia Angus, Anna Butcher, Narelle Moore, Fran Hoyle, Merrie Carlshausen and chairman Neil Young.(Peter Roberts,Tracey Gianatti and John Harvey absent from photo).



screening method developed by the GRDC-supported Australian Centre for NecrotrophicFungal Pathogens (ACNFP) in Perth.

This screening method will allow plantbreeders to screen genetic material foryellow spot and septoria with much greateraccuracy, allowing the breeders to producenew wheat varieties with enhancedresistance to these diseases.

Crop sequencingIn 2010, the GRDC funded a ‘profitable cropsequencing’ project aimed at optimisingcrop rotations to boost productivity andprofitability in WA.

Led by DAFWA, the project will monitor the impact of different crop rotations atdifferent sites in the grain belt.

This project aims to give growers theknowledge to make more confidentdecisions about crop rotations and respondto climatic and market factors.

The GRDC initiative will demonstrate theimpact of different crop rotations on farmprofits and measure the uptake of different crop sequencing practices bygrowers.

Weed managementResearch by the Australian HerbicideResistance Initiative (AHRI) has highlightedthe potential risk that low glyphosate ratespose to herbicide resistance development in cross-pollinated ryegrass, compared with the low risk of resistance developmentin self-pollinated wild oat populations. This work is being led by AHRI directorStephen Powles and will have an Australia-wide impact on the use of glyphosate.

Disease managementA project led by DAFWA is utilising pathologyservices for integrated disease management.The main focus of this research is on theepidemiology and modelling for theforecasting of stripe rust and wheat streakmosaic virus epidemics in wheat in WA aswell as forecasting for blackspot in field peas in WA and South Australia through thedelivery of web-based mapping.

GM canolaThe WA government approved an exemptionorder under the Genetically Modified CropsFree Areas Act 2003 to permit cultivation ofGM canola in WA. In response to thisdecision, and to provide increased data oncanola varietal performance to WA growers,the National Variety Trials (NVT) program

planted eight GM canola trials in the 2010season.

Harrington Weed Seed DestructorInvented by Darkan grower Ray Harrington,verified by AHRI and funded by the GRDC,the Harrington Weed Seed Destructor showsgreat promise as a new tool in the fightagainst annual ryegrass and other weeds.Three machines will be tested in WA duringthe 2010 harvest and in other states in 2011.

LupinsGood progress is being made in GRDC-supported research work by the WA-basedCentre for Legumes in MediterraneanAgriculture (CLIMA) in to developing aglyphosate tolerant lupin.

BiocharBiochar is a stabilised form of carbon made by the pyrolysis (slow, low-oxygenburning) of biomass, such as manure, wood or straw.

Through a national investment with CSIROand the University of WA, the GRDC isinvestigating the ability of biochar to improvecrop nutrition, and ways of reducingproduction costs to make biochar affordablefor use in agriculture. A related project,funded through the Department ofAgriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, isinvestigating the potential of biochar as ameans of sequestering carbon.

More than 70 types of biochar are beingevaluated for their impact on soil parameterssuch as carbon levels, pH, electricalconductivity, cation exchange capacity,adsorption and water-holding capacity.Findings to date indicate that the source ofthe biochar has the greatest impact on itswater-holding capacity, while the pH isaffected most by the temperature at whichthe biochar is produced.

Soil managementThe sustainable and profitable managementof soils is of major concern to growers. To find better ways of farming, the GRDC issupporting both long-term trial work by theWestern Australian No Tillage FarmersAssociation (WANTFA) and DAFWA research into massive soil disturbance using ploughs and spaders.

GRDC Western Panel members, GRDC Board members and growers discuss seasonal conditions and researchpriorities next to a paddock of Mace wheat on the farm of Bencubbin grower Nick Gillett.

GRDC western panel chairman Neil Young.

Nutrient managementGrain growers’ decisions about fertiliserapplication are based on the factors ofnutrient use efficiency: the nutrientrequirements of plants, nutrient availability in soils, and nutrient losses that can occurduring crop growth (for example, throughdenitrification or erosion). Given that fertiliser inputs comprise about 30 percent of the total variable costs of crop production, improved nutrient use efficiencymay significantly increase profitability.

Decision-making toolsThe GRDC has invested in Making BetterFertiliser Decisions for Cropping, a nationalproject that seeks to reassess criteria fortesting soil nutrients for cereal, pulse andoilseed crops, using historical cropnutrient–soil test response calibration trialsconducted in Australian grain-growingregions.

BiocharBiochar is a deliberately stabilised form of carbon made by the pyrolysis (slow, low-oxygen burning) of biomass, such asmanure, wood or straw.

Through a national investment with CSIROand the University of Western Australia, theGRDC is investigating the ability of biocharto improve crop nutrition. An associatedproject, is investigating the potential ofbiochar as a means of sequestering carbon.

More than 70 types of biochar are beingevaluated for their impact on soil parameterssuch as carbon levels, pH, electricalconductivity, cation exchange capacity,adsorption and water-holding capacity. Initialfindings show that the source of the biocharhas the greatest impact on its water-holdingcapacity, while the pH is affected most bythe temperature at which the biochar isproduced.

Weed managementWith support from the GRDC, the NationalIntegrated Weed Management Initiative hashelped to coordinate strategic investment in projects on surveillance, cultural andgenetic approaches to weed management in the grains industry.

Key projects from the initiative include:

• support for the Australian GlyphosateSustainability Working Group

• delivery of training in integrated weedmanagement to growers and advisorsaround Australia

• field evaluation of non-chemicalapproaches, including the use of theHarrington Weed Seed Destructor, inintegrated weed management systems.

GRDC-supported work to address theincreasing incidence of glyphosateresistance produced useful tools andmanagement strategies for use by growersin 2009–10.


Practices objectiveTo develop better farming practices andhave them adopted faster.

What the Practices group doesand how it does itThe Practices group develops andpromotes innovative and integratedpractices and technologies to increase the grains industry’s capacity for on-farmchange. The focus is in the areas of soilconstraints, water and nutrient use, crop threats, environmental variability,agronomic improvements and biosecurity.

Because grower and adviser informationneeds and preferred delivery mechanismsdiffer according to production region,enterprise mix and individualcircumstances, the Practices grouppackages, tailors and delivers region-specific information.

The integration of natural resourcemanagement practices into croppingsystems is essential for long-term viability of the grains industry. Through the Practices group, the GRDCaligns sustainable production systemsresearch at a farm level with broader,community-based land use initiatives.

Funds invested$48.99m was invested through Practices in 2009–10. In addition, there was significant co-investment from research partners.

Practices Group

Ian Stanley is trialling biochar made from wheat straw to improve the condition of his sandy soils.Photo: Evan Collis

Investment Highlights


investment highlights

Disease managementThe GRDC supports ongoing projects bystate government pathology servicesinvestigating integrated diseasemanagement. In 2009–10, this includedresearch by the Western AustralianDepartment of Agriculture and Food on:

• the epidemiology and modelling for theforecasting of stripe rust and wheat streakmosaic virus epidemics in wheat in WA

• forecasting for blackspot in field peas inWA and SA, delivered through web-basedmapping (in collaboration with the SouthAustralian Research and DevelopmentInstitute).

The Australian Cereal Rust Control programconducts pathogenicity surveys and cerealrust pathogen studies for the Australiangrains industry. In 2009–10, this includedstudies of pathogen variability andpathotyping support for 754 rust samplesreceived from growers, advisors andpathologists. The program also screenedgermplasm and worked on the identificationand utilisation of new rust-resistance genes.

Pest managementGRDC-supported research deliveredimportant outcomes in pest management in 2009–10.

The University of Melbourne, in collaborationwith the Western Australian Department ofAgriculture and Food, developed amolecular assay for detecting wheat streakmosaic virus (WSMV) in individual wheat curl mites (the vector of transmission for the disease). The assay can be used incombination with mite-intensity analysis toassess risks of WSMV infection throughoutthe growing season, and has been used toaddress questions on various wheat curlmite biotypes, some of which do not appearto transmit the disease.

Through the National Invertebrate PestInitiative, managed by CSIRO:

• training workshops in invertebrate pestidentification and integrated pestmanagement (IPM), designed to reducecosts and enhance sustainability forfarmers

• an invertebrate pest identification and IPMtraining manual, titled I SPY: Insects ofBroad-acre Farming Systems, IdentificationManual and Training Resource, wasproduced

• a responsive information service wasdelivered through online sources in eachgrain-growing region, including PestFAX,PestFACTS and BeatSheet Blog.

Crop sequencesDual-purpose canolaThe GRDC has partnered with CSIRO toevaluate the potential for the use of canola(Brassica napus) as a dual-purpose crop—grazed in mid-winter and regrown toproduce grain—in the mixed farmingsystems of southern Australia.

Field experiments were conducted acrosssouth-eastern Australia to select canolavarieties that produced good biomass andhad good disease resistance. Grazingexperiments investigated animal healthissues, stock growth and the impacts ofgrazing on crop growth and yield. The work showed that canola can produce asignificant amount of high-quality forage andcan regrow after grazing to yield as muchgrain as traditional, ungrazed canola crops.

Both experimental work and commercialexperience indicate that dual-purposecanola can be highly profitable and providegrowers with system flexibility in addition the benefits of a break crop.

Wheat-on-wheat rotationsIncreasingly, modern conservation croppingsystems involve successive no-till crops ofwheat, which can suffer yield penaltiesbecause of unidentified biologicalconstraints in the rhizosphere.

The GRDC has partnered with CSIRO toimprove understanding of the biologicalbasis for the better performance of specific wheat varieties in intensive, no-tillwheat-on-wheat rotations. The project aimsto provide better breeding and management

solutions to halt the 5–15 percent loss ofyield that affects around half of the wheat-on-wheat crops grown in the Southern and Western regions.

BiosecurityIn 2009–10, Plant Health Australia, throughthe GRDC-supported Cooperative ResearchCentre for National Plant Biosecurity (CRCNPB), finalised new emergency plant pestcontingency plans for possible incursions of:

• the diseases leaf spot (Alternariahumicola), leaf blight of wheat (Alternariatriticina), leaf blotch of cereals (Drechsleratetramera), Fusarium wilt of chickpeas,lentils and lupins (Fusarium oxysporumf.sp. ciceris, lentis and lupini), and stemrust of wheat (Puccinia graminis f.sp. triticipathotype Ug99)

• the insect pests spotted stalk borer (Chilo partellus) and corn earworm(Helicoverpa zea).

Plant Health Australia has also developedpest-specific surveillance plans for Russianwheat aphid, hessian fly and sunn pest.Biosecurity information, including informationon high-priority pests, has been delivered to the grains industry through the Grains On-farm Biosecurity Program.

Tilletia indica, the cause of Karnal bunt inwheat, is the target of strict quarantineregulations in Australia. A molecular assayhas been developed by the CRC NPB tosimultaneously detect and identify Karnalbunt and other, related grass bunts found inwheat grains. The molecular assay will be avaluable surveillance tool to help ensure thatAustralia remains free of the disease.

Grain borer—Rhyzopertha dominica. Photo: Rebecca Thyer



ExtensionThe Extension and Grower Programs area is focused on improving the timeliness,relevance and quality of informationpackages on offer to customers. In 2009–10 the GRDC:

• integrated new demographic andextension provider datasets in the GRDCcustomer relationship management (CRM) system

• briefed RDCs and other organisations onfeatures and benefits of the CRM system

• provided presentations on the latestresearch to agribusiness consultants

• managed Land and Water Australiawebsites

• delivered new editions of DrivingAgronomy

• published final project reports on theGRDC website

• integrated information on climate, soil and production research

• implemented the GRDC ExtensionStrategy and Implementation Plan.

Grain Orana AllianceA GRDC-supported project with the GrainOrana Alliance Incorporated (GOA) waslaunched in 2009–10, bringing togetherresearchers, advisors, growers andagribusinesses from the central-west region of NSW to develop solutions to localgrain-growing issues and get them on farm as quickly as possible.

Precision agriculture, through variable rate technology, has clearly demonstratedpotential to reduce costs and raise productivity, by:

• making more efficient use of increasingly expensive inputs, such as fertiliser, fuel and herbicides

• targeting inputs to areas of greatest need

• strategically ameliorating soil constraints.

To improve the uptake of the technology, farm advisers and agronomists mustunderstand its benefits, and provide advice about how data can be used to make better agronomic decisions, sustainably improve crop yields and increaseprofitability. Yet the Southern Precision Agriculture Association (SPAA) estimates,based on a member survey, that only 10 percent of advisers and agronomists inAustralia have sufficient knowledge of precision agriculture to provide effectiveadvice to growers.

On-farm demonstrations, organised through grower groups, have been successful in educating growers about the processes and potential gains of variable ratetechnologies under local conditions. Building on this model, in 2009–10 the GRDCand the SPAA, with support from agribusiness, worked together to organise relevantand effective workshops and on-farm demonstrations for growers and advisors in the Southern Region.

More than 200 people participated in a first round of workshops held across theregion. A CD of training modules on setting up yield monitors for various headertypes was produced and distributed to participants.

All 12 farming systems groups from across the Southern Region took part in asecond round of workshops, accompanied by on-farm trials and skills andknowledge surveys. The workshops covered variable rate setup, fertiliserreplacement theory and the importance of variable rate management (or zonalmanagement). A second CD was produced for participating landholders.

The favourable results of the workshop surveys will be used to draft a facilitator training program to ensure that trainers can be developed across the Southern Region.The project provides advanced training in precision agriculture to group facilitators.

Grower groups see the value of variable rate technology

CASE STUDY

The GRDC is supporting small hands-on precision agriculture (PA) training activities and on-farm PAtrials to help in the wider use of PA in production management. Photo: Emma Leonard

Angela Van De Wouw looking at blackleg isolates.Photo: Angela Van De Wouw



After identifying research priorities throughgrower focus groups, GOA commencedGRDC-funded work in areas such as:

• investigating trace element nutrition inwheat

• increasing the reliability of canola inrotations by optimising row spacing andimproving aphid control

• evaluating in-furrow treatments for striperust control in wheat, and seed treatmentsfor insect control

• assisting the NSW Department of PrimaryIndustries to validate potential options forcrown rot control.

Tasmanian Research Advisory CommitteeIn 2009–10, the GRDC negotiated theformation of a research advisory committeewith Tasmania’s peak agricultural body, theTasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association.

The Tasmanian committee joins the existingnetwork of research advisory committeesacross the eastern states, and ensures thatthe GRDC has balanced information on R&D priorities, and mechanisms forexchanging feedback, from all states in the Southern Region.

Grain Storage Extension ProjectJust as they require reliable agronomicinformation to give their crops the potential to produce a good yield, growers needaccess to sound information about on-farmgrain storage to produce reliable results andreturns. Well-informed on-farm decisions inareas such as early harvest, selection of

storage type, insect pest control, hygiene,grain moisture management, cooling,aeration and fumigation practices can havea significant impact on the market value of a parcel of grain.

In 2009–10, the GRDC initiated a project toprovide up-to-date technical, scientific,biosecurity and economic information toassist producers with their decisionsconcerning grain storage. The projectemphasises two-way information exchange,through face-to-face delivery and interactionat grower field days, on-farm demonstrations,GRDC Research Updates and industryworkshops.

WebsitesIn response to feedback from both externaland internal GRDC stakeholders, the search function on the GRDC website

(grdc.com.au) was upgraded. The upgradeprocesses included:

• cleaning up the look and feel of the search engine and results

• improving the accuracy of informationproduced by search queries

• enhancing options available in advancedsearch queries

• removing redundant data page searches

• adding functionality to the search results.

A new form-based diary dates system wasintroduced to the GRDC website in July2009. This system allows external parties tosubmit notices of events to the GRDC forapproval and posting on the website.

During 2009–10, the following Land & Waterwebsites were transferred to the GRDC :

• Grain and Graze—www.grainandgraze.com.au

• Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms (now Soil Health Knowledge Bank)—www.soilhealthknowledge.com.au

• Managing Climate Variability—www.managingclimate.gov.au.

Driving AgronomyThe GRDC’s Driving Agronomy is an audio-based format to enable grains industry customers to hear the latest RD&E outcomes. Several new editions were produced by the GRDC in 2009–10, on topics including:

• precision agriculture workshops andtechnologies

• ways of understanding the farmingbusiness

• the ability of soil microbes to suppressdisease

• IPM demonstrations

• quality assessment tools for pulses

• disease management in crop canopies.

> The adoption of a climate change communication strategy to ensure that knowledge,information and technology generated through research is provided to growers inpreparation for the likely impacts of climate change.

> Crop breeding for improved water use efficiency.

> The extension of the Managing Climate Variability program to improve multi-weekforecasting, seasonal forecasting and tools that apply climate information to crucial inputdecisions, such as Yield Prophet; and the online delivery of climate products, through theBureau of Meteorology’s Water and The Land website and the Climate Kelpie website.

> Research on water-repellent soil that will scope the scale and its impacts, review pastwork, consider what growers are doing, and identify management options and novelsolutions that may be applied in the future.

> Work to improve

• soil quality, through greater use of pulses and pastures in the farming system

• water infiltration, through better understanding of non-wetting soils

• nitrogen use efficiency, through better understanding of ammonia loss from surface-applied nitrogen fertiliser.

> Work on identifying diseases through molecular diagnostics.

What’s in the RD&E pipeline for 2010–11?

Piotr Trebicki, senior entomologist at the Victorian Department of Primary Industries in Horsham, looks over trialplants being subjected to high levels of carbon dioxide. Photo: Paul Jones

Wheat breedingThe GRDC is a shareholder in AustralianGrain Technologies Pty Ltd, InterGrain PtyLtd, and HRZ Wheats Pty Ltd—three of the four main commercial wheat-breedingprograms in Australia. These programsperformed well in 2009–10. Fewer varietieswere released than in the previous years,signifying a growing maturity in the sector.

The GRDC also supports research todevelop varieties for the specialised markets for dual-purpose wheat, particularlyfor growers in the high-rainfall zones ofsouth-east Australia, and durum wheat.

Australian Grain TechnologiesAustralian Grain Technologies (AGT) was launched in 2002. The company’sshareholders are the GRDC, the SouthAustralian Research and DevelopmentInstitute, the University of Adelaide, andVilmorin & Cie (a subsidiary of the Frenchcompany Groupe Limagrain).

AGT has a national wheat-breeding strategy,with nodes in northern NSW, SA, Vic andWA. While milling wheat is its main crop, the company also breeds durum wheat andtriticale varieties. The triticale breeding isintegrated into the National Triticale Breedingprogram with the University of Sydney and is supported by the GRDC.

During 2009–10 AGT released a new millingwheat variety, AGT Katana, and entered intoexclusive marketing arrangements for thevariety with CBH Grain. The variety Mace,released by AGT in WA in 2008, received an Australian Hard classification in SA in2009–10.

InterGrainInterGrain was launched in October 2007 by the Government of Western Australia inconjunction with the GRDC. The companybreeds bread wheat varieties for NSW, SA,Vic and WA, and has breeding programs for soft noodle and udon noodle wheat.

In 2009–10, InterGrain released a new wheat variety, King RockA.

InterGrain’s crop portfolio was significantlyexpanded in 2009–10 with the inclusion ofthe barley-breeding program formerlyconducted by the Department of Agricultureand Food, Western Australia.

HRZ WheatsHRZ Wheats was established in 2003 as aspecialist breeder of milling-grade wheatvarieties for the high-rainfall zone.

In 2009–10, Landmark Operations Ltd joinedthe company as a new shareholder, addingcommercial experience and focus andstrengthening the resource base of thecompany. All new HRZ Wheats varieties willbe commercialised through AWB Seeds.

CSIRO dual-purpose wheat programThe GRDC supports CSIRO’s breedingprogram for dual-purpose (grazing andcropping) wheat. This program specialises in developing varieties for the high-rainfallzone of south-eastern Australia. One of its main objectives is to fast-track thecommercial development of new varietieswith resistance to barley yellow dwarf virus.

Drier than normal growing conditions overseveral years have slowed the selectionprocess in Australia. Therefore, trials



Varieties objectiveFor growers to have access to superiorvarieties that enable them to effectivelycompete in global grain markets.

What the Varieties group doesand how it does itThe Varieties group invests in genediscovery, breeding technologies, genetic resources, functional genomics,germplasm enhancement, genetictransformation, plant breeding, cropvariety testing, grain quality research and plant pathology (where directly related to breeding).

Varieties supports crop improvement forgrowing domestic markets, as well as forexports, with the aim of raising the overallvalue of the Australian grains industry.This means developing new varieties with enhanced yields as well as qualityattributes that add value and meet marketdemands. This includes collaborating with the grains industry to clarifyconsumer requirements.

In summary, Varieties strategies are to:

• build and sustain world-leading breeding programs

• focus pre-breeding research on key traits

• develop a path to market for geneticallymodified crops

• facilitate faster adoption of superiorvarieties.

Funds invested$45.53m was invested through theVarieties group in 2009–10. In addition,there was significant co-investment fromresearch partners.

Varieties Group

The former head of the Molecular Plant Breeding CRC, Glenn Tong, with GM wheat trials at the VictorianAgriBiosciences Centre. Photo: Gio Braidotti



conducted in 2008–09 in New Zealand have proven useful for disease screeningand for estimating yield potential.

Growers now have access to planting seed of RevenueA, the program’s latestvariety release.

National Durum Wheat ImprovementProgramIn 2009–10, the National Durum WheatImprovement Program continued tomaximise operational synergies between its northern (Tamworth, NSW) and southern(Adelaide) breeding nodes by exchanginggermplasm, communicating effectively and deploying a database across the whole program.

The program conducted several field trialsacross NSW, SA and WA. Advancedbreeding lines with higher yield potentialthan existing varieties were identified and are ready for commercialisation.

Improving durum quality is an importantobjective of the program. A modified earlygeneration selection screen wasimplemented at the NS W node.

A pilot, glasshouse-based screening method for crown rot was developed andimplemented at Tamworth.

The breeding program has commencedusing molecular markers to screen fordisease, quality, seed purity and agronomic traits.

Barley breedingA review of Barley Breeding Australia (BBA) conducted in late 2008 recognisedthe potential for malting barley breeding to be economically viable in Australia. The review recommended that the western and southern nodes of BBA evolve tobecome self-sustaining breeding operations. The review also acknowledgedthat barley breeding for the Northern Region may require continued investment by the GRDC and its partners—for the short-to-medium term.

In 2009–10 the BBA Advisory Boardaccepted the findings of the review andbegan to implement its recommendations.As a result, the GRDC and the Departmentof Agriculture and Food, Western Australia,agreed to integrate the western node of BBA’s program into the companyInterGrain. The company has become amember of BBA and will honour theobligations of the western breeding node to the national program until BBA winds up in 2011.

Oat breedingThe national oat-breeding program operatesout of Adelaide, and has two nodes:

• the eastern node, which covers NSW, SA and Vic and has technical staff at the South Australian Research andDevelopment Institute

• the western node, which covers WA and has technical staff at the WesternAustralian Department of Agriculture and Food.

The program’s objective is to develop milling and hay varieties of oats.

In 2009–10 the program commercialisedthree oat varieties: YallaraA for millingpurposes, and MulgaraA and TungooA forhay. YallaraA offers stem rust resistance and bright and plump grain quality that ispreferred by the milling industry as well asfitting feed end-use in certain specialisedsituations. MulgaraA is a mid-season andTungooA is a medium-late season hayvariety. TungooA offers excellent diseaseresistance, including stem nematoderesistance and tolerance. Small quantities of seed are available to growers in 2010.

Pulse breedingThe GRDC invests in nine breedingprograms for both temperate and summerpulses: chickpeas, field peas, faba beans,lentils, lupins, mung beans, soy beans, vetch and peanuts. The investment in

these programs includes germplasmenhancement, breeding technologies,genetic resources, plant breeding and grain quality and pathology.

Five of the breeding programs for temperate pulses are delivered under theumbrella organisation Pulse BreedingAustralia (PBA).

Pulse Breeding AustraliaPBA was established in 2006 to enable fivepulse-breeding programs (chickpeas, lentils,field peas, faba beans and lupins) to worktogether, sharing germplasm, technologiesand intellectual property, to deliver betterpulse varieties, faster. PBA has achievedgreater collaboration and coordination,reduced duplication of resources and effort,and delivered to growers new varieties withbetter disease resistance, better adaptationto local conditions, and higher yields.

In 2009–10 the first five PBA varieties werereleased to growers. There is good evidencethat the new varieties will improve returns to growers, according to a comparison ofgross margins conducted by Industry andInvestment New South Wales in 2009 forPBA, based on the results of diseaseresistance and productivity trials conductedin a variety of locations across NSW, Qld,SA, Vic and WA. For instance, the chickpeaPBA HatTrickA returned the highest grossmargin while yielding basically the same as YorkerA, while fewer fungicide sprayswere required for PBA HatTrickA.

Photo: Brad Collis

LentilsVariable seasons, characterised by dryweather and climatic extremes, have had a significant effect on lentil profitability in the past ten years, but have also enabledmultiple cycles of selection to be carried outin diverse and often stressed environments.PBA is developing new lentil varieties thatwill reduce the impact of climatic stressorssuch as drought and heat and potentiallyenable profitable production in most years.Two such varieties, PBA FlashA and PBABountyA, were released in 2009–10.

PBA BountyA is the highest yielding small,round-seeded red lentil variety. It is suited to all current lentil areas, where it hasconsistently yielded around 5 percent higher than the benchmark variety Nugget.

PBA FlashA is a medium red lentilparticularly suited to shorter season areaswhere its high yield and earlier maturityimproves reliability of yield, especially inlower yielding situations.

ChickpeasTwo chickpea varieties were released in2009–10.

• PBA HatTrickA is suited to chickpeagrowing areas in northern NSW andsouthern Qld. It is the first desi chickpea to combine moderate to high levels ofresistance to the two key disease limitationsin north-eastern Australia: ascochyta blightand phytophthora root rot. The releasecoincided with an increase in growerinterest in chickpeas in the NorthernRegion, and all seed in the first release(approximately 5,000 tonnes) was sold.

• PBA SlasherA is suited to the chickpea-growing regions of southernNSW, SA, Vic and WA. PBA SlasherA

provides a high-yielding desi alternative

to small kabuli types. Its very good foliageresistance to ascochyta blight offers a low-risk desi variety option that can besown early.

Chickpea production in Australia has beenexpanding and is expected to grow stronglyin 2010–11 (see chart).

Faba beansIn 2009–10 the seed of several lines of fababeans was bulked up for release to growers.These breeding lines included an ascochytablight–resistant line with good adaptation forthe lower south-east of SA, with excellentseed quality. Faba bean buyers in Egypthave shown considerable interest in the line.

Within the PBA faba bean breeding program there is a small effort focused onbroad beans. The broad bean PBA Kareema was released in November 2009.Intended as a replacement for Aquadulce,PBA Kareema has advantages in improved

disease resistance, especially for ascochytablight and better seed quality, with noevergreen seeds.

Peanut Company of AustraliaSince 2007, the Australian peanut breedingprogram has been led by the PeanutCompany of Australia, with significantinvestment and collaboration from the GRDC and the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Its goal is to develop newcultivars with superior agronomic and qualitytraits that clearly differentiate Australianpeanuts from their overseas competitors.

The program has a strong commercial focusand provides a solid foundation for the rapid and coordinated release of improvedvarieties that deliver value for peanut growersand meet specific market requirements. In 2009–10, one such variety was preparedfor release to growers in 2010–11.



2001–020

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11

— Area—hectares — Production—tonnes

Chickpea production from 2001–02 to forecast production 2010–11

Source: Australian Crop Forecasters Crop Report, May 2010.

Kristy Hobson (PBA chickpea breeder) and Muhammad Imtiaz (ICARDA chickpea breeder) with PBA SlasherA at thePaskeville pulse launch. Photo: GRDC

Peanuts. Photo: GRDC



Germplasm exchange for oilseedsIn partnership with the Australian Centre forInternational Agricultural Research (ACIAR),the GRDC invested in a large project focusedon exchanging and using germplasm fromAustralia, China and India to enhance theproductivity of Brassica napus and B. junceain all three countries. The project, led by theUniversity of Melbourne, involved 13 institutesacross the three countries. The project ran forfive years from 2005.

As well as furthering the ACIAR’s objective ofassisting developing countries to improveskills and resources, the project was highlysuccessful in achieving the overall aim ofexchanging germplasm to enhance theproductivity of canola. The long-term impact

of the exchange will be seen in new cultivarsthat incorporate the new sources of diseaseresistance, agronomic traits, quality traitsand drought tolerance traits that the projectproduced. The project also significantlycontributed to enhanced long-termcollaboration between scientists in the three countries.

Pre-breeding in winter cerealsGRDC-supported pre-breeding researchersdelivered several significant outputs in2009–10, including the identification of anovel pathway for salinity tolerance, newinsights into the genetic and biochemicalbasis of drought and cold tolerance, andestablishment of pathways for the delivery ofkey traits to Australian breeding companies.

Australian Centre for Plant FunctionalGenomicsThe GRDC-supported Australian Centre forPlant Functional Genomics continued todeliver outputs to industry from its researchon drought, salinity and nutrient useefficiency, and to expand its network ofresearch collaboration with Australian and international organisations.

Molecular Plant Breeding CooperativeResearch CentreThe Molecular Plant Breeding CooperativeResearch Centre completed its final year ofoperation in 2009–10. Through the centre,the GRDC had investments in five diversepre-breeding projects, with objectivesranging from the mapping of rust resistancegenes in wheat to the development ofbreeding tools that enable breeders topredict the effects of yield and quality gene combinations ‘in-silico’.

CSIROIn 2009–10, the results of GRDC-supportedpre-breeding research projects conductedby CSIRO included:

• the development of wheat lines thatenable Australian researchers togenetically dissect the relationshipbetween frost tolerance and flowering time

• the mapping of a new adult plantresistance gene for leaf and stripe rust,and the delivery of new markers for theSr2 stem rust resistance gene toAustralian wheat breeders

• the identification of wheat germplasm that is more drought tolerant at thereproductive stage of plant growth.Analysis of this material has providedinsights into the genes involved indrought- and cold-induced abortion of grain development, and delivered high-throughput screening methods toAustralian breeders and pre-breeders.

Australian Winter Cereals Pre-breeding AllianceThe Australian Winter Cereals Pre-breedingAlliance is a forum representing Australia’smajor pre-breeding organisations and theGRDC.

The technology transfer andcommercialisation guidelines adopted by the alliance in 2008–09 have become astandard schedule to all wheat pre-breedingresearch agreements signed by the GRDC.The guidelines are designed to streamlinethe transfer of outputs from precompetitivepre-breeding into commercial breeding.

To give the Australian peanut a competitive edge over cheaper products fromcountries such as Argentina and China, the Australian peanut-breeding programfocuses on developing new cultivars with superior agronomic and quality traits.Critical breeding targets include high oleic oil content, high blanchability, high kernel percentage (less shell), ultra-early maturity for improved drought resistance,and enhanced foliar resistance to fungal diseases.

Recently, the Australian peanut breeding program has significantly reduced the timeit requires to develop new varieties. In the mid-1990s, the program required morethan 13 years to develop a product from the initial cross to commercial release. In contrast, the program’s latest variety, Tingoora, will be released for the 2010sowing season after only six years in development.

The use of winter nurseries in north Queensland and the Northern Territory has been a key factor in this improvement, halving the time required by the breeding,selection and regional testing phases of the program. The nurseries also allowbreeders to maximise seed multiplication by producing larger quantities of seed. This strategy has saved nearly three years in the variety development program.

Closer collaboration between the breeding program and the company that deliversnew varieties to market, the Peanut Company of Australia, has also been a key factor. In particular, this collaboration has equipped the program to take on greatercommercial risk to enable the fast-tracking of commercial-scale seed increase.

Increasing the stock of seed to the quantity required for commercial release togrowers—100 metric tonnes of seed—is a major hurdle for larger seeded plants,such as peanuts, for which low seed returns per generation are common. Fast-tracking seed increase (producing seed in quantities of up to 200 kilograms) for promising lines while they are still being tested can shave two or three years offthe time taken to increase a new variety to commercial seed quantities.

The Australia peanut breeding program is now investigating ‘speed breeding’techniques, using a 24-hour continuous light system, that significantly reducegeneration time. Preliminary experiments have shown that generation time can bereduced from approximately 140 days to 85 days. The program is also exploring thepotential of a single-seed descent breeding strategy that could save a year or two,reducing the initial cross to commercial release timeframe to only five or six years.

Partnerships deliver better peanuts, fasterCASE STUDY

In 2009–10, a GRDC-funded position wascreated for an executive support personwhose role it is to put in placecommunication channels—within the pre-breeding community and with thebreeding community—that will empower the alliance to fully develop its potential. This will ensure that pre-breeding outputsare tailored to the needs of the industry and delivered in a timely manner.

Molecular marker developmentIn 2009–10 the GRDC supported projects to develop molecular markers for use inbreeding wheat, barley, canola and certainpulses (lentils, field peas, faba beans,chickpeas and lupins). Research prioritieswere determined in consultation withbreeders, and project outputs were madeavailable to all Australian breedingprograms, public and private.

National Variety TrialsNational Variety Trials (NVT) is a nationalprogram of comparative crop variety testingthat includes standardised trial managementand data generation, collection anddissemination. The program is funded by the GRDC and is managed by the Australian Crop Accreditation System Ltd.

NVT was established to provide the Australiangrains industry with access to robust,independent results on the performance ofrecently released crop varieties, based ontrials conducted across Australia. AllAustralian winter cereal, pulse and canolabreeders participate in the NVT program.

TrialsResults of the 2009 season trials wereanalysed and delivered to grain growers through the NVT website(www.nvtonline.com.au) and the sowingguides published by state departments of agriculture.

NVT conducts dedicated trials to assess the performance of genetically modified(GM) canola varieties. In 2009, the programconducted 15 dedicated GM trials in NSW,Vic and WA.

Recently, the Western AustralianGovernment approved an exemption orderunder the Genetically Modified Crops FreeAreas Act 2003 to permit cultivation of GMcanola in WA. In response to this decision,and to provide increased data on canolavarietal performance to WA growers, NVThas increased the number of WA GM canolatrials that will be planted in the 2010 season.

EnhancementsNVT was formally reviewed in 2008, toidentify inherent strengths and weaknessesand develop a roadmap for the futurestructure and function of the program. Key recommendations of the review wereimplemented in 2009–10.

In addition, the GRDC partnered with statedepartments of agriculture to deliver NVTdata through departmental sowing guides.The 2010 NVT Queensland Wheat VarietiesGuide, the 2010 Farm Gross Margin Guideand the 2010 South Australian Crop HarvestReport were published through thispartnership.



> The development of a barley pre-breeding strategy to ensure that pre-breeding researchremains relevant and available to all barley breeders.

> The identification of genes that enable crops to tolerate heat, frost and drought, andbreeding to increase the rate of adaptation of crops to climate change.

> Two new projects at the Australian National University that will focus on modifying thesequence and expression of target genes to improve the photosynthetic and water use capacities of wheat.

> Germplasm enhancement projects to

• improve genetic resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus, crown rot and yellow spot inwheat

• improve frost tolerance in wheat and barley

• develop high salinity tolerance in winter cereals

• identify the genetic and phenological basis of head loss in malting barley

• identify molecular markers for specific maize diseases.

> Specific breeding projects to:

• develop wheat varieties that have substantially higher yields and are better adapted to Australia’s harsh environments than existing commercial varieties

• increase the yield and improve the reliability of durum grain production

• develop pulses with better adaptation to water-limited environments

• develop herbicide-tolerant pulses.

> Through the Wheat Classification Council, ongoing work with the wheat industry toensure that Australia’s grain supply chains meet the expectations of domestic andoverseas markets.


Australian wheat breeders at a CAIGE-sponsored visit to ICARDA’s Breda Station in Syria: (from left) JohnSheppard (DPIF Qld), Gordon Cisar (Cornell University), Marie Appelbee (LongReach Plant Breeders), RichardTrethowan (University of Sydney), Russell Eastwood (AGT) and Francis Ogbonnaya (ICARDA). Photo: Iain Barclay



New grain productsThe New Grain Products portfolio identifiesinvestment opportunities that increase thevalue or attractiveness to customers ofAustralian grain for use in products forhuman consumption, animal consumptionand bio-based industries.

Food productsCurrent GRDC investments in new grainfood products focus on the developmentand commercialisation of novel grains withadditional health benefits for easyincorporation into grain-based foods.

Through the Arista Cereal Technologies Pty Ltd joint venture, in 2009–10 the GRDCengaged with partners in North America andAustralia to progress the commercialisationof high-amylose wheat. High-amylose wheatproduces a high level of resistant starch,which is important in bowel health, and hasa lower glycaemic index than other starches,which has benefits for stabilising bloodsugar levels.

The GRDC also continued development of‘ultra-low gluten’ barley, a cereal grain thatcould be safely consumed by people withcoeliac disease. Through conventionalbreeding approaches, the project hasdeveloped barley lines that are essentiallygluten free. In 2009–10, the project enteredinto an agreement with a commercial foodcompany to evaluate the performance of the ultra-low gluten barley in food products.

Go GrainsWell established as ‘Australia’s leadingindependent voice for grain foods andlegumes in health and nutrition’, Go GrainsHealth & Nutrition Limited (Go Grains)communicates the nutrition and healthbenefits of grains and legumes to healthprofessionals, food manufacturers andpublic policy makers. The GRDC is afoundation member of Go Grains.

In 2009–10, Go Grains launched The Grainsand Legumes Health Report, which reviewsthe latest scientific evidence on the healthbenefits of grains and legumes. The studiesin the report show that wholegrain foods,such as wholegrain bread and pasta, couldmake a significant contribution to preventingserious and costly diseases such as heartdisease, diabetes and certain cancers.

Feed productsThe GRDC has a number of investments that aim to increase the digestibility andenergy availability of sorghum for use inpoultry and pig feeds. In 2009–10:

• Joint projects with the Pork CooperativeResearch Centre identified sorghumgermplasm with increased energyavailability; research was undertaken to identify its molecular basis so thatmarkers can be developed for use inbreeding programs.

• A project at the University of Melbourneidentified a number of enzymes that could be added during processing toimprove the digestibility of sorghum.

The GRDC is also collaborating with CSIROto develop omega 3 canola oil. The primarymarket for the oil will be in the aquaculturefeed industry, where the oil may replacefishmeal, particularly for farmed salmon. The project achieved a significant milestoneduring 2009–10, by successfully transferringthe previously developed technology from a model plant into canola and generatingtransgenic canola plants with omega 3 fattyacids in the seed oil.

Industrial usesThe GRDC’s grain for industrial use portfolioseeks to identify opportunities for the use of Australian grains for both existing andinnovative industrial purposes that usematerials derived from living organisms.

The Crop Biofactories Initiative is a jointinvestment between the GRDC and CSIROthat aims to engineer safflower seeds withfatty acid compositions that match specificindustrial applications, to replace productsthat are currently manufactured frompetrochemical feedstock or unsustainablyproduced plant oils such as palm oil.

New Products objectiveTo deliver new products and services(both on farm and off farm) that will assistgrowers to effectively compete in globalgrain markets.

What the New Products group does and how it does itThe New Products group targetsopportunities both pre-farm gate andpost-farm gate, by investing in R&D andcommercialisation of new grain and farmproducts and services which providegrowers with additional options in cropproduction inputs and end uses.

New Products actively identifies nationaland international technology relevant tothe Australian grains industry; buildspartnerships to develop products andservices and deliver them to growers;undertakes product development to meetmarket requirements; and develops robust business cases that demonstratethe market demand for and value of anyproduct or service that the GRDC and its partners propose to invest in.

Funds invested$13.84m was invested through NewProducts in 2009–10.

In addition, there was significant co-investment from research partners.

New ProductsGroup

Richard Richards, CSIRO Plant Industry.Photo: Brad Collis

The Crop Biofactories Initiative achieved anumber of significant milestones in 2009–10,including the generation of its first transgenicsafflower plants with altered oil composition.Informed by a review of the program, whichincluded a review of the technical progress,competitive landscape and market data, the Crop Biofactories Initiative is confidentthat the first two products it aims to deliverwill be commercially viable.

The GRDC also contracted a new projectwith the University of Sydney to developnovel, high-efficiency, hot-compressed water technology for use in manufacturingvalue-added transport fuels and industrialchemicals from grain stubbles. This feasibilitystudy is complemented by anotherinvestment with CSIRO that is exploring thetrade-offs of removing cereal stubble fromfarm systems for use in biofuel andbioenergy production.

The GRDC is also working with CSIRO tocapitalise on an exciting yield enhancementdiscovery for cereals by supporting fieldtrials and research into the characterisationof the genetics, and negotiating withcompanies that are interested in enteringinto licensing arrangements for thetechnology.

New farm products and servicesThe new farm products and servicesportfolio seeks to identify technology andintellectual property that can be developedand brought to market to assist theproductivity of Australian grain growers.

PesticidesThe development of new pesticidal actives is a high-risk area for investment, and theGRDC invests in projects that are specificallytailored to address the risks. Usually, one ormore of these three strategies is adopted:

• the project begins with a short (9–12month) feasibility study that determineswhether it will proceed (known as ‘fast-track or fast fail’)

• maximum financial leverage is sought inearly stages of the project, to minimiseexposure and increase opportunities

• as the project progresses, commercialpartnerships are sought to ensure that the path to market is clearly defined.

Among the GRDC’s portfolio of investmentsto design novel products that are effectiveagainst pest species and diseases, the most advanced technology is the biologicalcontrol product for snails being developed in partnership with Charles Sturt University.



In many industries, infrared (IR) spectroscopy has become a standard technology for process control and material analysis. Detailed information can be obtained bymeasuring infrared spectra from complex samples, such as soil, grains or foodprocessing mixtures, and comparing the measurements against appropriate spectrallibraries. Examples of the measurable quantities that are important in agricultureinclude levels of protein, starch, oil and moisture content in grain, and total carbonand mineralisable nitrogen in soils.

Conventional benchtop spectrometers are the dominant tool in the analysis ofmaterial composition. These units are expensive and heavy, and require costly routine calibration and maintenance by experts. These obstacles have limited the use of IR spectroscopy in agriculture to the assessment of samples in facilities such as laboratories and grain depots.

A research project at the University of Western Australia aims to create a paradigmshift in this 40-year-old technology, by creating IR ‘microspectrometers’ that are small,cheap and robust. Microspectrometer IR technology will take the use of mid- andnear-infrared spectroscopy from expensive, laboratory-based machines to a range of affordable field instruments that give real-time results.

Plans are underway to assess the application of the technology in handheldmoisture/protein meters and probes for testing soil moisture and nutrient levels. In addition, a range of processing industries, from breweries to feed ration mills, have shown a strong interest in the technology’s potential to support real-timeprocessing control based on known IR calibrations.

The project began in mid-2008 and, having successfully navigated a number oftechnological hurdles, is currently evaluating the commercialisation pathway for IR microspectrometers.

Infrared spectroscopy prepares to go into the field

CASE STUDY

Dilusha Silva with a microspectrometer, which could revolutionise farming. Photo: Evan Collis


The GRDC’s new commitments in thisportfolio in 2009–10 included:

• projects with the South AustralianResearch and Development Institute toassess potential new fungicidal actives

• an extension to the novel herbicidediscovery program at Charles SturtUniversity

• a research agreement with the ScottishAgricultural College to investigate thepotential use of biopolymers asfungicides.

EngineeringIn late 2009, the Harrington Weed SeedDestructor (HWSD) Prototype 2.1 was tested in cereal crops around Kojonup,Western Australia.

This trail-behind harvester attachment hascreated considerable excitement with itsability to reduce the amount of weed seedreturned to the field at harvest and therebydramatically decrease weed numbers in the following season. First designed by Ray Harrington, a grain grower from Darkan,the HWSD has undergone several years ofrefinement and field trials through theWestern Australian Herbicide ResistanceInitiative, with GRDC support.

The University of South Australia is furtherdeveloping the concept behind the HWSDthrough research to examine theeffectiveness of weed seed destruction and how it can be improved.

Soil biologyThe Soil Biology Initiative Generation 2 wasdeveloped as a joint strategy between theGRDC’s Practices and New Products lines of business. A workshop held in late 2008provided the framework for the investmentsought in 2009–10.

New Products focused on and contractedtwo projects within the initiative, both aimedat delivering commercial outcomes:

• a project at the University of Sydney toimprove the delivery of microbialinoculants through enhanced formulationand application technologies

• the Beneficial Microbes Program, aconsortium of research groups focused on screening new potential inoculantstrains to combat soil-borne diseasessuch as Pythium and Rhizoctonia.

For the 2010 winter cropping season, theNovozymes Biologicals Australia Pty Ltd joint venture made the first sales of itsgrowth-enhancing JumpStart® phosphorussolubilisation product for use on cereals and

canola. This joint venture was alsoresponsible for the TagTeam® product,containing the same active and rhizobia foruse on pulses, that was released in 2009.The phosphorus solubilisation active in both products is the CSIRO-developedPenicillium bilaii.

Export opportunitiesThe GRDC strategy for optimising exportopportunities is focused on developingtechnology or knowledge that provides ordefines a unique selling advantage forAustralian grain in key export markets,emphasising new projects that have thepotential to increase Australia’s share inAsian markets.

In 2008–09, a GRDC delegation that visitedChina identified an excellent opportunity towork with Chinese researchers and millers to assess Australian wheat for blending intopremium noodle and steamed-bread flours.

After an assessment of the cost and impactof such work, a new project was contractedin 2009–10 to take advantage of thisopportunity. The GRDC’s relationships withimporters and millers in China will play a vital part in ensuring the research donethough this project has practical results.

Capacity buildingIn 2009–10 the New Products team adopted a coordinated approach to buildcapacity within key areas of its portfolio,including engineering, cereal chemistry,entomology and stored-grain protection.Postgraduate scholarships have beenincorporated into a number of projects, to leverage the contribution of highly skilledresearch partners and expose students tocutting-edge R&D and opportunities forcareer development. Research partners’interest in and enthusiasm for this morestrategic approach to capacity building has been overwhelming.

> New and ongoing projects investigating

• the registration of minor-use chemistries for the grains industry

• new ways to produce fertiliser that are cheaper and more energy efficient andenvironmentally sustainable than current fertiliser production

• a range of new technologies, for on-farm and commercial use, for their potential tocontrol or eradicate insect pests of stored grain

• the development of a probe for rapid on-farm soil testing, to enable the cost-effective,real-time collection of moisture and nutrient data.

> Work to establish a national quality assurance system to improve industry confidence inmicrobial products, such as soil inoculants, and thereby promote their use in agriculture.


The Harrington Weed Seed Destructor is not a ‘silver bullet’ but crushes weed seeds at harvest, allowing growers to use non-chemical weed control as part of the integrated weed management package.Photo: Nicole Baxter




Communication campaignsIt is important that stakeholders understandthe GRDC’s role in rural R&D, how itprovides value for stakeholders, and how it delivers on its primary objective ofincreasing grower profitability through itsstrategic investments. To achieve thisunderstanding, the GRDC communicateswith a range of customer groups, includinggovernments, research partners, grainsindustry bodies, growers and other industry participants.

During 2009–10, the GRDC developed amore integrated regional and nationalapproach to investment in communicationactivities demonstrating the significance ofthe GRDC’s investments to stakeholders.This was complemented by the development and implementation of threenational issues-based campaigns, targetinggrowers and other industry segments, and several region-specific campaigns.

Working closely with its regional panels, the GRDC developed regional issues-basedcampaigns with a focus on crown rot and nematodes in the Northern Region, non-wetting soils and frost in the WesternRegion, and nematodes and rhizoctonia inthe Southern Region.

MediaCommunication plays a crucial part in theadoption of new technologies and practices.Editorial coverage is a cost-effective andcredible method of communicating keymessages to target audiences. The cropproduction cycle provides a framework formedia activities to ensure that information is delivered when it can be of most benefit to growers.

In 2009–10 the GRDC distributed 420 mediaproducts to inform growers of GRDCinvestment outcomes, encourage action onpest and disease management, increaseawareness of farming practice changes, and invite growers to attend a range ofupdates, workshops and conferences.

The GRDC has contracts with professionalcommunicators in each of the three GRDCregions. Each regional communicator writesand distributes weekly press releases, Crop Doctor columns (timely agronomicinformation to growers) and Grain Flashes(news briefs or snippets), as well asproviding articles to agricultural magazinesand newspapers.

Information packagesIn 2009–10, emphasis continued to beplaced on the packaging and delivery of the most recent research results relevant to grower needs. The GRDC focuses onensuring that information is available inreadily accessible and user-friendly formats to meet the needs of a diverserange of customers.

A new initiative, Ground Cover TV, wasdeveloped; a pilot program was producedand distributed as a DVD through theGRDC’s Ground Cover newspaper.

A new package of products developed inthe Over the Fence program included 26 print, audio and video media productstargeted at rural press and online outlets.

PublicationsCanola guide for south-eastern AustraliaIn 2009–10 the GRDC published a freeguide to best practice management ofcanola, written by a team of agronomists and leading experts.

The 92-page guide covers topics rangingfrom grain quality, crop establishment andnutrition, disease, weed and pestmanagement, through to grazing, foddermaking, harvesting and marketing. It alsoincludes a section on herbicide-tolerantvarieties which allow canola to be grown in areas where it could not be grownpreviously.

Communication & CapacityBuilding objectiveTo increase the awareness and capacity tooptimise the adoption of grains research.

What the Communication &Capacity Building group doesand how it does itThrough a range of communicationactivities, this group positions the GRDCand its research partners as a crediblesource of technical and industry-specificinformation. The group also supportsinitiatives to encourage and developcapacity in education, training andtechnology transfer for researchers and for the grains industry.

In consultation with the other GRDCgroups, Communication & CapacityBuilding also identifies opportunities fornew publications and products that meetgrains industry needs. But these needsand preferred delivery mechanisms vary.Accordingly, this group packages anddelivers timely and targeted information to satisfy the different demands.

And recognising the role that researchpartners, government agencies andindustry bodies play in influencing on-farm decision making, Communication& Capacity Building also collaborates with these entities in a range of jointcommunication and delivery activities.

Funds invested$5.80m was invested throughCommunication & Capacity Building in2009–10.

In addition, there was significant co-investment from research partners.

Communication &Capacity BuildingGroup



Fact sheetsIn 2009–10, drawing on consultations withGRDC panel members, growers andindustry representatives, the GRDCcompiled a list of priority topics to becovered in the popular ‘fact sheet’ format.

To be able to capture issues in a timelymanner, the GRDC retained the necessaryflexibility to adjust the priorities to meet animmediate need. For example, in responseto reports of high numbers of mice beingrecorded in many grain-growing areas in2009–10, a fact sheet on mousemanagement was produced.

During the year, 26 free fact sheets wereproduced, of which 18 were of nationalrelevance and eight were regionally focused. Topics included pests anddiseases in various crops, canopymanagement, herbicide resistance, wateruse efficiency, recycled organic fertiliser and crop nutrition.

Better Oilseeds ProjectThe Better Oilseeds Project was jointlysupported by the Australian OilseedsFederation and the GRDC. The aim of theproject was to improve the skill levels ofadvisers and growers to assist them toproduce oilseeds with reliable returns under Australian conditions.

Demonstration and field trials wereestablished for canola, sunflower, soybeanand safflower. The results of the trials,combined with case studies followinggrowers’ on-farm activities from sowing toharvesting, were presented in a series ofpublications: Raising the Bar with BetterSoybean Agronomy, Over the Bar with Better Canola Agronomy and Raising theBar with Better Safflower Agronomy.

Ground Cover DirectGround Cover Direct, the GRDC’s marketingand distribution arm for its suite ofpublications and products, has been inoperation for seven years. In 2009–10 itdistributed 69,280 items.

Ground Cover Direct attracted more than709 new customers . The GRDC not onlypromotes its suite of products in the Ground Cover newspaper but also publishes two publication cataloguesannually.

Ute guidesOne of the most popular titles in the uteguide series, Weeds: The Ute Guide (Version 2—Southern Region) sold 433copies in 2009–10. In collaboration with PBA the GRDC published Faba Bean: The Ute Guide. This title completed the uteguide series for pulses, which includesLentil: The Ute Guide and Field Peas: The Ute Guide. The GRDC also publishedVetch: The Ute Guide in 2009–10.

GRDC awards and scholarshipsThe GRDC helps to build capacity in theAustralian grains industry and relatedresearch disciplines by providing targetedawards and scholarships.

Education and training scholarshipsThe GRDC offers six categories ofscholarships for financial assistance toAustralian students, permanent residencystudents, Australian R&D personnel andoverseas R&D personnel to enhance GRDC-funded projects, which may ultimately benefit the Australian grainsindustry. The scholarships awarded in2009–10 are summarised below.

Title Eligible candidates Contract period No.

Agricultural Training Students undertaking full time study at 1 year 12Awards (ATA) a recognised vocational education and

training provider institution

Grains Industry Students of excellence proceeding to 1 year 17Undergraduate Honours undergraduate honours study in a field Scholarships (UHS) relevant to the future of the Australian

grains industry

Grains Industry Research Students of excellence proceeding to 3 years 18Scholarships (GIRS) postgraduate study in a field relevant

to the future of the Australian grains industry

Grains Industry Senior Senior R&D personnel seeking to 1 year 1Fellowships (SF) enhance their experience and potential

to contribute to the work of the GRDC at an institution in Australia or overseas

Grains Industry In-Service Younger scientists, advisers, technical 6 months 2Training Awards (IST) staff and others engaged in work

relevant to GRDC objectives that may not be eligible for other forms of support—funding will be considered for travel, secondment or interchange between institutions

Education and training scholarships granted in 2009–10

PhD student and GRDC scholarship recipient SiemSiah exploring the antioxidants in faba beans.Photo: Kellie Penfold



Travel AwardsThe GRDC granted 24 Travel Awards in2009–10 to grains industry individuals orsmall groups wishing to attend a conferenceor undertake travel that may ultimatelybenefit the Australian grains industry.

Industry Development AwardsThese GRDC awards allow groups ofAustralian grain growers to take part in study tours or other forms of training that will help them to develop new skills, buildrelationships and contribute to thesustainability and profitability of theAustralian grains industry.

Conference sponsorshipsThe GRDC sponsors organisations that wishto conduct a conference, workshop, seminaror field day that will directly benefit theAustralian grains industry.

Capacity-building collaborationsThe GRDC collaborates with otherorganisations to leverage their individualcontributions to more effectively buildcapacity across Australian primaryindustries, with particular benefits for thegrains industry.

Primary Industry Centre for ScienceEducationThe GRDC is part of the Primary IndustryCentre for Science Education, a partnershipfunded by the Australian Government,universities, RDCs and primary industrybodies to attract students into tertiaryscience and increase the number ofprofessionals in agribusiness and research institutions.

National Youth Science ForumThe GRDC supports the National YouthScience Forum, which aims to encouragestudents from across Australia to enterscience- or engineering-based universitydegrees and to explore associated careers.The experience involves presentations,debates, personal development sessionsand visits to science, research andengineering facilities.

BHP Billiton Science AwardsThe GRDC has been a partner in theprestigious BHP Billiton Science Awardssince 2007. The GRDC’s aim in sponsoringthe awards is to build capacity by providingincentives and recognition for students with potential to excel in Australian ruralindustries.

CSIRO undergraduate summer schoolThe GRDC is a sponsor of the CSIRO PlantIndustry Summer Studentship Program.

Each student works on a project alongside aCSIRO research scientist at one of CSIROPlant Industry’s sites, in Adelaide, Brisbane,Canberra, Narrabri (NSW) or Perth. Projectsare designed to ensure students have theopportunity to learn new techniques andapproaches, and to understand theimportance of scientific research in thecontext of the delivery of practical outcomes.

Science and Innovation Awards for Young PeopleThe GRDC is a sponsor of the Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,coordinated by the Department ofAgriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

To qualify, applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 and working or studying in an agricultural, fisheries, food,forestry or mineral resources industry.Applicants are required to submit a proposalfor an innovative project that could becompleted within 12 months, and addressesa significant issue facing rural industries.Winners are selected based on their projects’potential benefit to Australia’s rural industries.

Centre promotes agrifood science to secondary students

CASE STUDY

The Primary Industry Centre for Science Education uses funding from government,educational institutions and industry to reach large numbers of school students andencourage them to consider tertiary study and careers in science related to‘agrifood’— food, fibre and animal production and processing.

The major facets of the centre’s program include:

• class presentations that expose students to cutting-edge scientific research andthe exciting opportunities for science graduates in their region, with examples ofthe application of science in local primary industries

• a two-day program of teacher professional development that illustrates theconnection between the science taught in class and the science used locally inprimary industries and R&D organisations

• scholarships enabling selected year 11 and year 12 students to attend five-dayindustry science induction camps that involve in-depth consideration of career and research opportunities for science graduates—postgraduate students fromlocal research institutions and scientists working in local primary industries provide assistance and input at the camps

• a five-day industry placement that allows scholarship students to join a team ofscientists in a local industry or research organisation—at the end of the placement,each student provides a report to other scholarship students, industry anduniversity mentors, and parents

• science teaching resources that integrate with secondary school science curriculaand use practical examples linked to primary industry applications—differentthemes are chosen each year

• a camp for year 10 students, with a focuson connecting schools with primary industry research in local areas

• annual Science Investigation Awardevents—at each of the program’s eightactivity centres, students conduct scienceinvestigations and present the results, to be eligible for an award.


> Work to increase the exchange of knowledge between grower groups.

> Workshops on particular topics such as precision agriculture, irrigation ingrains and wide row spacing/stubble management.

> Vavilov–Frankel Fellowships to support researchers from developingcountries to conserve and use plant genetic resources.

> Sponsorships of events such as the National Youth Science Forum andgrower representative organisation conferences.

> Examination of the potential to expand training opportunities to engage awider selection of Indigenous people in the Australian grains industry.

> Support to assist individuals or small groups to improve their level ofunderstanding of particular issues by attending a conference or travelling to acquire knowledge to benefit the Australian grains industry.

> National Partners in Grain, which delivers training and mentoring programs to develop leadership and business skills in women and youngpeople in the Australian grains industry.


Nuffield Australia Farming ScholarshipsThe GRDC supports the skill and leadership development of people working in the grains industry through its sponsorship of the NuffieldAustralia Farming Scholarships.

The 2009–10 GRDC scholars are:

Stephen Ball, from theGilbert Valley in SA’s lower north region, who is investigating direct-seeding systems

Robert Egerton-Warburton, from Kojonupin south-west WA, who isresearching integratedtock–cropping systems

David Gooden, fromLockhart in southern NSW, who is investigatingherbicide use in broadacre grain cropping

Rowan Paulet, from Flynns Creek in south-eastVictoria, who is studyingthe integration of livestockand cropping in high-rainfall zones

Alastair Starritt, fromWomboota in the southernRiverina district of NSW,who is researchingresearch soil carbon.

David Mailer, from Uralla,NSW—David is a farmerwith a passion for biofuels and the grainsindustry. He is a memberof the NSW Farmers’Association, the Rural Fire Service, and theSouthern New EnglandLandcare Council.

Sara Hely, from Canberra,ACT—Sara is the ProjectManager Climate Changeat the GRDC, andprovides secretariatservices to the NitrousOxide ResearchCommittee and the FreeAir CO2 EnrichmentSteering Committee.

Australian Rural Leadership ProgramThe GRDC supports the development of grains industryleaders through the Australian Rural Leadership Program.The program’s objective is to produce a network ofinformed, capable and ethical leaders who are able towork collaboratively to advance the interests of theirindustries and communities and rural Australia in general.

The GRDC-sponsored participants on the coursecommencing in 2009–10 were:



Commercialisation outcomesEvery commercialisation task is unique, and the process of bringing products andtechnology to market must be undertaken ona project-by-project basis. A cross-section ofcommercialisation work undertaken by theGRDC in 2009–10 has been outlined withinthe previous group and regional summariesof this Growers’ Report.

They include:

• New crop varieties• High-amylose wheat• Growth-enhancing phosphorous

solubilisation products• ‘ultra-low gluten’ barley• Go Grains• Sorghum—poultry and pig feed• Omega 3 canola oil• Crop Biofactories Initiative• Harrington Weed Seed Destructor• Soil biology

Business relationshipsIn some cases, the most effective way for theGRDC to encourage adoption of innovationin the grains industry is to establish acompany or unincorporated joint venture.

This provides more effective management of intellectual property; more focused

governance; ease of interaction with theprivate sector; and, in the case ofCooperative Research Centres, government policy.

The following table describes the companies in which the GRDC had shares or membership during 2009–10.

Name Activity GRDC role

Companies limited by guarantee as at June 30, 2010

Agrifood Awareness Ltd Provides information about gene Is a member of the company and technology to enable informed debate provides research funding

Nominates a director

Australian Crop Provides cereal variety details online Is a member of the company and Accreditation System for farmers and advisers, manages provides a research contract Limited the National Variety Trials Nominates a director

Australian Seed Promotes interests of seed industry Is a member of the companyFederation Limited members

CRC National Plant Serves as the management company Is a member of the company and Biosecurity Ltd for the Cooperative Research Centre provides a research contract

(CRC) for National Plant Biosecurity

Grain Foods CRC Ltd Develops innovative grain products Is a member of the company and provides a research contract Nominates a director

Go Grains Health & Identifies and communicates the Is a member of the company and Nutrition Limited health benefits of grain food products provides research funding

Nominates a director

Pulse Australia Ltd Provides leadership for the development Is a member of the companyof the pulse industry in Australia Nominates a director

Single Vision Grains Inactive Is the only member Australia Limited Appoints the directors

Value Added Wheat Serves as the management company Is a member of the companyCRC Ltd for the Value Added Wheat CRC Nominates a director

Companies limited by shares as at June 30, 2010

Arista Cereal Technologies Undertakes development of Is a 19% shareholderPty Ltd high-amylose wheat Nominates one director

Australian Centre for Plant Conducts functional genomics research Is a 19% shareholder in the Functional Genomics into abiotic stress company, in return for providing Pty Ltd funding of $10 million over five years

Australian Grain Undertakes commercial wheat breeding Is a 39% shareholder and providesTechnologies Pty Ltd research contracts

Nominates three of the seven directors

Australian Weed Served as the management company Has a beneficial interest in one Management Pty Ltd for the CRC for Australian Weed share of the company

Management, now manages commercialisation of CRC intellectual property

Canola Breeders Develops high-performing commercial Is a 31% shareholderWestern Australia Pty Ltd canola varieties focused on Western Nominates one director

Australian low-rainfall areas with some adaptation to other regions of Australia

HRZ Wheats Pty Ltd Develops high-yielding milling wheat Is a 40% shareholdervarieties for Australia’s high-rainfall zone Nominates one director

InterGrain Pty Ltd Undertakes commercial wheat breeding Is a 35% shareholderNominates one director

Novozymes Biologicals Develops and markets inoculant Is a 50% shareholder and provides Australia Pty Ltd products to benefit growers research contracts(formerly Philom Bios Nominates two of the four directors(Australia) Pty Ltd)

The GRDC’s primary aim is to make newtechnology available to grain growers asquickly and as cost-effectively as possible.

In some cases, the benefits of GRDCresearch investments can be mostefficiently delivered to our growersthrough the commercial production of the research outputs.

Commercialisation is a means of bothdelivering and securing technology toenable Australian grain growers toeffectively compete in global grain markets.

The GRDC achieves its objective incommercialising research outputs through:• ensuring commercialisation activities are

relevant to the GRDC’s core strategies• leveraging capital and expertise from

co-investors, to maximise opportunitiesto bring technology to the marketplaceand give grain growers access totechnology

• developing comprehensive businessplans for delivering satisfactory returnsto grain growers and investors.

As part of the overall commercialisationstrategy, the GRDC recognises that, afterthe proof-of-concept stage, a sustainablemarket size, expertise, funds, anddistribution channels are needed.

Investments in joint ventures andcompanies will be based on the merits of business cases that demonstrate these attributes.

Commercialisation


The National PanelComprises the three regional panel chairs, the GRDC’s Managing Director and the GRDC’s executive managers.

The Regional Panels

Northern Regional Panel Southern Regional Panel Western Regional Panel

Regional panel membership as at September 30, 2010

ChairJames ClarkANAMBAH, NSWPhone: 0427 545 212Email: [email protected]

Deputy ChairJohn SheppardTOOWOOMBA, QLDPhone: 07 4639 8840Email: [email protected]

MembersDavid FreebairnFORTITUDE VALLEY, QLDPhone: 0408 876 907Email: [email protected]

Richard HeathMILROY, NSW Phone: 0427 447 872Email: [email protected]

Penny HeustonWARREN, NSWPhone: 0428 474 845Email: [email protected]

Vince LoganGRDCEmail: [email protected]

Jodi McLeanGEORGETOWN, NSWPhone: 0427 926 301Email: [email protected]

Aaron SandersonAYR, QLDPhone: 0428 186 497Email: [email protected]

Rob TaylorMACALISTER, QLDPhone: 0427 622 203Email: [email protected]

Gavin WhiteleyGRDCEmail: [email protected]

Bill Yates GARAH, NSWPhone: 02 6754 3389Email: [email protected]

Panel Support OfficerBen Maroney GRDCPhone: 02 6166 4500

ChairDavid ShannonKAPUNDA, SAPhone: 0419 830 700Email: [email protected]

Deputy ChairMark PeoplesCANBERRA, ACTPhone: 02 6246 5447Email: [email protected]

MembersAndrew BarrPINERY via OWEN, SAPhone: 08 8527 7085Email: [email protected]

Chris BlanchardWAGGA WAGGA, NSWPhone: 02 6933 2364Email: [email protected]

Geoff BuddGRDCEmail: [email protected]

Merna CurnowLAANECOORIE, VICPhone: 03 5435 7272Email: [email protected]

Richard KonzagMALLALA, SAPhone: 08 8527 2077Email: [email protected]

Allan MayfieldCLARE, SAPhone: 08 8842 3230Email: [email protected]

Andrew RicePARKES, NSWPhone: 02 6866 1288Email: [email protected]

Peter SchwarzNARINGANINGALOOK, VICPhone: 03 5865 8200Email: [email protected]

Stephen ThomasGRDCEmail: [email protected]

Panel Support OfficerCarolyn PearsonGRDCPhone: 02 6166 4500

ChairNeil YoungKOJONUP, WAPhone: 0428 918 766Email: [email protected]

Deputy ChairRichard OliverBENTLEY, WAPhone: 0414 305 999Email: [email protected]

MembersLeecia AngusGRDCEmail: [email protected]

Ralph BurnettALBANY, WAPhone: 0427 200 673Email: [email protected]

Anna ButcherBROOKTON, WAPhone: 0428 472 037Email: [email protected]

Merrie CarlshausenWUBIN, WAPhone: 0428 883 555Email: [email protected]

Tracey GianattiWEMBLEY DOWNS, WAPhone: 0427 344 722Email: [email protected]

John HarveyGRDCEmail: [email protected]

Fran HoyleWARNBRO, WAPhone: 0419 260 590Email: [email protected]

Narelle MooreMOUNT RICHON, WAPhone: 0417 918 895Email: [email protected]

Peter RobertsRAVENSTHORPE, WAPhone: 0428 389 060Email: [email protected]

Panel Support OfficerToby DelaneyGRDCPhone: 02 6166 4500

The GRDC team


Program teamsEach of the GRDC’s three program teamscomprises program managers, panelmembers from each of the three regions, an executive manager and a panel chair.Depending on the size and complexity of the portfolio, some program teams comprise several subprograms.

Each program team is responsible fordeveloping, implementing and reviewing the investment strategy and advising onproposed investments within its outputgroup. Other activities include evaluatingprojects, prioritising potential investmentopportunities and monitoring projectperformance.

StaffAs at 30 September 2010, the GRDC had 51 full-time staff members including the ManagingDirector and 4 temporary staff.

Position Occupant

Managing Director’s Managing Director Peter Readingarea Executive Assistant Wynette Neil

Manager Communications Kylie PaulsenCommunications Coordinator Gabrielle Bush

Corporate Services Executive Manager Gavin WhiteleyManager Finance (Acting) Nino DivitoAccountant—Reporting (Acting) Johan Pienaar (T)Contract Payments Officer Carmen JiangAccounts Payable Officer Ada ChenManager Human Resources Wendy NeilRecords Management Coordinator Ross ThompsonTravel Coordinator Sarah SmithReceptionist Jackie Kuster (T)Administrative Assistant Helen Moffat (T)Manager IT Facilities Tavis HamerNetwork Administrator Bob WatsonNetwork Support Officer Brendan Lawler

Legal & Procurement Executive Manager Geoff BuddCorporate Lawyer James MacintyreCompliance Officer Catherine WellsManager Procurement and Contracting Cathy StewartContracts Coordinator Klaudia Skazlic

Corporate Strategy & Executive Manager Leecia AngusImpact Assessment Impact and Business Analyst Vincent Fernandes

Corporate Strategist Evaluation and Reporting Zoltan LukacsPanel Support Officer (National)/Internal Business Processes Noelia GrechPanel Support Officer (South)/Panel Engagement Processes Carolyn PearsonPanel Support Officer (West)/Portfolio Balance Toby DelaneyPanel Support Officer (North)/Administrative support Ben Maroney

Practices Executive Manager Stephen ThomasAdministrative Coordinator Peta McKinnonManager Crop Protection Rohan RainbowManager Agronomy Soils and Environment Martin BlumenthalAdministrative Coordinator Penelope Vaile (T)Project Manager Climate Change Sara HelyManager Validation and Adoption Stuart KearnsManager Extension and Grower Programs Tom McCueWebmaster Sam LivingstoneManager Publications Maureen CribbProject Manager Practices Tanya RobinsonProject Manager Practices Zoe Morosini

Varieties Executive Manager John HarveyCoordinator Varieties and Capacity Building Merrilyn BaulmanManager Gene Discovery Juan JuttnerManager Germplasm Enhancement Jorge MayerAdministrative Coordinator Wendy BosciProject Manager Plant Breeding Alok KumarProject Manager Pre-Breeding Omid AnsariManager Wheat and Barley Breeding Andreas BetznerManager Pulse/Oilseed Breeding Brondwen MacLeanAdministrative Coordinator Nicole Carney

New Products Executive Manager Vince LoganAdministrative Coordinator Bettina GarrettManager New Farm Products and Services Paul MeibuschManager New Grain Products Jody Higgins

(T) = temporary staff Manager Finance – Danielle Jakubowski – Maternity Leave

Staff as at September 30, 2010

Senior nematologist Vivien Vanstone (right) andnematology technical officer Helen Hunter preparing root lesion nematode (RLN) cultures.Photo: WA Agriculture Authority

Program team Subprogram teams

Practices • Agronomy soils and environment

• Crop protection• Validation and integration• Extension and grower

programs

Varieties • Pre-breeding• Breeding

New Products • New grain products • New farm products and

services

Program teams as at 30 June 2010

the grdc team


the grdc team

The Board

Keith PerrettChair (Non-executive)

Keith Perrett was appointed theGRDC’s Chair in September 2007 for a three year term. Keith who iswell known in the grains industry,runs a mixed grain, sheep and cattleproperty near Gunnedah in NewSouth Wales. He has had extensiveexperience in the grains industry as both a producer and industryleader with organisations such asThe Grains Council of Australia andNSW Farmers Association.

Peter ReadingManaging Director (Executive)

Peter has been Managing Director of the GRDC since February 2004.Peter had previously been theManaging Director of the Grain Pool Pty Ltd. Peter graduated fromthe University of Sydney with anhonours degree in agriculturalscience.

Nicole BirrellDirector (Non-executive)

Nicole runs a risk managementconsulting business, and a mixedfarming enterprise at Corowa, NSW.Nicole has more than 28 years’experience in corporate andinvestment banking.

Colin ButcherDirector (Non-executive)

Colin is a grain producer fromBrookton in WA. His farmingbusiness produces wheat, canola,barley, and hay for export, and sheep for meat and wool. He hasextensive experience in the grainsindustry and a strong interest in themanagement and conservation ofnatural resources.

Jenny GoddardDirector (Non-executive)

Jenny runs her own business as an economic consultant. She has 23 years of experience as aneconomic policy adviser to theAustralian Government. Jenny hasan extensive understanding ofgovernment policies, processes and administration.

Steve MarshallDirector (Non-executive)

Steve has a background in foodscience and technologymanagement. He was ManagingDirector of Goodman FielderIngredients Ltd from 1993 to 1998 and Technology Director ofGoodman Fielder Ltd from 1999 to 2001.

Tim ReevesDirector (Non-executive)

Tim is a consultant in agricultureR&D, sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and international development. His professional career includespositions in the Department ofAgriculture, Victoria; FoundationProfessor of Sustainable AgriculturalProduction, Adelaide University andDirector General of the InternationalMaize and Wheat ImprovementCenter (CIMMYT).

Graeme RobertsonDirector (Non-executive)

Graeme has been the Director ofCurtin University’s School ofAgriculture and Environment (theMuresk Institute) since March 2004.Previously, Graeme spent ten yearsas Director General of the WesternAustralian Department of Agricultureand was the inaugural Chair of theLand and Water Resources Researchand Development Corporation.


GRDC Investment Process

STEP 1Identify RD&E Priorities(throughout the year)• Potential issues and priorities are

identified (mainly through growers, the regional panels, project reviews,project progress reports, researchers, the Grains Producers of Australia (GPA)and state farming organisations,Research Advisory Committees (RACs),the National and Regional AgribusinessReference Groups (NARGs), Grower and Adviser Updates, forums, field days and survey results).

• The GRDC takes into account theAustralian Government’s NationalResearch Priorities and Rural R&DPriorities.

• All priorities looked at are potential areasfor investment in future investment cycles.

• Resource allocation recommendationsare provided to the GRDC Board andthen to the GPA and State farmingorganisations for comment in the form of a draft GRDC Stakeholder Report.

STEP 2Investment Planning Week (July each year)• In consultation with regional panels,

GRDC managers develop miniprospectus for new projects and thoseup for review for further investmentevaluation.

• These proposals outline the aims of theproposed RD&E project, its deliverables(outputs) and approximate budgets.These are discussed and refined during Investment Planning Week.

• All proposals are categorised as eithernational or regional investments, and theappropriate procurement method (opentender, limited tender, multi stage tender,direct negotiation) is also identified.

• The proposals are ranked by the GRDCProgram Teams, which include membersof GRDC’s Lines of Business (Varieties,Practices, New Products) and regionalpanel members.

• The regional panels then rank theproposals according to their regionalpriorities.

• The GRDC’s National Panel makesrecommendations for resource allocationto frame a high level budget andformulates the External Investment Plan.

STEP 3Release of External Investment Plan(August each year)• Investment proposals identified as

suitable for competitive tender arepublished in the GRDC’s annual ExternalInvestment Plan, which is posted on theGRDC’s website during the period of callfor tenders. The External Investment Planis based on the GRDC’s StrategicResearch & Development Plan 2007–12(www.grdc.com.au/strategicr&dplan).About half of total new investments in any given year go to tender.

• Tenders are evaluated against specificselection criteria to determine thepreferred provider(s).

• Other projects are directly negotiatedwhere there is limited expertise in aresearch area and/or there needs to be ongoing access to co-ownedintellectual property.

• The GRDC usually invests in partnershipwith organisations that will deliver theRD&E.

STEP 4Review and Priorities Meeting (March each year)• Progress on the status and development

of new investments agreed to duringInvestment Planning Week is reviewed.

• The resources being contributed to theproject by the research partner(s) areassessed.

• Alterations to the rank order of proposals(many of which are now draft projectspecifications) occur through ProgramTeams and regional panels to reflect new information.

• The high level budget framework isreviewed in light of the latest revenueforecasts.

• The GRDC’s National Panel provides alist of projects with recommendations tothe GRDC Board.

• These recommendations form the basisof the GRDC Annual Operational Plan(www.grdc.com.au/grdcaop) and thefinalised GRDC Stakeholder Report .

• The GRDC Annual Operational Plan must be submitted to the Minister of theDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries andForestry by 30 April.

• Approval from the Minister is requiredprior to the funding of projects.

STEP 5Contract Projects(July onwards each year)• Contracting of projects begins, based on

the project specifications being agreedto by the contracting parties.

STEP 6Assess Reports• Annual progress reports for continuing

investment are received for assessmentin March each year.

• Issues for GRDC managers to follow upare identified.

• Payments to research partners are madefor those projects with approvedprogress reports.

• Project final reports are assessed at endof project (usually in September).

• Research project information iscommunicated to grain growers andindustry stakeholders.

How does investment planning work?Investment in research, development and extension (RD&E) plays a critical role inincreasing the productivity and sustainability of the Australian grains industry.The GRDC’s investment planning processes are pivotal to ensuring that thisinvestment — on behalf of growers and the Australian Government — remainsrelevant and effective.

The six steps in GRDC’s investment process

KEY POINTS

New investments need to:

• Align with the GRDC’s overallstrategy

• Leverage inputs from othersources

• Move outputs closer toindustry adoption; and

• Refresh the research portfolioby responding to national andregional needs identifiedthrough GRDC engagementprocesses.

The GRDC’s investment processcan be described in six steps:

1 Identify RD&E priorities

2 Investment Planning Week

3 Release of the ExternalInvestment Plan

4 Review and Priorities Meeting

5 Contract projects

6 Assess reports

Steps in the GRDC Investment Planning Process


grdc investment process

www.grdc.com.au

GRDC location andcontact detailsLocation:Level 1, Tourism House40 Blackall Street BARTON ACT 2600

Postal address:PO Box 5367KINGSTON ACT 2604

Telephone: 02 6166 4500Facsimile: 02 6166 4599Email: [email protected]: www.grdc.com.au

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