GRDC Growers Report 2008 09€¦ · global leader in linking science, technology and commercialisation ... a rapidly changing grains industry. Grain production The production of winter

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GRDC Growers’ Report2008–09

2 GRDC Growers’ Report 2008–09

The GRDC

GRDC Values• Commitment and action in

meeting the needs of ourstakeholders and exceeding their 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

GRDC VisionDriving innovation for a profitable and environmentally sustainableAustralian grains industry.

GRDC MissionTo invest in innovation for thegreatest benefit to its stakeholders.This will be achieved by being a global leader in linking science,technology and commercialisationwith industry and community needs.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation is a statutory

authority established to plan and invest in R&D for the Australian

grains industry.

Its primary objective is to support effective competition by Australian

grain growers in global grain markets, through enhanced profitability

and sustainability.

Its primary business activity is the allocation and management of

investment in grains R&D.

TELEPHONE: 02 6166 4500 FACSIMILE: 02 6166 4599 EMAIL: [email protected] INTERNET: www.grdc.com.au

The Australian grains industry continued toundergo significant change in 2008–09.Major developments included thederegulation of bulk wheat export marketingarrangements and the lifting of the moratoriaon genetically modified (GM) canola in NewSouth Wales and Victoria. The globalfinancial crisis resulted in increased volatilityin commodity prices and farm input costs.

The GRDC continues to drive research anddevelopment to help provide you withimproved technologies to address both thechallenges and opportunities presented bya rapidly changing grains industry.

Grain productionThe production of winter grains and oilseedsin 2008–09 was around 33.1 million tonnes(mt). This was a 30 percent increase on theprevious season. Production was 13.6 mt

in Western Australia and 9.7 mt in NewSouth Wales – these two states accountedfor 70 percent of total 2008–09 nationalwinter crop production.

The 2008–09 summer crop production was2.9 mt, showing a decrease of 19 percentcompared with the 3.6 mt produced in theprevious ‘bumper’ year.

Overall, during the 2008–09 season morethan 36 mt of grain was produced. Althoughgrain prices retreated in the second half of2008–09, the total crop had a gross value of production of more than $11 billion – the highest value ever recorded.

Highlights of 2008–09Following a request from the Hon. Tony Burke, MP, Minister for Agriculture,Fisheries and Forestry, the GRDC assumed

responsibility for the Wheat VarietyClassification system which was previouslymanaged by AWB International. By 30 June2009, more than 40 varieties had beenclassified under the new arrangements anda wheat quality council had beenestablished to oversee classificationguidelines.

There were many other highlights throughout2008–09 as a result of targeted GRDCinvestments under the GRDC’s StrategicR&D Plan 2007–12, Prosperity throughInnovation, which is now into its third year of implementation. Some selected highlights– explained in more detail in the Regional and Output Group reports later in thisGrowers’ Report – include:

• The long standing strategic alliancebetween GRDC, CIMMYT (the InternationalMaize and Wheat Improvement Center)and ICARDA (the International Center forAgricultural Research in the Dry Areas)enabled Australian breeding programs to access more than 1300 elite drought-tolerant and disease-resistant wheat and pulse breeding lines.

• External and internal financial analysis ofGRDC projects showed benefit to costratios ranging from 1.5:1 to as high as 36:1.The Australian Cereal Rust Control Programbenefit to cost ratio of 23:1 was the highestamong a group of ‘Hero Projects’ reviewedacross the rural R&D corporations.

• More than 50 blackleg-resistant canolalines with higher resistance than existingcultivars, including both polygenic andmajor gene resistance sources, wereaccessed by private canola breeders.

GRDC Growers’ Report 2008–09 3

Report from the Chair and Managing Director

■ Northern region 16.26■ Southern region 34.70■ Western region 26.28





CROSS-COMMODITY($77.25m total)

COARSE GRAINS($9.29m total)

GRAIN LEGUMES($7.41m total)

OILSEEDS($4.80m total)

WHEAT($7.48m total)


TOTAL($106.25m total)

Where your 2008–09 research dollars were invested ($m)

An overview of the GRDC, its 2008–09 investmenthighlights and current activities throughout the regions.

Keith PerrettChair

Peter ReadingManaging Director

Total grain production per state over the 5 years 2004–09

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

2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09



How the GRDC is fundedThe quality and extent of Australian grains research, development and extension is enviedthroughout the world. The unique method of public and industry research funding, nationalcoordination and structure – and ultimately extension – provides continuing scientific andmanagement breakthroughs for grain growers. This translates into productivity gainsessential in maintaining competitiveness in world markets.

Depending on seasonal conditions, the grains industry invests around $100 million eachyear 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); and,

• a sliding scale of matching contributions from the Australian Government. Depending onthe prevailing market value of the various grains, this sliding scale means the governmentcontributes around 30 to 40 percent of the total levies collected.

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

This system of joint statutory collections raised over $130 million in 2008–09 which was inturn 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, mungbeans, navy beans, pigeon peas, cowpeas and lentils); and oilseeds (canola, sunflower, soybean, safflower and linseed).

Where is your money invested?R&D prioritiesThe GRDC’s role is to invest in R&D and related activities to benefitAustralian grain growers, 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 R&D is market-driven.

In short, the GRDC invests in grains research to addressimpediments to improving grain growers’ profitability andsustainability. This means allocating available funds across arange of investment areas 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 reviews itsgoals and plans so your invested dollars are accurately aimed atfavourable end results.

Key drivers of change in the Australian grains industry includewater availability, productivity growth, growers’ terms of trade, grainmarket dynamics, customer expectations and farm demographics.

The GRDC Strategic Plan 2007–2012 – Prosperity through Innovation– encourages stakeholders and research partners to meet clearlydefined performance measures and outcomes. At the end of theday we need growers adopting technologies and practices to helpthem remain globally competitive.

Where you want R&D funds investedCurrent R&D priorities for growers were identified during thedevelopment of Prosperity through Innovation. This involvedconsultations with local research advisory committees, growergroups and organisations and individual grain growers.

Your main R&D priorities included:• Environmental

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

• 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

• New and innovative product development• Capacity building

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

Investing in these grain grower prioritiesDuring 2008–09 the GRDC has invested in many projects whichdirectly address the issues you have requested to be investigated.

Many of these projects are outlined in the GRDC Regional Reportsand Investment Highlights sections of this Growers’ Report.

• GRDC-supported breeding programsreleased many new, improved cropvarieties.

• All Australian breeders of wheat, barley,triticale, oats, pulses and canola(including GM canola) took part in theGRDC’s National Variety Trials.

• Fourteen new farming systemsinvestments were established, bringingtogether grain growers, researchers andagribusiness, to enhance the validationand integration of new technologies inlocal farming systems.

• In collaboration with the Cotton Researchand Development Corporation, the GRDCdeveloped a number of cooperativeprograms addressing productivity andclimate change in irrigated cotton andgrain farming systems.

• The GRDC is leading the nitrous oxidecomponent of the Department ofAgriculture, Fisheries and ForestryClimate Change Research Program, and is a key participant in the soil carbon and crop adaptation componentsof the program.


• Following the announcement of theclosure of Land and Water Australia, the GRDC has assumed the lead role for the Managing Climate Variability(MCV) program and the Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms program website.

• An independent survey of growers showedthat 83 percent of those surveyed believedthat the GRDC was delivering value interms of research dollars invested.

• The GRDC was a finalist in theGovernance category of the NABAgribusiness Awards.

• Fourteen case studies on the economicbenefits of precision agriculturedemonstrated an average incrementalreturn of $19 per hectare through the use of precision agriculture methods.

• TagTeam, a Rhizobium inoculant includingphosphorous-solubilising microbes foruse with grain legumes, was launched.

• The GRDC produced Grain Market Lingo,a free publication which provides factual,objective information on price riskmanagement. Grain Market Lingo hasbecome a ‘must have’ resource in manyof the grain-marketing workshops heldaround Australia.

• The GRDC, in collaboration with CropLifeAustralia, distributed more than 40,000copies of the Herbicide Resistance Mode of Action Groups booklet.

• An international collaboration wasestablished with AgResearch in NewZealand, to research the use ofendophytes targeting the control of heat and water stress and insect control in cereals.

Challenges going forwardThe GRDC operates in an ever-changinggrains industry driven by factors such asevolving national and international marketdynamics, including the deregulation ofwheat marketing, high volatility of grainprices and input costs, and impacts ofclimate change.

In Australia the grains industry ‘supplychain’ is experiencing significant changes at all levels, affecting marketing, grainhandling and logistics, grower representativeorganisations, R&D and operations at thefarm level.

Factors directly affecting R&D include adeclining rate of total factor productivitygrowth, pressure on state department ofagriculture budgets, increasing privateinvestment in research, development andextension (RD&E), and the potential impacts of biotechnology.

These changes mean that the GRDC must:

• work closely with its stakeholders (graingrowers, the Australian Government andRD&E partners) to develop strategies and programs that will positivelycontribute to productivity growth in a sustainable way; and

• clearly demonstrate and communicate the financial, environmental and socialimpacts that RD&E contributes to thegrowth of the Australian grains industryand the nation as a whole.

Significant examples of how the GRDC isaddressing such issues include continuingcollaborative work on a national grainsRD&E strategy; and a major study that theGRDC commenced in 2008–09 with the

Australian Bureau of Agricultural andResource Economics to total factorproductivity growth in the Australian grains industry.


The GRDC funds the National Variety Trials (NVT) program across Australia. The programwas established in 2005 and now involves more than 590 trials sown at over 250 locationseach year and is the largest independent crop evaluation program in the world.

NVT is managed by the Australian Crop Accreditation System Limited (ACAS) under aservice agreement with the GRDC. Crops tested include wheat, barley, triticale, oats, canola, lupins, lentils, field peas, faba beans and chickpeas.

Commercial-scale variety trials are vital to the future of the grains industry. NVT will beimproved following an extensive consultative review undertaken by the GRDC during 2008.

The review, planned when NVT was established, incorporated more than 360 group andindividual submissions.

It involved targeted surveys and interviews with NVT management and extensionproviders, key industry groups including grower representative bodies, rural advisorycommittees, plant breeding organisations, agronomists and trial service providers.

A timeline for implementation of review recommendations is available from the GRDCwebsite at www.grdc.com.au/nvtreview.

One of the findings of the review is the need for a more formalised advisory andconsultative mechanism for stakeholder involvement in NVT operations.

The review team recommended the establishment of NVT Advisory Committees that would meet annually, be chaired by a GRDC representative, and include the NVTManager, representatives from breeders, growers, agronomists, plant pathologists,statisticians, service providers and include an R&D extension expert.

Rather than a single committee attempting to meet the needs of all crop types, separateNVT advisory committees will be established for wheat, barley (and coarse grains), canola and pulses.

The GRDC will appoint one representative from each GRDC region on each of these four committees.

The revamped NVT will also feature additional state-based disease resistance ratings inresponse to stakeholder feedback.

The review also identified considerable variation in the quality of service delivered by NVTservice providers. The first stage of the new selection process for NVT service providers willbe to identify possible providers in all NVT regions through an open, multi-stage tender.

The assessment of tenders will be by a panel of industry experts, including growerrepresentatives from each GRDC cropping region. Successful service providers willcommence operation at the start of the 2010 season.

The GRDC has committed to a further five-year term of the NVT program thereby ensuringthe continued delivery of independent and accurate varietal information to growers.

National Variety Trials reviewed and improved



The GRDC is based in Canberra andcurrently has 50 staff and operates underthe direction of a Board of eight directors. A team of executive managers lead thecorporation’s business activities. As well as advising the GRDC Board, themanagement team is responsible forrealising the Board’s priorities and managing 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 into threeLines 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 & CapacityBuilding, delivers the outputs of thecommunication and capacity buildingprograms that are managed within thethree LOBs.

The LOBs coordinate the GRDC researchinvestments within their respective business areas.

The panel systemThe panel system is a key strength of theGRDC. The Board makes decisions with the support of a national advisory panel,informed by the knowledge and experienceof three regional panels and three program teams. This network helps toensure that GRDC investments are directed towards the interests of all itsstakeholders and the strategic objectives of its programs.

National PanelThe GRDC National Panel includes thechairs of the three regional panels, theManaging Director and the executivemanagers. It is the key body for developingand recommending to the Board overallcorporate strategies and direction.

The National Panel also develops andrecommends investment proposals for the national elements of the GRDC’sresearch programs.

In doing so, the National Panel considersadvice from the program teams thatmanage the R&D investment portfolio.

Regional panelsThree separate advisory panels cover the northern, southern and western grain growing regions of Australia.

Supported by the GRDC programmanagers, the three regional panels:• identify and prioritise local, regional and

national grains industry issues that arerelevant to the grains industry

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

• make recommendations on the budgetallocation to meet regional R&D needs.

The panels’ work, and the expertise of theirmembers, is crucial to the corporation’ssuccess. Panel members come fromvarious backgrounds and include growers,researchers, agronomists/consultants,representatives from agribusiness and the GRDC executive managers. There isalso provision for other industry experts toparticipate as appropriate. Regional panelmembers also participate as members ofthe GRDC program teams.

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 Regional

Panel

Southern Regional

Panel

WesternRegional

Panel

Note: For the purposes of performance reportingagainst the GRDC Annual Operational Plan 2008–09 andthe Australian Government Department of Agriculture,Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio Budget Statements2008–09, each line of business corresponds to anoutput group. The fourth output group, Communication& Capacity Building, is a combination of communicationand capacity-building programs managed within theother three output groups.

GRDC National Panel

Enabling FunctionsLines of Business

Communication & Capacity Building

GRDC structure

The three regional chairs (from left) Neil Young (western panel), David Shannon (southern panel) and JamesClark (northern panel) are members of the GRDC National Panel which recommends research investmentstrategies to the GRDC Board. Photo: GRDC



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.

New ideas are the life-blood of the grainsindustry and there are various ways you can have your say about anything to do withthe GRDC, including general or specificresearch direction. Regional panel membersare always happy to hear from you while the E-Concept initiative provides a formalmechanism for anyone, at anytime, to putforward an idea to the corporation forconsideration. The E-Concept is available to both the public and private sectors (see GRDC website for more detailswww.grdc.com.au).

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.

On behalf of the corporation, we would liketo thank you for your significant contributionsto grains industry R&D in 2008–09 and lookforward to your continuing support as westrive to deliver benefits to growers.

Keith Perrett Peter Reading Chair Managing Director

GRDC financials at a glance

GRDC financial overview

■ Coarse grains $22.7■ Grain legumes $5.0■ Oilseeds $9.2■ Wheat $52.3

Where 2008–09 research leviescame from ($m)

■ Practices $43.85■ Varieties $43.82■ New Products $10.28■ Communication

and CapacityBuilding $6.72

GRDC Investments in 2008–09 by Line of Business ($m)

GRDC reserves, R&D paymentsand revenue ($ million)

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

1997

–98

1998

–99

1999

–00

2000

–01

2001

–02

2002

–03

2003

–04

2004

–05

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

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

How the 2008–09 figures stacked up

INCOME 2008–09 EXPENDITURE & INVESTMENTS 2008–09=

■ Industry contributions 89.21■ Commonwealth contributions 43.90■ Interest income 10.01■ Project refunds, royalties & other income 7.27

$m90

75

60

45

30

15

0

$m120

100

80

60

40

20

0■ R&D payments 106.25

■ Employees 6.10

■ Suppliers and others 8.91

■ Movement in reserves 29.13

a Australian Bureau of Agricultural and ResourceEconomics (ABARE) estimates for the number ofbroadacre farms planting at least 100 hectares for grainproduction—From the Australian Grains report series,2005 to 2009. Figures for 2004–05 to 2007–08 restatethe estimated numbers of grain farms shown in previousGRDC Annual Reports in accordance with this newdefinition of a grain farm. Previous reports defined agrain farm as a broadacre farm planting more than 30 hectares per year for grain production.

b Latest ABARE estimates for the gross value ofproduction (GVP) of grains and oilseeds, excludingrice—From the June 2009 Australian Commoditiesreport. Figures for 2004–05 to 2007–08 restate the GVPestimates shown in previous GRDC Annual Reports inaccordance with this change to using ABARE data.

c Latest ABARE estimates for total summer and wintercrop production, excluding cottonseed and rice, fromthe June 2009 Australian Crop Report.

Note: Figures for the 2004–05 to 2006–07 reportingperiods have been restated in accordance with a newaccounting policy regarding grant income.

2008–09 2007–08 2006–07 2005–06 2004–05

Grower R&D levies collected $89.2m $76.6m $50.9m $60.9m $64.2mAustralian Govt. matching contributions $43.9m $37.6m $35.8m $43.1m $35.7mInterest, royalties & other income $17.3m $13.0m $11.9m $12.9m $11.3m

Total GRDC revenue $150.4m $127.2m $98.6m $116.9m $111.2m

R&D project expenses $106.3m $89.1m $105.6m $116.1m $107.1mEmployees, suppliers, administration, dep’cn $11.7m $11.5m $11.3m $11.2m $11.1m Asset revaluations $3.3m $1.9m $1.3m $0.2m $2.0m

Total GRDC expenditure $121.3m $102.5m $118.2m $127.5m $120.2m

Operating surplus/(deficit) $28.5m $24.1m ($19.8m) ($10.6m) ($9.0m)Total assets $159.1m $117.5m $106.0m $127.7m $135.7mTotal equity $118.7m $89.7m $65.6m $84.1m $94.7m

Grains industry profileNumber of farms growing more than 100 ha of grain per year (ABARE estimate)a 28,455 28,081 29,000 30,900 27,600Estimated gross value of grain productionb $11,154m $10,160m $5,024m $8,540m $7,263mTotal winter & summer crop grain production (million tonnes)c 36.04mt 29.04mt 19.20mt 43.40mt 37.29mt

Enhancing the profitability of northern region growers remains the numberone priority for the GRDC northern panel.

As part of setting research priorities thePanel commissioned an independent reportin 2008 to determine key profit drivers forthe northern region and to form a picture ofwhere the grains industry will be 20 yearsfrom now.

It is likely wheat, sorghum and barley willremain the major crops produced in theregion and the R,D&E investment focus willbe on other key issues such as water useefficiency, yield gains and disease control.

The wild swings in seasonal conditions andmarket prices of the past few seasons havedriven home the need to take a long termview of funding grains R&D, and also theneed for strong monetary reserves to smooththese seasonal variations within the GRDC.

Even though domestic grain supply in thenorth has improved in recent times – due tobetter summer crop yields and the easing ofdrought conditions in most areas – we stillseem to be operating in an environment ofhigh grain price volatility.

This increased volatility is also influencingmany longer-term farm managementdecisions. For example, it has boosted theamount and types of on-farm grain storageand the GRDC is responding to growerneeds for more information on grain storage.

A significant challenge facing the grainsindustry is continued pressure on RD&Efunding. However, it was very encouragingto note the following new investments in theNorthern Region.

The University of Sydney at Narrabri and the new soils infrastructure investments at

the University of New England (UNE) areexamples. Both institutions have madesubstantial new investments in grains R&D.

The University of Sydney recentlyannounced a $5 million plus investment ofresearch funds for the Plant BreedingInstitute at Narrabri, NSW. This program willensure there is a focus on pre-breeding andtraining of plant breeders in the northernregion. This is a valuable contribution inensuring succession of skills and knowledgefor all northern breeding programs.

Farming systemsThe GRDC’s investments in farming systems in the northern region are currentlyunder review and new projects will begin inJuly 2010.

Our challenge is to shape farming systems’projects that address immediate researchproblems while also taking a strategicapproach to answering long-term researchquestions.

For example, farming systems research into practices to combat crown rot, such as inter-row sowing is a high priority – but so too is the longer term goal of crown rot-resistant germplasm.

The GRDC is also investing in soil health,fertiliser efficiency and weed control withinthe farming system. But the GRDC continuesto promote existing technologies such asconservation farming where there is still scopefor greater adoption. Investments in coastalfarming systems, particularly the role oflegumes in rotations, are also being explored.

A joint initiative between the GRDC and the Sugar Research and DevelopmentCorporation (SRDC), launched in late 2008,is supporting the linking of coastal farmingoperations with rotational legume croppingknowledge critical to the future viability ofthe region. The GRDC funded Burnett and

Southern Coastal Farming Systems project,led by Queensland Primary Industries andFisheries (QPIF) principal agronomist Dr Mike Bell, will enhance soil health andultimately impact on levels of fertiliser use in sugarcane.

Also the Central Queensland SustainableFarming Systems project is in its third phaseof funding which runs until June 2010.

QPIF reports economic evaluation hasdemonstrated benefits of $20 to $35 perhectare per year improvement in grossmargins to central Queensland dryland cropproducers. The project has been shown toreturn $4 in benefits for every $1 spent onthe project.

Crown rotIn late June 2009 the GRDC northern panelmet with key crown rot researchers, wheatbreeding companies and agronomists toreview the direction of crown rot funding.

A new five-year crown rot project will belaunched in July 2010. A new focus for thisproject is the delivery of clearly definedoutputs such as providing parent lines to allwheat breeding companies. Pre-breedingand germplasm research will remain a high priority in the new project.

The project will also continue to deliver development and extension activitiesfocused on improved management strategiesfor crown rot. These activities are delivering –and will continue to deliver – major short term advances in combating this disease.

A recent Northern Grower Alliance (NGA)survey shows 40 percent of respondentsbelieve their level of crown rot risk hasdecreased over the past 5 to 10 years.

Advisers and growers attribute thisdecreased risk to effective use of rotations,backing up the GRDC-funded researchrecommendations.

About 35 percent of respondents believecrown rot risk has risen and nearly all citedincreased stubble retention or increasedwheat-on-wheat cropping as the mainreasons.


From the GRDC Regions

North Where your 2008–09 research dollarswere invested in the North ($m)

■ Cross-commodity $16.26

■ Coarse grains $2.08

■ Grain legumes $1.18

■ Oilseeds $1.19

■ Wheat $2.56

$23.29m TOTAL

Nicole Birrell, GRDC director; Mark Hansen, Burdekin farm manager; Aaron Sanderson, GRDC northern panelmember. Photo: Rachel Bowman, Cox Inall


Respondents who indicated increased riskstill had more than 80 percent of theircropping area affected with expected yieldlosses (in average years) of 250 to 500 kgper hectare and greater than 1000 kg perhectare losses in worst case seasons.

These results further reinforce the view thatdeveloping and maintaining a soundrotation is still the key strategy to minimisethe impact of crown rot.

Cereal rustTackling cereal rust remains a high priority. It is both a social and ethical obligation for all the region’s growers. It is notacceptable to allow crops to develop with uncontrolled rust.

The GRDC continues to promote its three-pronged strategy of:

• controlling the green bridge of over-summering volunteer plants;

• choosing rust-resistant varieties; and

• using an appropriate fungicidal controlprogram if needed.

The GRDC has funded numerous fungicideapplication timing trials in the northernregion which have helped develop valuable control recommendations forgrowers.

Northern Grower AllianceThe Northern Grower Alliance (NGA) isworking with grower-collaborators acrossnorthern NSW on the GRDC-funded winter and summer crop research projects.

Ground-truthing research in a commercialon-farm setting is a vital part of providingrelevant and timely farming systemsresearch results.

NGA has established on-farm research siteswhich include salvage options for herbicideresistant wild oats. NGA is comparing theefficacy of salvage herbicide options, withand without fungicide, in chickpeasfollowing a Group A herbicide failure.

Other winter crop NGA research trialsinclude:

• Evaluating the effectiveness of fungicidesfor head scab management. NGA isrunning two trials on the Liverpool Plainsin high risk situations.

• Comparing the weed spectrum andlength of residual control across a rangeof environments and monitoring for plant-back issues in the 2010 winter crop.

• Comparing the weed spectrum andlength of residual control across a rangeof in-crop herbicides.

• Key issues for NGA’s other winter trialsinclude aphid management in barley andother cereals, crown rot and nematodetolerance, crown rot and foliar fungicides,stripe rust management with in-furrowfertiliser, millet cover cropping, tacticalnitrogen management in wheat, nitrogenvolatilisation, nutrient impact on foliardiseases, efficiency of phosphorussources at planting, and plant growthregulators in winter cereals.

The NGA research priorities are developedin collaboration with local managementcommittees made up of growers andadvisers.

The new NGA Validator report will bereleased shortly and is recommended to all growers and consultants in the northern region.

Grain Orana AllianceThe newly-launched Grain Orana Alliance(GOA) has hit the ground running with aresearch extension manager, Maurie Street,in place and a series of focus groupsunderway across the central west region of NSW.

GOA will fast-track answers to local graingrowing issues and is part of a newapproach to farming research and extensionthat will provide a rapid turnaround ofresearch questions.

Through GOA the GRDC aims to facilitate abetter collaboration between all stakeholdersin the grains industry by bringing togetherresearchers, advisers, growers andagribusiness to develop solutions and getthem on-farm as soon as possible.

GOA already has trials in the ground,including investigating trace element nutritionin wheat and increasing the reliability ofcanola in rotations through optimising rowspacing and improving aphid control.

Other trials include evaluating in-furrowtreatments for stripe rust control in wheatand seed treatments for insect control. GOA is also helping with some validationwork for the NSW Department of PrimaryIndustries (NSW DPI) looking at potentialoptions for crown rot control.

Spring and summer priorities includewindmill grass and fleabane control insummer fallows and windrowing timing incanola, with additional issues also beingconsidered.

The GOA area of operation has the potentialto cover some six million hectares including25 percent of the northern region wheat area and 57 percent of the canola area. Theregion extends from Coonamble in the north,south to Wellington/Peak Hill, east to Coolahand west to cropping areas around Nyngan.

The ground-breaking alliance of the GRDC,growers and advisers will:

• link research providers and growersacross the region;

• develop science-based managementpackages; and

• ensure optimisation of funds invested inresearch and extension to the benefit ofall growers in the region.

Panel toursThe northern panel has successfullyrestructured its touring program to include a traditional spring tour, which has beenshortened, plus an autumn tour. This allowsthe panel to interact with more researchersand growers across a broader area of thenorthern region.

In April 2009 the panel toured the SouthBurnett and Bundaberg regions to explorethe potential of coastal farming systems. In September 2009, GRDC panel memberand Ayr-based grower Aaron Sanderson, hosted the panel in north Queensland’sBurdekin Irrigation Area, coastal hinterlandand Cairns region.

Finally I would like to thank the members of the northern panel for the time andcommitment they have given throughout theyear. It has been a very busy year for thepanel, but all members remain committed tokeeping grain growing in the region profitable.

James Clark,Chair, GRDC Northern Regional Panel

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

From the GRDC Regions – North

The 2009 cropping season is expected to produce a harvest of mixedfortunes for growers in the southern region.

For many growers throughout parts of SouthAustralia, Victoria and Tasmania, the seasonup until late September was shaping up asone of the best for many years. Good rain inSeptember boosted crop potential in manyareas and the mood has certainly been oneof growing optimism.

But the same cannot be said, unfortunately,for growers in all southern regions. Forexample, southern NSW in particular hasmissed out on desperately needed winterand spring rainfall.

Spring TourThis year the southern regional panel wasdivided into two groups for the 2009 annualspring panel tours in September – the HighRainfall Zone (HRZ) and Low Rainfall Zonetouring parties.

High Rainfall Zone

The HRZ tour was largely focused onresearch, trials and developments in thehigher rainfall zones of South Australia’ssouth-east, Victoria’s Western District andTasmania. Day one’s program in the south-east of South Australia includedinspections of trials and research projectsinvolving oats and wheat, black leg incanola, precision agriculture, deep ripping,and clay delving and spreading.

Day two included a visit to the Victorian DPIoffice in Hamilton where panel memberswere informed about projects relating toagronomic practices, wheat breeding andcarbon research in the HRZ. Projects being

undertaken by Southern Farming Systemswere also visited.

Day three included a visit to MarcusOldham College near Geelong where panelmembers were given an overview of thecourses on offer, and a tour of Nufarm’sLaverton facility. The final day was spent in Tasmania, at the state’s Institute ofAgricultural Research and on-farm, wherelocal issues were discussed.

Northern Low Rainfall Zone

The Low Rainfall Zone touring party programbegan at Tamworth where they visited thelocal Agricultural Institute which plays animportant breeding role for the southerncropping zone. Field trials were inspectedand presentations on disease managementand breeding programs were provided.

Day two included a visit to ConservationAgriculture and No-Till Farming Association’s

trial site at Wellington, a tour of the ManildraMilling complex, and a discussion with theNSW Industry & Investment project officer atParkes. This was followed by an inspectionof soil moisture monitoring and liquid fertiliser trials.

Day three’s travels included meetings withNSW DPI and Central West FarmingSystems personnel at Condobolin, a farmvisit at Ungarie and a meeting withrepresentatives from Wyalong RuralInvestments. The importance of grazingcereals in farming systems was one of theissues discussed on the final day when the touring party visited West Wyalong,Quandialla, Temora and Wagga Wagga.

The two tour groups met in Melbourne for a debrief and exchange of notes at theconclusion of their respective tours.

By visiting trial sites and research centresand meeting with growers, advisers,researchers and industry personnel, theannual spring tours play a valuable role in giving panel members a first-handappreciation of local issues and assistingthem to identify local R&D priorities.


From the GRDC Regions – South

South Where your 2008–09 research dollarswere invested in the South ($m)




■ Oilseeds $2.37

■ Wheat $3.13

$48.72m TOTAL

Members of the southern regional panel visited the Conservation Agriculture and No-Till Farming Association trials site at Wellington.

The high rainfall zone panel tour participants visited Marcus Oldham College near Geelong in Victoria.Pictured (from left) are Sam Inglis, Director of Corporate Training at Marcus Oldham; GRDC Board Secretary,Geoff Budd; panel members Merna Curnow; Allan Mayfield; and Peter Schwarz; Marcus Oldham Principal Simon Livingstone; panel deputy chair, Mark Peoples; panel member Andy Barr; and panel chair David Shannon.


From the GRDC Regions – South

GRDC Research UpdatesAnother successful series of the GRDCTechnical Research Updates for Growerswas conducted throughout the southernregion in July and August. Attendanceswere most encouraging as was theincreasing interest and involvement in theUpdates by the younger generation offarmers. The information presented at theUpdates by noted guest speakers was well received by growers and other industry representatives.

The Updates are an important forum forinforming growers about the latestdevelopments in GRDC-funded researchand initiatives, and for growers to raise and discuss any industry-based issues and concerns they may have.

The next round of Updates will be thosedesigned specifically for advisers. To beheld in Wagga Wagga, Ballarat andAdelaide in February and March 2010, the Adviser Updates Program will be ofenormous value to the network of grainsindustry agronomists and advisers who play a critical role in research extension.

Seed of Light AwardsCSIRO principal research scientist Dr John Kirkegaard’s work to improve thesustainability and productivity of Australianfarming systems was recognised inFebruary with the GRDC Seed of LightAward. The Award recognises excellence in grains research and developmentcommunications.

Dr Kirkegaard’s award presentation tookplace at the Wagga Wagga Adviser Update.

Dr Kirkegaard joined the CSIRO as anagronomist in 1990 to improve theproductivity and sustainability of drylandmixed farming systems in south easternAustralia. He has worked closely withgrowers and farming systems groups and has been a regular presenter at GRDC Updates, field days and growermeetings and has been highly effective at communicating the outcomes of hisresearch to growers as well as his scientific peers.

A second Seed of Light Award waspresented to one of Australia’s leadingresearchers in plant gene technology. Dr TJ Higgins, retired Deputy Chief of theCSIRO Plant Industry Division, wasrecognised for his advocacy of andcommitment to communicating theoutcomes of scientific research.

The Seed of Light was presented inSeptember at a CSIRO function in Canberrawhere colleagues and industry personnelgathered to thank and farewell Dr Higginswho retired after 36 years with the CSIRO.

Investment PlanThe GRDC is seeking research partners to help ensure the future viability andsustainability of the national grains industry.In September the GRDC released itsInvestment Plan 2010–11 which provides

an opportunity for prospective researchorganisations and farmer groups to workwith the GRDC to provide grain growerswith the technologies and practices needed to effectively compete in globalgrain markets.

Projects to deliver new grain varieties,improved farming practices, new farmproducts and information to grain growersare to start in July 2010. The InvestmentPlan addresses issues relating to climatechange, productivity growth, supply chainand markets, natural resource managementand biosecurity.

Increased farm profitability and sustainabilityare what the GRDC’s investments in grainsresearch and development are all about.Supported by growers and the AustralianGovernment, the GRDC is looking forresearch partners who can provide theinnovative tools, resources, knowledge andproducts needed for our grains industry to remain at the global forefront.

The futureRising input costs and a changing, morevariable climate, are placing more pressure on growers which in turn promptsconsideration of long-term changes to their grain production.

The GRDC will continue to review andanalyse all industry practices as it considers the direction of future researchand development funding.

Strategies for lower costs and higher profitsare, naturally, a priority for growers and assuch the GRDC will continue to work closely with industry in determining research priorities.

David Shannon,Chair, GRDC Southern Regional Panel

Dr T.J. Higgins (left) was presented with the GRDCSeed of Light 2009 award for his outstandingcontribution to grains R&D communication by DavidShannon (grower and GRDC southern panel chair).

(From left) Mark Peoples (GRDC southern panel member), David Shannon (GRDC southern panel chair), Seed ofLight recipient Dr John Kirkegaard together with southern panel members Andrew Rice and Chris Blanchard.


A welcome return to good growingconditions in the northern wheatbelt markeda variable cropping year across WesternAustralia in 2008.

Strong prices for soft commodities and high input costs added a layer of complexityto grain growers’ decision-making duringthe year, but across the state the year willbe remembered largely as a successful one for grain production.

In partnership with grower groups andresearch institutions such as the CSIRO, the state’s universities, the WA Department of Agriculture and Food and commercialorganisations, the GRDC invested $34 millionin research and development activities in WA.The GRDC’s national research program alsocontains many projects that have outcomesaimed at improving the productivity of WAgrain growers.

Research challenges for WAThe key grain production challenges westernregion growers talk about are water-useefficiency, weed control, managing inputcosts, controlling pests and disease and the sustainability of their farming systems.

The GRDC research priorities reflect thosechallenges, with major projects initiated this year in precision agriculture, herbicidetolerance, and lupin breeding. Theseprojects supplement our extensive ongoing program of activities in WA.

Keeping growers in the loopOne of the most important functions of theGRDC is to ensure that the research anddevelopment activities we undertake provide tangible benefits to grain growers.To achieve this we listen closely to growers’views on which areas of the cropping system could be improved through R&D,and then ensure that the outcomes of thatresearch are communicated to growers aseffectively as possible.

Some of our most valuable feedback comes from the relationships we have builtwith the many grain production groupsacross WA. These groups are proactive and grower driven and are highly valuablefor the GRDC in both guiding research priorities and extending the knowledge thatresearch uncovers to a wider audience.

In 2008–09 47 grower groups across WAwere involved in trial activities through oursupport of the WA Grower Group Alliance.

One area we have identified for improvement is in evaluating and quantifying the value to growers of GRDC-supported research.

An example of where we are heading interms of evaluation is the publication of the AgTrans Research report in July. This report analysed the GRDC’s investment in no-till research in the western region and found that each dollar invested returned $36 in benefits to grain growersthrough improved application of no-tilltechniques, and accelerated uptake of the practice.

High rainfall tourThe western panel toured the high rainfallareas of WA to gain a better understandingof the research and development needs ofthis unique part of the state.

The shift from livestock to increased orcontinuous cropping – in the Great Southern Region in particular – has createda new set of challenges around managingrotations, waterlogging, weeds and frost for growers in an area of high grainproduction potential.

Developing the skills of our peopleAs much as the GRDC can invest in scienceand technology to improve farm productivity,true profitability can only come from graingrowers themselves. This will be eitherthrough their ability to adopt technologyprovided by research or through their owninnovation and initiative.

To develop these skills we have againsupported the Nuffield Scholarship program.In June this year York grain grower LeonRyan was awarded a GRDC Nuffieldscholarship to investigate future demand for staples such as cereals and pulses, the social impact of higher food prices and price flexibility for specialty products, such asdurum wheat for pasta. Leon’s scholarshipwill see him travel to China, India, the US,Canada and Argentina. The results of hisinvestigations will be available to all growers.

From the GRDC Regions – West

West Where your 2008–09 research dollarswere invested in the West ($m)




■ Oilseeds $1.23

■ Wheat $1.78

$34.23m TOTAL

Lupins play a very important role in Clancy Michael’sfarming operation located at Mingenew, WA.Photo: Evan Collis

(From left) GRDC western panel chair Neil Young, Facey Group cropping group coordinator Gary Lang, FaceyGroup sustainable agriculture coordinator Maree Heenan and GRDC western panel member Merrie Carlshausen at the Facey Group’s long-term crop rotation trial at Wickepin, WA.


From the GRDC Regions – West

Developing the skills of the farmers of thefuture was also the focus of the SEPWA andLiebe Groups combined Young Growers’tour to South Australia, Victoria and NewSouth Wales during the winter of 2009.

The GRDC also continued to invest in thecapability of the scientists and researcherswhose work is so vital in developing newtechnologies or helping farmers to adoptthem on-farm.

This year the GRDC also supported the 12th International Lupin Conference inPerth, hosted WA farm consultants at acanopy management workshop, supportedthe industry-wide GrainsWest Expo andworked closely with DAFWA and industry to bring WA the Agribusiness Crop Updates for 2009.

As well as developing the skills of people inthe WA grain industry, we also recognisedone of its great champions. Dr Bill Bowdenwas the 2009 winner of the GRDC Seed ofLight Award. Dr Bowden began his careeras a cadet at the WA Department ofAgriculture in 1961. He has gone on to leadsome of the state’s greatest grain industryachievements, including the establishmentof CLIMA, the development of a range offarm decision-making tools, and perhapsmost importantly – the guidance of ageneration of agricultural researchersthrough the Department and through WA’s universities.

Plant breedingThrough our investment in InterGrain, four new wheat varieties targeted at WAconditions were released during the year.One of these, FortuneA, was a muchanticipated new ASWN variety with similaryield, but importantly, improved quality over CalingiriA.

APW variety EndureA is a long season APW with triple rust resistance, and its APWstable mate ZippyA, provides WA growerswith a strong short season alternative.

The GRDC investment in Canola BreedersWestern Australia resulted in the release of the world’s first triazine tolerant hybrid with the release of TTriumph Jardee. This breakthrough mid-season variety offerscanola growers the benefits of effectiveweed management with the yield bonusassociated with hybrid varieties, and is agreat example of what can be achievedwhen growers harness local expertise todevelop technology to suit their needs.

A new chickpea variety, PBA SlasherA, waslaunched in Mingenew during September

this year reflecting its potential in WA. The variety is highly resistant to ascochytaand has higher yield and larger grain sizethan the varieties it replaces.

This year the GRDC-supported researchersalso developed new technologies that willmake the plant breeding process faster and less costly. Western panel memberProfessor Richard Oliver and his team atMurdoch University made an importantbreakthrough in identifying genes in wheatthat produce sensitivity to glume blotch and Septoria nodurum blotch.

This breakthrough will help breeders identify lines with susceptibility to the fungi much earlier in the breeding cycle.The breakthrough has also been used to provide clearer guidance to growers on the degree of resistance current varietieshave to the disease.

A similar application of gene identification,developed by Dr Wujun Ma at Murdoch, is also helping breeders through the earlyidentification of genetic markers that indicatedough strength and extensibility in wheat.

GM cropsA change in state government policy sawcommercial scale trials of GM canola sownin WA for the first time in 2009. While thecrops have been developed by the majorseed companies, the GRDC is alsocontributing to the development of GMcrops through its investment in CanolaBreeders Western Australia, and through its NVT evaluation program.

Most grain growers are supportive of theintroduction of GM technology, although itmust be acknowledged that there are somewho are concerned about its introduction.

While the decision to allow GM crops to begrown is one for the state government inconsultation with grain growers and the

wider community, the western panel’s viewis that GM technology is like any othertechnology that can be applied to crops. As such it should be developed andindependently tested so that growers canmake informed decisions about whether to go down the GM path.

Changing marketsThe changes to grain export regulationstriggered new commercial behaviour bybuyers and generated a shift in growers’thinking about the way they market their grain.

One of the key developments has beenincreased interest in on-farm storage. The GRDC initiated a new on-farm storageproject with the appointment in WA of Chris Newman as a project officerspecialising in helping growers set upviable, safe on-farm storage systems.

Western panelThe western panel of GRDC is your locallink into the activities of the organisation.Panel members comprise a range of WAfarmers, talented local researchers and twoof the GRDC’s executive management team.

Western panel members are selected fortheir interest in progressing grains researchand development in WA, and their capacityand willingness to engage with growers and industry so they can bring a range ofperspectives to the GRDC’s decision-making.

I’d like to thank my fellow western panelmembers for their valued contributions this year.

On behalf of the western panel I’d like towish all grain growers a productive harvestand best wishes for the new season.

Neil Young,Chair, GRDC Western Regional Panel

Panel members inspecting canola with grower Lachlan White and agronomist Clinton Muller, Elders Tincurrin,at the White’s property “Nepowie”, Narogin.

Precision agricultureThe economic benefits of the use of precisionagriculture (PA) have been well demonstratedin recent years through a collective projectinvolving the GRDC, Department ofAgriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the National Landcare Program, CSIRO, theSouth Australian Grain Industry Trust and theSouthern Precision Agriculture Association.Fourteen on-farm case studies from acrossthe national grain-belt indicated increasedprofits of $10 to $37 per hectare (average $19per hectare) through the use of PA methods.

In 2008–09, the GRDC continued to supportwork to expand the range and relevance ofPA techniques and tools, and promote themto growers Australia-wide. The researchfocus included ways to:

• more accurately zone paddocks tomaximise profit and minimise environmentalimpacts – this included studies of thepotential for novel tools such aselectromagnetic induction and geophysicsto characterise soil quickly and efficiently

• drastically reduce herbicide use – aproject with the South AustralianResearch and Development Institute(SARDI) aims to determine whether weeddistribution is related to PA zones, and todevelop ways to efficiently integrate GPSand variable rate herbicide technology

• reduce the labour and cost involved insoil sampling – a project with theUniversity of Sydney is developing asystem that will directly measure soilnitrate, sodium and potassium levelsusing electrochemical sensors and ion-exchange kinetic models.

Conservation farmingIn various guises, conservation farming has been practised in Australia for manyyears, and has demonstrated benefitsassociated with profitability, soil erosion,water management and farming efficiencies.However, no-till systems, in particular, have not been embraced in some areas,and potential problems (such as herbicideresistance and stratification of nutrients insurface soil) are becoming apparent insome established systems. Conservationfarming must constantly evolve to meet thechanging needs of sustainable cropping.

The GRDC supports R&D to take conservationfarming forward, through developments suchas improved stubble management; increasedmaintenance of ground cover, especiallythrough the use of cover crops; new nutrienttests and fertiliser placement systems; and,the integration of spatial technologies.

Nutrient managementAlthough an abundance of fertiliser trialshave been carried out across the Australiangrain growing regions, many of the resultshave not been widely analysed orpublished, and much of the knowledgeresides with individual scientists, fertilisercompanies or grower groups. The GRDChas supported the establishment of aproject to compile and interpret theseresults (with statistical re-analysis wherenecessary) in both regional and nationalcontexts. A national nutrient database hasbeen developed to fit within the national soil database (ASRIS), to be the repositoryof information collated and processed under the project.

The aim is to provide comprehensiveinformation to improve growers’ fertiliserdecisions in cropping systems for allAustralian grain growing regions. A keyelement of the project has been thedevelopment of a nutrient loss index. This index will allow advisers and growers to assess nutrient losses to maximise theefficient use of fertilisers in croppingsystems.

Salinity managementSalinity is a problem in many grain growingregions, and no crop currently displayssufficient tolerance to be recognised asproductive on even moderately affected salt land and areas prone to waterlogging. In addressing this issue for the sustainabilityof grain farming, the GRDC is contributing to several projects through the Future Farm Industries Cooperative ResearchCentre (CRC).

One project aims to develop a wheat variety that displays tolerance to salt andwaterlogging through hybridisation with wildrelatives. Two crosses were tested in the field for the first time in 2008; breeding work is currently underway to restore fertilityand other basic agronomic characters inthese crosses. Twenty other crosses areready to be evaluated for salt andwaterlogging tolerance.

Another project, Evercrop™, will evaluateand develop the use of perennial crops inincreasing profitability, resilience and natural resource management outcomes in grain-producing regions.

Weed managementThe National Integrated Weed ManagementInitiative (NIWMI), which builds on projectscompleted in the CRC for Australian WeedManagement, focuses on integrated


Investment Highlights

Practices GroupPractices objectiveBetter practices developed and 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.

The integration of natural resourcemanagement practices into croppingsystems is essential for long-term viability of the grains industry. Throughthe Practices group, the GRDC alignssustainable production systems research at a farm level with broader,community-based land use initiatives.

Because grower and adviser informationneeds and preferred delivery mechanisms differ according toproduction region, enterprise mix andindividual circumstances, the Practicesgroup packages, tailors and deliversregion-specific information.

Funds invested$43.85m was invested through Practicesin 2008–09.

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

Healthy soils are fundamental to food production andcarbon balance. Photo: Emma Leonard.


management approaches incorporatingchemical and non-chemical controlmethods. The GRDC has invested in aseries of NIWMI projects, to ensure thatthere is national coordination of research toreduce the impacts of herbicide resistance,and effective communication of IWMsolutions to the grains industry.

In 2008–09, the GRDC supported activities to:

• monitor the impact of genetically modifiedglyphosate-resistant canola in croppingsystems

• further develop the Weed Seed Wizard, a decision support tool for managementof weed seed banks being refined by theUniversity of Western Australia

• field test the Harrington Weed SeedDestructor, a non-chemical weedmanagement tool being developed by theWestern Australian Herbicide ResistanceInitiative – field testing in commercialharvest conditions indicated weed controlefficacy of greater than 85 percent

Disease managementIn 2008–09, the GRDC continued to actively promote a strategy to manage thesignificant impacts of cereal rust, based on three tactics: sowing varieties with rustresistance; adopting cultural practices, such as controlling volunteer hosts duringsummer; and effective use of fungicides.

The GRDC’s ongoing investments in theAustralian Cereal Rust Control Program(ACRCP) continue to be important inmitigating the impact of the number of new virulent stripe rust pathotypes andmanaging the potential risk of incursions of exotic pathotypes.

The efficiency of breeding and the durabilityof stem rust resistance in new varieties arealso being enhanced, through accurately‘stacking’ multiple resistance genes in asingle variety. ACRCP research is alsoincreasing the understanding of rustresistance mechanisms, the cloning ofresistance genes, the possibility of buildingsynthetic resistance genes and thedevelopment of DNA markers.

The University of Melbourne is examining the genome sequences of sclerotinia andblackleg in canola, to identify candidategenes as potential targets for diseasecontrol.

The Australian Centre for NecrotophicFungal Pathogens, based at MurdochUniversity, has made significant progress in identifying genetic resistance to thefungal pathogen Stagonospora nodorum,

including genetic tools, signallingmechanisms, metabolism and discovery of the gene and protein of a host-specifictoxin (ToxA) associated with infection.

The Department of Agriculture and Food,Western Australia (DAFWA) continued workon the validation and web-based delivery of forecasting tools for crop disease risks,focusing on cereal rusts, viral diseases andfungal diseases of field peas and canola.

Studies by the Queensland PrimaryIndustries and Fisheries (QPIF) investigateda range of aircraft and satellite imageryprocesses that may be used in thedetection of foliar and root diseases in pulses. The studies demonstrated that high-resolution satellite imagery canaccurately identify small areas of ascochyta-infected chickpeas, and thatinfrared imagery can depict areas within a paddock with low vigour.

Pest managementIntegrated pest management (IPM) incropping systems aims to reduce the overallinput cost to growers, reduce the risk ofinsecticide resistance and reduce the use of prophylactic sprays, providing a range of commercial and environmental benefits.The GRDC continues to improve access topest management information for growersand advisers via the Pestlinks website,www.grdc.com.au/pestlinks.

In 2008–09, the National Invertebrate PestInitiative (NIPI) continued to develop anddisseminate information to growers andadvisers on the role of IPM on-farm. A seriesof training workshops were held and theinitiative contributed to the establishment of a specialist website on IPM in grains forthe Northern Region – the Beat Sheet. NIPIalso published a special edition of theAustralian Journal of ExperimentalAgriculture providing valuable updates on IPM projects and processes.

DAFWA researchers have demonstrated theimportance to IPM of weed and volunteercrop control measures, especially wheresummer and autumn rains allow for ‘greenbridge’ carryover of mites. Their researchshows that, monitoring crops for pests andtargeting sprays, will decrease the risk ofinsecticide resistance in mites.

The University of Melbourne, through theCentre for Environmental Stress andAdaptation Research (CESAR), has beeninvestigating the distribution of wheat curlmite and the prevalence of wheat streakmosaic virus (WSMV) throughout Australia.CESAR has identified two lineages of

the mite which may be discrete species,only one of which transmits WSMV. Thisresearch may help in determining thespread of the virus.

BiosecurityThe National Grains Industry BiosecurityPlan, developed by Plant Health Australia in partnership with the GRDC, the GrainsCouncil of Australia, the state and territorygovernments and the AustralianGovernment, was launched in 2008–09. This important document provides theframework and summarises theresponsibilities for managing biosecurity in the grains industry.

The GRDC has invested in an internationalpre-breeding program to provide Russianwheat aphid resistance in wheat and barley.This research is intended to pre-empt apossible incursion of the Russian wheataphid, which has the potential to cause 70 percent yield loss in cereal crops and ispresent on every continent except Australia.

Systems water use efficiencyThe GRDC’s Water Use Efficiency Initiative,established in 2008, has put in placeinvestments focused on achievingmeasurable improvements in whole-farmwater use efficiency (WUE).

Work completed by the Bureau of RuralSciences and DAFWA provided a baselineand a framework for evaluating the likelyimpacts of increasing WUE for cereals, in all Australian grain growing regions.

The work showed that enormous yield gains are possible if constraints to achieving maximum WUE were removed,and highlighted the practices required toachieve healthy crop growth and removesoil constraints.

Investment Highlights – Practices Group

Adult ladybird beetle (beneficial organism) preying on cabbage aphids in a canola crop.Photo: Dr Andrew Weeks, Cesar Consultants


Customer relationshipmanagement systemThe GRDC’s customer database has beenmanaged internally within the GRDC forseveral years, with the primary purpose of distributing information products andservices, including the Ground Covernewspaper. In 2008–09, the GRDCconverted the existing database into adedicated customer relationshipmanagement (CRM) system to fostertargeted information exchange and manage relationships.

Extension networksAs part of the continued rollout of the GRDCExtension Strategy and ImplementationPlan, work commenced on an extensionaudit to coincide with the implementation of the new GRDC CRM system. This project will improve the capture of extension professionals’ details, both public and private, to ensure that the GRDC can rapidly disseminate newinformation to industry.

The GRDC also commenced the first phase of a project to integrate weed,

pest and disease expertise into the CRMdatabase, to assist in managing customerrelations and provide a tool for analysing the grains industry’s resource capacity in

those areas of expertise. In 2008–09, theproject concentrated on contacting andcollecting information from professionals in relevant academic disciplines,organisations and communities within the grains industry.

The GRDC continued its strategicpartnership with the State ExtensionLeaders Network (SELN). SELN is agathering of government extension leadersfrom each state and territory of Australia,and strives to provide leadership andstrategic direction in the development ofextension service delivery.

Collaboration with agribusinessThe GRDC hosted regular meetings of theNational Agribusiness Reference Group in2008–09, focusing on issues such as:

• providing and receiving RD&E informationand priorities from agribusiness to tailorprograms that maximise uptake bygrower clients

• delivering information in a form that isrelevant and easy-to-use by agribusinessand the GRDC

• continued commercial relevance withinRD&E investments.

Access to final reportsThe first phase of a GRDC project to convert the final reports of research projects to online formats is now complete.Final reports were converted to a consistentweb format for use on the GRDC website in the future.

Investment Highlights – Practices Group

Opportunities to increase production and profit per land unit andannual rainfall unit greatly affect the economic viability of Australianfarms. Growers’ success in improving yield per rainfall unit has beenthe result of a combination of four elements: improved croppingpractices, better varieties, synergies between varieties and agronomy,and adoption of new technologies.

Working with farming groups and scientists across South Australia,New South Wales, Queensland and WA, a new GRDC-funded project aims to improve water use efficiency both in-crop and on farm generally.

At the crop level, there is frequently a large gap between actual andattainable yield per unit of water used. There are many complexinteracting reasons for this inefficiency, including managementpractices and environmental drivers (such as the time of rainfall).This project aims to guide growers in better matching management,variety, soil and climate, to improve the water use efficiency inAustralia’s grain crop, and increase the kilograms of grain producedper hectare per millimetre of rain (kg/ha/mm).

Since the mid-1800s, varietal improvements have increased yield perunit of water used. In wheat in particular, there has been a steadyrate of improvement of about 0.078 kg/ha/mm per year, from about 9 kg/ha/mm to the estimated 22 kg/ha/mm yield of today’s varieties.Although this is a major achievement, matching varieties with soil,climate and management remains a challenge, and is beingaddressed in this project.

Water use efficiency project pinpointsreturns on rainfall

CaseStudy

What’s in the 2009–10 RD&E pipeline?• As part of the RDC initiative – Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary

Industries – the GRDC is co-ordinating research on quantifying nitrous oxideemissions from grain production systems and appropriate methods formitigating these emissions.

• The GRDC will continue to facilitate the uptake of precision agriculture tools.

• Continued focus on Integrated Weed Management (IWM) approachesincorporating chemical and non-chemical control methods.This investment willensure that there is national coordination of research to reduce the impacts ofherbicide resistance and ensure effective communication of IWM solutions.

• Continued promotion of a three-pronged strategy to manage the significantimpacts of cereal rust that includes the use of varieties with cereal rustresistance, adopting cultural tactics such as controlling volunteer hosts duringsummer and the strategic use of fungicides.

• Continue to develop our understanding of the impacts different soil types,crops, farming systems and enterprises have on water use efficiency.

• Further collaborative work with growers and agribusiness towards the timelydissemination of extension advice in the most appropriate format.


Investment Highlights – Varieties Group

Wheat breedingWheat breeding programs with the GRDCsupport performed strongly in 2008–09,releasing a number of new varieties withsuperior traits. The reach and resources of thewheat breeding effort were expanded duringthe year through a new business relationshipbetween Australian Grain Technologies andone of the world’s leading seed producers.

New releasesFourteen new wheat varieties, including twodurum wheats, were released in 2008–09.

Data from long-term and multi-site trials inNational Variety Trials (NVT) indicate thatmany of these varieties have yieldssignificantly higher than those of the currentlypreferred varieties in their target regions. Forexample, in WA the recently released millingvarieties BumperA and MaceA were between 2 percent and 9 percent higher yielding

than the most dominant varieties. While inSouth Australia and Victoria the new milling variety WaagenA recorded yields 3 percent to 11 percent higher than the dominantvarieties (see accompanying charts).

Dual-purpose wheatIn 2008–09, the GRDC continued to supportthe CSIRO breeding program for dualpurpose wheat. This is a small, specialisedbreeding program developing grazing wheat varieties for the high-rainfall zone ofsouth-eastern Australia. A major hindrancesince the beginning of this project has beenthe continued dry conditions in south-easternAustralia, which have limited the ability toselect for yield and disease resistance.

To counter these dry conditions, yield trials and disease nurseries have beenestablished in comparable climates in NewZealand. Two lines developed through theprogram are currently being commercialised.

Yield results for 2008–09 wheat varieties relative to the three most dominantvarieties in Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria

Note:Yield results are based on statewide NVT. The most dominant varieties are determined by silo delivery volume.

WA—statewide average yield

CarnamahA CalingiriA WyalkatchemA BumperA (2008) MaceA (2008)2200

2300

2400

2500

2600

2700Yield (Kg/Ha)

Wheat variety

SA—statewide average yield

Frame YitpiA WyalkatchemA BumperA (2008) WaagenA (2008)2200

2300

2400

2500

2600

2700Yield (Kg/Ha)

Wheat variety

Vic—statewide average yield

Frame WyalkatchemA YitpiA WaagenA (2008)2500

2600

2700

2800

2900

3000Yield (Kg/Ha)

Wheat variety

Varieties GroupVarieties objectiveGrowers have access to superior varietiesthat enable them to effectively compete inglobal 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 directlyrelated 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-leadingbreeding programs

• focus pre-breeding research on key traits

• develop a path to market for genetically modified crops

• facilitate faster adoption of superiorvarieties.

Funds invested$43.82m was invested through the Varieties group in 2008–09.


A healthy sunflower crop. Photo: Sue Thompson


Durum wheatThe newly formed National Durum WheatImprovement Program released two newvarieties, CaparoiA and HypernoA, in2008–09. CaparoiA was developed to meet increasing demand for a durum wheat variety with superior quality traitsadapted to the hostile South Australiandurum-growing regions. CaparoiA is a high-yielding durum with improvedresistance to fungal pathogens; strongseedling vigour; excellent lodging andshedding resistance; and, excellent colourand quality traits.

The GRDC has supported durum pre-breeding research at the InternationalAgricultural Research in the Dry Areas(ICARDA) for more than ten years. Theresearch has been focused on pre-emptivelybreeding resistance for potential diseasethreats, and improving water use efficiency.

Australian Grain TechnologiesThe GRDC is the largest shareholder inAustralian Grain Technologies (AGT), one of Australia’s leading wheat-breedingcompanies. During 2008–09, AGT welcomeda new shareholder, Vilmorin & Cie, asubsidiary of the French grower-ownedcooperative Groupe Limagrain. Limagrain is a global leader in plant breeding and seed production and commercialisation, operating in more than 30 countries.

This partnership will help to ensure AGTremains at the cutting edge of breedingtechnology and can capture new marketopportunities for Australian growers. AGT will also benefit from Limagrain’s direct

connection to the food supply chain, fromseed to supermarket, through its investmentsin the production and commercialisation ofcereal ingredients and bakery products.

In 2008–09, AGT continued its strongcommitment to improving the productivity of the Australian grains industry, makingavailable a number of new, improved cropvarieties, including six bread wheat varieties and two durum wheat varieties.

InterGrainThe Government of Western Australia andthe GRDC launched the wheat-breedingcompany InterGrain in October 2007.

In 2008–09, InterGrain released four wheatvarieties: FortuneA, BumperA, ZippyA andEndureA. The diverse characteristics ofthese varieties enables growers to have abetter choice in matching variety selectionto growing conditions and different endmarkets.

InterGrain developed a strategic relationshipwith Grain Pool to ensure that the threepremium udon varieties, BinnuA,YandanookaA and FortuneA, are rapidlyadopted by the Japanese market anddeliver premium prices back to WA growers.

In 2008, InterGrain expanded its breedingbeyond WA commencing breedingprograms especially for New South Wales,Victoria and South Australia.

HRZ WheatsHRZ Wheats is a joint venture betweenCSIRO, the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research and the GRDC.

The partnership is developing high-yielding,disease-resistant, milling-quality wheatvarieties for Australia’s high rainfall zones.

In 2008–09, HRZ Wheats released one new wheat variety for the high-rainfall zone:GascoigneA.

Barley breedingAfter three years of operation, BarleyBreeding Australia (BBA) is looking to thefuture through the recommendations of an independent review conducted in late2008. The review made recommendationsas to the future structure of Australian barley breeding. Industry consultation,begun as part of the review process, iscontinuing with the public release of thereview’s summary and recommendationsand the advisory board’s invitation togrowers and industry to participate in further discussion on the future of barleybreeding.

Two new barley varieties were released in2008–09. CommanderA, released by thesouthern node of BBA, is a mid to latematurity malting barley, while ShepherdA,released by the northern node, is an early to mid maturity feed barley.

Data from NVT main season trials indicatesthat both varieties are higher yielding thancomparable popular varieties in their targetregions. For example, from 2005 to 2007CommanderA consistently recorded yields 2 percent to 17 percent higher than thedominant malting varieties in SouthAustralia, Victoria and New South Wales(see chart).


Yield results for the 2008–09 release malting barley variety CommanderA, relative tothree dominant malting varieties in South Australia,Victoria and New South Wales

Barley—statewide average yields

South Australia Victoria New South Wales2500

2600

2700

2800

2900

3000

Yield (Kg/Ha)

3100

3200

3300

3400

3500

State

■ Schooner ■ GairdnerA ■ BulokeA ■ CommanderA (2008)

Note: Yield results are based on statewide NVT. The dominant varieties are determined by silo delivery volume.

DAFWA pre-breeder Irene Waters, along with otherteam members is responsible for germplasmphenotyping of wheat and barley to determinetolerance to abiotic stresses relating to climate and soil constraints. Photo: Rose Yeoman



Mungbean breedingIn July 2008, a new collaborative mungbean breeding program commenced,involving QPIF, the Australian MungbeanAssociation (AMA) and the GRDC. The program is focused on improving yield,grain quality and disease resistance, andaccesses genetic material from internationalsources. The involvement of the AMAensures that there is a path to market fornew varieties developed by the program.

Two new mungbean varieties were releasedfor the 2008–09 season, under licence tothe AMA:

• CrystalA is a large-seeded bright greenmungbean with up to 20 percent higheryield and better grain quality than theindustry benchmark of EmeraldA and 4 percent higher yield than White Gold.

• Satin IIA is a dull-seeded greenmungbean released to replace Satin. It has a 20 percent yield increase overSatin, as well as superior seed qualitywith increased seed size.

Pulse breedingPulse Breeding Australia (PBA) is a world-class breeding program that deliversimproved pulse varieties to Australian grain growers. The first PBA varieties forchickpeas and lentils were released in 2009.

In 2008–09, PBA used yield data, crop priceand a range of specific crop information toprovide regional gross margin comparisonsbetween selected PBA varieties and currentindustry varieties for all four PBA pulsecrops. This information will address specificperformance indicators within the PBANational Plan and provide growers withinformation on new varieties.

ICARDA is an important research partner for the PBA breeding and germplasmenhancement programs. Assistance fromICARDA in developing diagnostic tests andreliable techniques for screening Australianbreeding material against exotic diseasesand pathogens has been essential to theimprovement of virus resistance.

Canola breedingThe blackleg fungus is the major pathogenof canola worldwide, and the Australiancanola industry relies on blackleg resistance for its survival. In 2008–09, the

GRDC supported a new project toassemble a differential set of Australianblackleg isolates that can be used toidentify all known major resistance genes in brassica lines.

Previous and current GRDC-funded projects have shown that rotation ofblackleg resistance sources can increasedurability in canola cultivars. However,implementation of this management strategyrequires varieties to be categorised intogroups according to their resistance type. Presently, the resistance genes in mostAustralian cultivars are not known.

The PBA chickpea breeding program has made significant progresstowards securing the Australian chickpea industry against major diseasethreats, and delivering varieties that meet the needs of the market.

Apart from drought, the major impediment to consistent yield inchickpeas is fungal disease. In particular, ascochyta blight, first recorded in Australia’s commercial crops in 1996, has spread to allchickpea-growing regions.

A highlight of the PBA program has been the significant improvement in ascochyta blight resistance breeders have achieved in the ten yearssince the disease first became a major problem. Genesis 090, releasedin 2005 in the southern cropping region, and HatTrickA, soon to bereleased in the north, are two PBA-developed varieties that willsignificantly increase growers’ gross margins by vastly reducing oreliminating the need to use fungicide sprays against ascochyta.These new strains also provide increased resistance to phytophthoraroot rot, as well as higher yield and better seed quality.

The photos below illustrate the difference in performance between the standard variety Gully and HatTrickA under high pressure fromascochyta blight.

The high levels of phytophthora root rot resistance available in some ofthe chickpea’s wild relatives are being incorporated into PBA’s advancedbreeding lines. Other chickpea breeding advances in 2008–09 centredon the discovery and exploitation of useful traits such as salt tolerance,multiple herbicide resistance, resistance to root-lesion nematode andreduced botrytis grey mould susceptibility.

HatTrickA will enter its final bulk-up phase in 2009, prior to large-scalerelease in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland in2009–10.

Pulse Breeding Australia deliverschickpeas with fungus resistance

CaseStudy

CrystalA is a newly released mungbean variety.It is high yielding and has increased resistance topowdery mildew, tan spot and halo blight.Photo: Rebecca Thyer

(Left) Trial of GullyA(ascochyta blight

disease sensitive)and (Right) thenewly released

variety PBAHatTrickA

illustrates theperformance of

both varietiesunder high

ascochyta blightdisease pressure.

Photos: Kevin Moore


Researchers based at the French NationalInstitute for Agricultural Research (INRA)have a differential set of blackleg isolatesthat can identify ten major resistance genes expressed in seedlings. Becausequarantine restrictions prevent Australianresearchers from importing the isolates, 33 Australian brassica lines were providedto the French researchers, who used theirset of isolates to identify the majorresistance genes in those lines.

The aim of this international collaboration isto be able to identify blackleg isolates thatcan discriminate between resistance genes.This will enable breeders to producecultivars based on specific resistancegenes, leading to a robust canola industrywhere the threat of blackleg is minimised.

Soybean breedingIn 2008–09, seed increase commenced for the new soybean variety MoonbiA. The variety was developed by the AustralianSoybean Breeding Program, a partnershipbetween CSIRO, the New South WalesDepartment of Primary Industries (NSWDPI)and the GRDC. MoonbiA will be available to growers in 2010.

MoonbiA has a number of significantadvantages over other varieties, includingimproved seed characteristics for soybeanprocessing, good genetic potential for high protein levels, improved weatheringtolerance and yield, and a 10–12 day earlier finish.

Oat breedingIn 2009, the GRDC-funded National OatBreeding Program, based at SARDI, formeda partnership with ABB Grain to developand promote new milling oat varieties. The five-year partnership will see ABB Grain commercialise milling oat varieties,while the National Oat Breeding Programresearches and breeds new varieties.

In a related project to develop sources ofrust resistance in oats, six new sources ofoat stem rust resistance and two newsources of oat leaf rust resistance havebeen identified.

Pre-breeding in winter cerealsWith the GRDC support, Australian pre-breeding researchers achieved excellencein 2008–09, including a groundbreakingdiscovery in the genetics of rust resistance,the launch of a revolutionary software tool to improve the efficiency of breedingprograms, and significant progress in thepursuit of key traits such as higher yield,disease resistance and drought tolerance.

Australian Centre for Plant Functional GenomicsThe Australian Centre for Plant FunctionalGenomics (ACPFG) expanded itscollaborative network both in Australia andoverseas, including new private sectorresearch partnerships, and continued toperform strongly in its work on drought- and salinity-related traits in 2008–09.

Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research CentreThe GRDC also has investments in theMolecular Plant Breeding CRC (MPBCRC),which includes a suite of projects targetedat identifying genes inferring tolerance tobiotic and abiotic stress and quality traits in wheat and barley. The MPBCRC hasbroadened its relationships to include all of the major wheat and barley breedingprograms in Australia.

CSIROCSIRO conducted a range of pre-breedingresearch projects with support from the GRDCin 2008–09. Results included the provision ofgermplasm incorporating new salt tolerancegenes and the identification of a syntheticwheat which may have enhanced toleranceto drought stress at the reproductive stage –a major cause of reduced grain numbers.

Molecular marker developmentDuring 2008–09 the GRDC restructured itsinvestments in the development ofmolecular markers for wheat and barleybreeding. The new Australian Wheat andBarley Molecular Marker Program focus ison molecular markers for soil and foliardiseases, and has three components:

• technology development

• improved phenotyping methods

• a single genetic analysis project which is charged with developing the newmolecular markers and delivering bothtraits and markers to breeding clients.


Dr Jason Able from the Adelaide node of the CRC for Molecular Plant Breeding and his team identified a gene that controls how chromosomes pair and exchange DNA during sexual reproduction. Scientists will now be able to selectively reintroduce beneficial ‘wild ancestor’ genes into modern varieties. Photo: Brad Collis



A highlight from the wheat and barleymolecular marker program was thedemonstration that the absence of a singlegene in wheat, Tsn1, strongly reduces theseverity of symptoms of fungal diseasecaused by Septoria nodorum and yellowspot infection. The Tsn1 protein serves as a receptor for a fungal protein, ToxA, whichcan be produced outside the fungus andused in a simple diagnostic test to select for less susceptible breeding lines.

Australian Cereal Rust Control ProgramThe Australian Cereal Rust Control Program(ACRCP) is a partnership between theUniversity of Sydney, CSIRO, CIMMYT andthe University of Adelaide. The ACRCP isinternationally recognised for its ability todiscover and use novel sources of rustresistance from wild relatives of wheat.

During 2008–09 the ACRCP continued toprovide diagnostic screening services toAustralian breeders of wheat, barley, triticale and oats. The ACRCP also formallybecame a partner in the Borlaug GlobalRust Initiative during the year. This meansthat the Australian research effort is nowfully integrated with the international fight to control the spread of the Ug99 stem rust pathogen.

In 2009, a highlight of the ACRCP’s work was the publication of a paper inScience by CSIRO researchers and theircollaborators at the University of Zurich(Switzerland), who identified the gene andpredicted protein product of Lr34/Yr18.

This scientific breakthrough providesvaluable insight into the mechanics ofdurable rust resistance. The identification of this gene also provides perfect molecular markers for use in breeding.

National Variety TrialsThe GRDC-funded NVT provides graingrowers and agricultural advisers withaccess to robust independent results on the performance of recently released cropvarieties from trials conducted acrossAustralia. This information is available fromthe NVT Online database to help growersmake crop variety selection decisions.

All Australian winter cereal, pulse andcanola breeders participated in NVT in the2008 season. Of the 587 trials planted, 65 were abandoned due to unfavourableseasonal conditions; the results of a further76 did not meet NVT’s data qualityrequirements and were consequently notpublished. Results of the remaining 446trials were analysed by the National

Statistics Program and delivered to graingrowers through the NVT website(www.nvtonline.com.au) and stateagriculture department sowing guides.

In response to the lifting of the moratoria on genetically modified (GM) canola inVictoria and New South Wales in early 2008,the 2008 NVT program incorporated fivededicated GM canola trials. RoundupReady® (GM) canola cultivars were trialledalongside imidazolinone-tolerant andtriazine-tolerant cultivars in an experimentdesigned to allow comparisons between the different chemistry types. As a result of the dry season and spring frosts, only the Horsham and Forbes trials weresuccessful.

Results of these trials revealed that therewas no significant difference between thebest yielding varieties from each herbicidetolerance group.

In 2009, the canola trial component of theNVT program was expanded to incorporate15 dedicated GM trials.

The NVT program was formally reviewed in2008, with the objectives of identifyinginherent strengths and weaknesses in theprogram and developing a roadmap for thefuture structure and function of the program.

Pathway to market for geneticallymodified canolaA total of 108 farmers in Victoria and NewSouth Wales were accredited in 2008–09 to grow Australia’s first commercial crop ofherbicide-resistant GM canola. Grain wasdelivered to five dedicated sites and sold to domestic processors.

In WA the government allowed limited GMcanola plantings to commence with the2009 planting season.

What’s in the 2009–10 RD&E pipeline?• Release of the first new pulse varieties from Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA).

These include two new desi chickpeas, two lentils and one broad bean.Both chickpea varieties are highly resistant to ascochyta blight, havingsignificantly better resistance than other varieties.The lentil varieties yieldbetween 5 to 15 percent higher than Nugget and the new broad bean has muchimproved seed quality characteristics. It will replace Aquadulce in high rainfalldistricts of southern Victoria and the lower south-east of South Australia.

• The release of a new durum variety with improved resistance to fungalpathogens, excellent lodging resistance and quality traits.

• The release of two new mungbean varieties – both yielding about 20 percentabove the current industry benchmark varieties.

• Development of new resistance to stem and leaf rust in oats.

• Development of molecular markers for use in field pea, lentil, faba bean andchickpea.The aim is to deliver gene-based markers for multiple priority traitswhich can then be implemented by breeders for marker assisted selection.

• Brassica napus and B.juncea germplasm from China and India will beintroduced to enhance the productivity of canola quality.

• Development of dual-purpose wheat for high rainfall zones of south-easternAustralia.

• The development of herbicide tolerant narrow-leaf lupins.

• International collaboration to identify blackleg disease isolates in canola.This will enable breeders to produce cultivars based on specific resistancegenes to minimise the threat of blackleg.

The commitment of growers such as Brent Alexanderof Lockhart, NSW, to the improvement of varieties iscrucial to the success of the NVT. Photo: Kellie Penfold

The New Products output group comprisesNew Grain Products and New FarmProducts and Services. The two investmentareas target opportunities both pre- andpost-farm gate, by investing in research,development and commercialisation. This provides growers with additionaloptions in farm management and marketing.

New grain food productsThe new grain food products portfoliofocuses on identifying output traits that mayincrease the value or the attractiveness tocustomers of Australian grain.

High-amylose wheatHigh-amylose wheat produces a high levelof resistant starch, which is important inbowel health and has a lower glycaemicindex than other starches, with benefits for losing weight and stabilising blood sugar levels. The GRDC’s Arista CerealTechnologies Pty Ltd joint venture (Arista) is pursuing both GM and non-GM solutions to market demand for theseattributes.

Omega-3 canolaThe GRDC has partnered with the CSIROFood Futures Flagship to develop canolaplants that produce docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a healthy omega-3 oilcomponent. DHA is vital for human healthand is normally available only from fishsources. The project also entered into anagreement with a potential internationalpartner for joint evaluation of early-stagematerial to expedite development of thetechnology.

Coeliac-friendly barley for beerPeople with coeliac disease, who compriseone percent of the Australian population,experience negative health reactions to aslittle as 10 milligrams of gluten protein perday. A larger proportion of Australians suffer from gluten intolerance, which hassymptoms similar to those of coeliacdisease but is not well defined.

The GRDC and CSIRO are working todevelop a barley suitable for brewing ‘ultra low gluten’ beer for gluten-intolerantconsumers.

Go GrainsThe GRDC continued to support Go GrainsHealth & Nutrition Ltd (Go Grains) in its delivery of consumer information,educational resources and mediacampaigns to promote the nutritional andhealth benefits of grains and pulses.

Feed grainIn 2008–09, the GRDC and members of the Australian Feedgrain Partnershipcontracted a project to transfer exciting new yield potential technology to sorghumto help increase the supply of sorghum for livestock industries.

The yield potential technology, developed in a GRDC-funded project with the CSIROFood Futures Flagship, may also help toincrease the digestibility of sorghum starchfor livestock.

The GRDC also continued to support thePork CRC in implementing and using near-infrared (NIR) calibrations developedby the Premium Grains for LivestockProgram. The Pork CRC has launchedAusScan, a business arm of the Pork CRC,to commercialise the NIR calibrations.

New industrial uses for grainsThe new industrial uses portfolio seeks toidentify opportunities for the use ofAustralian grains in developing bio-basedindustries.

BiofuelsThe GRDC has continued to focus ondetermining a path forward for technologiesthat use grain and grain residues asfeedstock for ethanol production. A scopingstudy identified opportunities for improvedenergy efficiency on farm, regional biodiesel self-sufficiency, and use of cropstubble for bioenergy production. The GRDC has engaged CSIRO to furtherexplore opportunities for the use of cropstubbles as feedstock for biofuel andbioenergy production.


Investment Highlights – New Products Group

New Products GroupNew Products objectiveDeliver new products and services (both on farm and off farm) that willassist growers to effectively compete in global grain markets.

What the New Products groupdoes and how it does itThe New Products group targetsopportunities both pre-farm gate andpost-farm gate, by investing in R&D and commercialisation of new grain and farm products and services whichprovide growers with additional options in production 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 developsrobust 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$10.28m was invested through NewProducts in 2008–09.


The development of NIR calibrations could help growers match grain with specific feed markets. Photo: GRDC

Crop Biofactories InitiativeThe Crop Biofactories Initiative (CBI) is athree-stage partnership between the GRDCand CSIRO that aims to engineer oilseedswith fatty acid compositions that matchspecific industrial applications and thenhelp to launch production and processingvalue chains within Australian agribusiness.

This is a significant strategic step that builds on Australia’s increasing acceptanceof GM oilseed production. CBI has chosensafflower as its platform crop for industrial oil production in Australia.

NanoparticlesThe GRDC is supporting University ofSydney researchers in determining thefeasibility of creating crops capable ofproducing precious-metal nanoparticles thatare highly valued for biomedicine, optics and electronics applications. Preliminaryresults indicate that common crop plants are capable of accumulating elemental gold.

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.

Novel pesticidesThe GRDC invests in projects focused ondeveloping novel chemicals and/or pesticideproducts that are effective against keyAustralian insect pests, weeds and diseases.

Three new areas for investment are:

• potential new insecticides based onshort-chain peptides from spider toxins

• the role biopolymers could have in control of foliar disease in cereals

• a novel rodenticide.

InstrumentationInformed by the ongoing success of aproject demonstrating microspectrometertechnology, the GRDC contracted anindependent group to examine the marketpotential of a new MEMS IR (micro electricalmechanical infrared) technology formeasuring soil and grain characteristics, andto determine the most viable path to market.

Cereal endophyte programThe GRDC has invested in a program withGrasslanz Technology Ltd (a commercialventure of a New Zealand Crown ResearchInstitute, AgResearch) to identify and developcereal endophytes that may have a role incontrolling heat and water stress and insectdamage in cereals.



Dr Greg Tanner who heads up the CSIRO Plant Industry Coeliac Friendly Cereals project is developing anauthentic-tasting, gluten-free barley-based beer. Photo: Brad Collis

Ray Harrington, a grain grower from Kojonup, WA firmly believes thatdestroying the seed contained in harvester chaff is a viable way ofreducing weed populations. However, close to a decade ago, Raydecided there was no future in collecting the chaff and carrying it offthe field or burning it.

As a result, Ray began designing and building the first prototype of the ‘Harrington Weed Seed Destructor’. This harvester trail-behind unitcompletely destroys any seeds contained in the chaff and re-spreads it over the field, eliminating the need to stop and empty chaff carts.

Over the years Ray’s first design was modified many times. By 2008, it was effective but still needed refinement to become a commercialpiece of equipment. Significant trial work was also needed to prove the importance of chaff in the weed cycle.

In February 2008, the GRDC became involved, entering into a jointproject with Ray to take the technology to market.

In 2008–09, an engineer was contracted to design and build a newprototype using the latest modelling and fabrication technologies.The Western Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative began fieldtesting the efficacy of the prototype, both by directly capturing theprocessed chaff and by measuring weed recruitment after use of the technology.

The field trial results so far have been very encouraging, demonstratinglittle residual viable weed seed after treatment by the destructor.Modifications to what is expected to be the commercial model areunderway in preparation for a second year of trials. Success in thesetrials would be the perfect platform for the launch of the HarringtonWeed Seed Destructor in 2011.

The GRDC’s role in the project has focused on providing projectmanagement, resources and scientific rigour, to ensure that a promisingtechnology is brought to market quickly and with scientific backing.

CaseStudy Harrington Weed Seed Destructor

sorts the weeds from the chaff

Soil biologyThe Novozymes Biologicals Australia Pty Ltd joint venture completed another seasonof field evaluations of a range of growthpromotion and disease control microbessourced from both Australian and NorthAmerican research programs. Delivery ofthese new microbes is subject to approvalfrom Australian regulatory authorities.

The new product TagTeam, which is aRhizobium inoculant including phosphorous-solubilising microbes sourced from theGRDC-supported research, was launched in Australia in early 2009. The responsefrom the industry to this new technology is very encouraging for the future ofbeneficial microbes in agriculture.

Export opportunitiesThe GRDC’s export opportunities strategyhas focused on developing technologies orknowledge that provide or define a uniqueselling advantage for Australian grain in key export markets and, in particular, new projects that have the potential toincrease Australia’s market share in theAsian markets.

In 2008–09, a visit to millers and noodlemakers in China revealed an excellentopportunity to work with Asian researchersand millers to assess Australian wheat for blending into premium noodle flours.

A new project has been contracted to takeadvantage of this opportunity.

Variety identificationMalting barley is not unique in terms of thedifficulty in maintaining purity of varieties

through the supply chain (and across years).However, due to the sensitivity of end-usersto the functionality of the grain and theguarantees of purity offered by exporters,the issue has greater relevance in relation to malting barley than to other cereals.

Technologies are emerging that have thepotential to identify varieties from grain ortissue samples. Preliminary testing with such technologies has highlighted someopportunities to improve the quality ofAustralian malting barley and to maintain andimprove the reputation of Australian grain.

In 2008, the GRDC investigated aspects of the issue, including an assessment of the accuracy and discriminatory abilities of new technologies. A strategic plan forbarley variety identification has been written in collaboration with representativesof the malting barley industry and is nowbeing implemented.

The eventual result will be a whole-of-industry set of ground rules and an implementation plan to enable all sectors to determine variety identity andpurity, and to correct shortcomings.

This may be a world first for this type of total quality assurance approach, andshould lead to a higher level of confidencein Australian malting barley. It will also haveimplications for the wider cereal industry, as a similar approach could be extended towheat and other open-pollinated species.



What’s in the 2009–10 RD&E pipeline?• Progression to the second stage of investment in the Crop Biofactories

Initiative to engineer oilseeds with fatty acid compositions that match specific industrial applications. CBI is refining the ‘best bets’ and has chosensafflower as its platform crop for industrial oil production in Australia and has acquired the necessary expertise to implement an efficient safflowertransformation pipeline.

• A registration package including toxicology and efficacy data for the newgrain storage fumigant GLO2 will be produced with our research partnerCSIRO Entomology.This package will ensure a commercial partner has theability to take GLO2 into the Australian market.

• A new soil test for phosphorous – called DGT – is being licensed toresearchers around Australia to provide additional calibration informationprior to a commercial partnership and wider release.This test is likely tosubstantially change the way farmers view their soil nutrient reserves as itdirectly calculates the plant available phosphorous rather than simply the total amount present.

• Two new potential foliar fungal products from overseas are being evaluated inAustralia against our conditions and pathogens. Both are new actives andlook to have potential against a range of diseases such as rust and mildew.

• We will enter the second phase of the barley variety identification research.This phase will focus on technology development for rapid and accuratetesting of barley varieties for growers and the industry.

A delegation of Japanese flour millers visited Australia seeking reassurance that wheat quality will remain a toppriority in a deregulated market. Dr. Kazui Kondo, President of Nitto Fuji Flour Milling (centre front) led thedelegation. Photo: DAFF

Communication Communication plays a crucial part in the adoption cycle of new technologies and practices. Media coverage is a cost-effective and credible method ofcommunicating key messages to targetaudiences.

The crop production cycle provides aframework for media activities to ensureinformation is delivered when it can be ofmost benefit to growers.

The GRDC contracts with professionalcommunicators in each of the three GRDCregions – Northern, Southern and Western.

Each of the regional communicators writesand distributes weekly media pressreleases, Crop Doctor columns (timelyagronomic information to growers) andGrain Flashes (news briefs or snippets), as well as providing articles to a plethora of agricultural magazines and newspapers.

Outlined below is a snapshot of additionalregional communication carried out in each of the GRDC’s three regions:

Northern RegionThe bi-monthly, three-part Australian Grain’s Consultants’ Corner seriesshowcases GRDC research, with in-depthanalysis from researchers and testing ofinformation by regional agronomists. In2008-09, this detailed series of regulararticles covered key issues such as:

• Cereal rust—Adopting strategies tocombat cereal rust including controllingthe green bridge, selecting rust-resistantvarieties and using fungicide controlwhere necessary.

• Inter-row planting—Northern GrowerAlliance and New South WalesDepartment of Primary Industriesrecommendations on practicing inter-rowplanting to reduce the risk of cereal rust.

• Herbicide resistance and fleabanecontrol—Queensland Primary Industriesand Fisheries (QPIF) research results on herbicide resistance and fleabanecontrol.

Southern Region• Stripe rust—Due to a number of stripe

rust outbreaks in August 2008, aconcerted communication effort by theGRDC advised growers to prepare for a potential explosion of the disease. Key messages to growers included theneed to regularly monitor their crops forsigns of stripe rust and to be prepared to make decisions regarding fungicideapplications.

• Summer weeds—Key messagescommunicated to growers were tomaintain summer weed control in order to conserve soil moisture and to managethe weed seed bank to ensure thatsummer weeds are not more of a problem in the future.

• Pests—Several pest issues emerged in thespring of 2008 and beyond, which requiredthe development and distribution of a range of communication material to remindgrowers of the need to closely monitorcrops and to consider their control options.In particular, aphids, armyworm, mites and weevils were a cause for concern.

Western Region• Glyphosate and trifluralin use—With

glyphosate and trifluralin resistance inryegrass and wild radish in WesternAustralia increasing, a key messagecommunicated to growers recommendedthe adoption of integrated weedmanagement strategies to retain theeffectiveness of non-selective herbicides.

• Summer weed control—One of a numberof key messages to growers was thatthrough controlling summer weeds soilmoisture is retained in the paddock forfuture crops and offers growers thebenefit of higher crop yields.

• Use of phosphine in grain storage—Western Australian growers, unlike someof their eastern state counterparts, are stillable to use phosphine to fumigate theirgrain. Where phosphine resistance hasbeen detected it is only minor. The keymessage to growers was to ensure thatthey use the correct dose rate in fullysealed and tested silos.

PublicationsDuring 2008–09 the GRDC published 11fact sheets; most were distributed nationallythrough the Ground Cover newspaper.Additional copies were printed to meet bulk requests for copies from growergroups, agribusiness, agricultural collegesand agronomists.

Two fact sheets in particular were verytimely and addressed specific issues whichwere of concern to growers in the GRDCNorthern Region:

• Chickpea Disease—In September 2008,the first disease incursion of ascochytablight was detected in chickpeas in centralQueensland. Within one week of thenotification of the disease, the GRDC, inpartnership with the QDPIF, distributed thisfact sheet to growers with information onhow to control and manage the disease.


Investment Highlights – Communication & Capacity Building Group

Communication &Capacity BuildingGroupCommunication & CapacityBuilding objectiveIncrease the awareness and capacity tooptimise the adoption of grains researchoutputs.

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 meet grains industry needs.

But these needs and preferred deliverymechanisms vary. Accordingly, this group packages and delivers timely andtargeted information to satisfy thedifferent 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$6.72m was invested throughCommunication & Capacity Building in2008–09.


• Northern Weeds—This fact sheet providedinformation, including agronomy and IWM strategies, for summer grass and forfour weeds that have become resistant to herbicides: wild oat, annual ryegrass,barnyard grass and liverseed grass. Its timely distribution in January 2009 gave growers time to put IWM options intopractice before the winter sowing season.

Other fact sheets published in this reportingperiod related to spray drift, NVT, herbicideresistance, frost, crown rot and nematodes.

In cases of particular interest to a wide rangeof grains industry participants, the GRDCtakes information from project final reportsand presents it in an easy-to-read researchreport format. These reports are availablefree to anyone in the grains industry.

Building industry capacityThrough awards, scholarships, training anddevelopment and outreach programs, theGRDC supports efforts to build capacityacross the grains industry. In 2008–09,these efforts included awareness-raisingprograms for high school students, researchgrants for scientists and growers, andprofessional development opportunities for future industry leaders.

GRDC awardsIn 2008–09 the GRDC offered six categoriesof training awards, as well as travel andconference support.

This included support for:

• 27 conferences, 32 travel awards and ten industry development awards

• 52 training scholarships, including 11Agricultural Training Awards, 12Undergraduate Honours Scholarshipsand 19 Grains Industry ResearchScholarships.

Secondary schools programsThe secondary schools program is part of along-term effort to address the current andpredicted skills shortages in many primaryindustries, particularly the grains industry.The program is an industry–university–schoolpartnership designed to stimulate studentinterest in studying science at university,with a pathway into primary industries.

National Youth Science ForumThe GRDC encouraged students toconsider careers in agricultural sciencethrough the National Youth Science Forum,a two-week intensive program held at theAustralian National University. Participantsare invited following a rigorous selectionprocess and must demonstrate an interest

in pursuing a career in a science- orengineering-related field.

In January 2009, the forum introduced 288students from all over Australia toresearchers, encouraged them to achieveexcellence in all their undertakings, andhelped them to develop their communicationand interpersonal skills.

BHP Billiton Science AwardsThe prestigious BHP Billiton Science Awardsare supported by a partnership betweenBHP Billiton, the Australian ScienceTeachers’ Association, CSIRO and the

GRDC. The awards reward students whohave undertaken practical research projects which demonstrate innovativeapproaches and thorough scientificprocedures. The awards also recogniseteachers for their support of open-endedstudent investigations in science education.

The GRDC Prize for Sustainable Agriculturein 2008–09 was presented to HannahYounger and Luke Fletcher, Year 10students from Marist Regional College inBurnie, Tasmania, for their project entitled‘Bloomin’ Algae’.



Better ways to control the damaging lucerne flea, which attacks pasture,cereal and legume crops, is one expected outcome of John Roberts’sPhD project at the University of Melbourne. With support from a GRDCGrains Industry Research Scholarship, John is investigating the biology ofthe lucerne flea and the possibility of using a predatory mite to control it.

After completing a science degree with majors in genetics and zoology,John sought a PhD project that combined the two disciplines.This led him to the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research atthe University of Melbourne, and the project on lucerne fleas.

John’s work has revealed some important differences between the effects of chemical control in red-legged earth mite (RLEM) and lucerneflea. “Lucerne fleas have a much greater tolerance to pesticides thanRLEM,” John says “so where both pests are present, pesticide control of RLEM is unlikely to control lucerne flea and could in fact result in asecondary pest flare.”

A comparison of organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids showedthat only organophosphate pesticides were effective against lucerne flea.Also, laboratory pesticide trials have shown that synthetic pyrethroids are harmful to an important beneficial predator, the snout mite, whileorganophosphates appear less toxic.

John hopes to investigate the snout mite’s predatory ability, noting that inthe past the mite has controlled lucerne flea in some areas. He alsohopes to investigate the use of more selective chemicals which mightcontrol lucerne fleas without harming the snout mite and other beneficial species.

CaseStudy

Grains IndustryResearch Scholar

John Roberts.Photo: Robin Taylor

Research scholar takes a close lookat lucerne flea

Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in AgricultureThe GRDC continued its sponsorship of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Awards for Young People inAgriculture. Applicants are required tosubmit an innovative project proposal thataddresses a significant issue in Australia’srural industries and could be completedwithin 12 months.

In 2008–09, the GRDC-sponsored awardwas presented to Therese McBeath, aresearch associate at the University ofAdelaide, who wants to identify fertilisersthat deliver phosphorus more efficiently.

Her research included a visit to the US to see the latest research into foliarphosphorus fertilisers.

Nuffield scholarsThe GRDC continues to support the skilland leadership development of peopleworking in the grains industry through itssponsorship of Australia’s premier farmingscholarship awards, the Nuffield AustraliaFarming scholarships.

These scholarships give Australians theopportunity to travel overseas to study anagricultural/farming related research topic of their own choice.

It is expected that scholars will be able toactively communicate the knowledge andunderstanding they gain. This willsignificantly boost their farming sector’sunderstanding of the international forces

affecting the Australian industry and the needto adopt new technology and managementpractices to continue to maintain productivitygrowth and competitiveness.

The 2008–09 GRDC scholars are:

• Stuart Barden from Gilgandra, New SouthWales, who is studying grain growing inmarginal and low-rainfall areas, with theaim of producing better, more consistentyields, as well as improving water useefficiency through micro water harvesting.

• James Hassall, also from Gilgandra, who is examining the role of precisionagriculture (PA) in the future of farmingand the new technologies beingdeveloped to enhance PA.

• Leon Ryan from York, WA who is studyingfactors driving demand for grains andpotential product substitutions.



What’s in the 2009–10 RD&E pipeline?• To provide the industry with professional development opportunities aimed at

increasing the on-farm adoption of new technologies. For example, in 2009–10a series of national workshops will be held on issues such as grain storage,integrated pest management, spray drift and precision agriculture technology.

• The implementation of issues-based communication campaigns to moreeffectively deliver the GRDC’s research outcomes.

• The production of three regionally-targeted Driving Agronomy audio CDswhich feature RD&E news and agronomic information relevant to southern,western and northern growers.

• Release and distribution of 20 Fact sheets covering various issues identifiedby regional panel members and growers.

• Release of Faba Bean:The Ute Guide and Vetch:The Ute Guide providingrelevant agronomic and management information for these crops.

• Production of a booklet on ‘communication’ – a sister publication to thepopular A Guide to Succession: Sustaining families and farms. It is estimatedthat farming businesses that do communicate at a high level can increasetheir profitability by 30 percent.

• Release of crop growth-stage backpocket guides for 20 individual cropsincluding cereals, coarse grains, pulses and oilseeds.This is a collaborativeproject with NuFarm and Australian Grain to help ensure the correct timing of herbicide, fungicide and fertiliser application.

GRDC award winners at the 2009 BHP Billiton ScienceAwards Luke Fletcher (left) and Hannah Younger withthe GRDC’s managing director Peter Reading.Photo: CSIRO

Australian Rural Leadership ProgramThe GRDC sponsored two participants in the Australian Rural LeadershipFoundation’s Australian Rural LeadershipProgram in 2008–09. The program is anopportunity for selected rural and regionalleaders to undertake a program of personal growth and develop the skills,knowledge and networks needed to beeffective in regional, state, national andinternational arenas.

The GRDC-sponsored participants in2008–09 were:

• Donna Lynch, a primary producer fromsouth-central WA. Donna is also amember of various industry groupsincluding Cooperative Bulk Handling,Growers Advisory Council and WesternAustralian Meat Marketing Co-operativeLimited.

• Caroline Rhodes, the senior manager atWheat Exports Australia responsible forthe administration of the Wheat ExportAccreditation Scheme. Caroline hasextensive experience in international trade, marketing, R&D and quarantinepolicy.

Stuart Barden Photo: Nuffield Australia

James Hassall Photo: Nuffield Australia

Leon Ryan Photo: Nuffield Australia

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 of commercialisation work undertaken by the GRDC in 2008–09 has been outlinedwithin the previous group and regionalsummaries of this Growers’ Report.

They include:

• New crop varieties

• High-amylose wheat

• Coeliac-friendly barley for beer

• Soil biology

• Harrington Weed Seed Destructor.

Business relationshipsIn some cases, the most effective way forthe GRDC to encourage adoption ofinnovation in the grains industry is toestablish a company or unincorporated joint venture. This provides more effectivemanagement of intellectual property;

more focused governance; ease ofinteraction with the private sector; and, in the case of Cooperative ResearchCentres, government policy.

The following table describes the companiesin which the GRDC had shares ormembership during 2008–09.


Commercialisation

The GRDC’s primary aim is to make new technology available to grain growers as quickly and as cost-effectivelyas possible.

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

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

The GRDC achieves its objective incommercialising research outputsthrough:

• ensuring commercialisation activitiesare relevant to the GRDC’s corestrategies

• leveraging capital and expertise fromco-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.

Companies in which the GRDC is involved in 2008–09

Companies limited by guarantee

Name Activity GRDC role

Agrifood Awareness Ltd Provides information about gene Is a member of the company andtechnology 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 contractLimited the National Variety Trials Nominates a director

Australian Seed Federation Promotes interests of seed industry A GRDC employee is a member of Limited members the company, for GRDC

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 andprovides a research contractNominates a director

Go Grains Health & Identifies and communicates the Is a member of the company andNutrition Ltd 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 memberAustralia Limited Appoints the directors

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

Companies limited by shares

Name Activity GRDC role

Arista Cereal Technologies Undertakes development of Is a 17 percent shareholder.Pty Ltd high-amylose wheat Nominates one director

Australian Centre for Plant Conducts functional genomics Is a 19.7 percent shareholder in the Functional Genomics research into abiotic stress company, in return for providing Pty Ltd funding of $10 million over five years

Australian Grain Undertakes commercial wheat Is a 36.7 percent shareholder andTechnologies Pty Ltd breeding and provides 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 Western Develops high-performing commercial Is a 31.4 percent shareholder.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 43.4 percent shareholdervarieties for Australia's high-rainfall zone Nominates one director

InterGrain Pty Ltd Undertakes commercial wheat breeding Is a 33 percent shareholderNominates one director

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


The GRDC team

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

The Regional Panels

Regional panel membership as at 30 September 2009

Northern Regional Panel Southern Regional Panel Western Regional Panel

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]

John CrosbieSUNBURY, VICPhone: 03 9744 7753Email: [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 OliverMURDOCH, 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]

David FienbergBICTON, WAPhone: 0427 427 226Email: [email protected]

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

John HarveyGRDCEmail: [email protected]

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

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

Panel Support OfficerAmy FayGRDCPhone: 02 6166 4500


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, each program team formsseveral subprograms.

Each program team is responsible fordeveloping, implementing and reviewing theinvestment strategy within its output group.Other activities include evaluating projects,prioritising potential investment opportunitiesand monitoring project performance.

StaffAs at 30 September 2009, the GRDC had 49 full-time staff members including the Managing Director.

Staff as at 30 September 2009

Position Occupant

Managing Director’s Managing Director Peter Readingarea Manager Communications Kylie Paulsen

Executive Assistant Wynette Neil

Corporate Services Executive Manager Gavin WhiteleyManager Finance Danielle WhiteAccountant—Reporting Nino DivitoContract Payments Officer Carmen JiangAccounts Payable Officer Johan PienaarManager Human Resources Wendy NeilRecords Management Coordinator Ross ThompsonTravel Coordinator Sarah SmithReceptionist Ros WaltonAdministrative Assistant Helen Moffata

Manager IT Facilities Tavis HamerNetwork Administrator Bhargav PrajapatiNetwork 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 FreitasPanel Support Officer-West/Portfolio Balance Amy FayPanel Support Officer-South/Panel Engagement Processes Carolyn PearsonPanel Support Officer-North/Administrative Coordinator Ben Maroney

Practices Executive Manager Stephen ThomasAdministrative Coordinator Peta GallagherProject Manager Practices Zoe WakeManager Agronomy Soils and Environment Martin BlumenthalProject Manager Climate Change Sara HelyProject Manager Practices Tanya RobinsonManager Crop Protection Rohan RainbowManager Validation and Adoption Stuart KearnsManager Extension and Grower Programs Tom McCueWebmaster Sam LivingstoneManager Publications Maureen Cribb

Varieties Executive Manager John HarveyCoordinator Varieties and Capacity Building Merrilyn BaulmanAdministrative Coordinator VacantAdministrative Coordinator Wendy BosciManager Gene Discovery Juan JuttnerManager Germplasm Enhancement Jorge MayerProject Manager Plant Breeding VacantProject Manager Pre-Breeding VacantManager Wheat and Barley Breeding Andreas BetznerManager Pulse/Oilseed Breeding Brondwen MacLean

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

a Temporary staff

Program teams as at 30 June 2009

Program team Subprogram team

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

The GRDC team

GRDC Manager Pulse/Oilseed Breeding BrondwenMacLean inspects desi chickpeas with greenseedcoats on offer in wholesale pulse markets inMumbai, India. Photo: Rohan Kimber – SARDI

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 and investment banking.

Colin ButcherDirector (Non-executive)

Colin is a grain producer fromBrookton in WA. His farmingbusiness produces wheat, canola,barley, and hay for export, and sheepfor meat and wool. He has extensiveexperience in the grains industry anda strong interest in the managementand conservation of naturalresources.

Jenny GoddardDirector (Non-executive)

Jenny runs her own business as aneconomic consultant. She has 23years of experience as an economicpolicy adviser to the AustralianGovernment. Jenny has an 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 1998and Technology Director ofGoodman Fielder Ltd from 1999 to2001.

Tim ReevesDirector (Non-executive)

Tim is a consultant in agricultureR&D, sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and international development. He recently returned from Mexico,where he was Director General of the International Maize and WheatImprovement Centre (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.

The GRDC team

GRDC Investment Process Timetable

www.grdc.com.au

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

Postal address:PO Box 5367 KINGSTON ACT 2604

Investment Planning Week• Program Teams and Regional Panels discuss and recommend next year’s

potential investments• National Panel approves next steps for potential investments

July

GRDC Board Meeting• Board discusses indicative budget for next financial year

External Investment Plan (open and multi-stage tender) released

Round of Conference, Travel and Industry Development Award applications close

August

Regional Panel Spring Tour• Consult with growers and industry to identify regional issues• Communicate with growers GRDC outcomes and activities

Final Reports due for GRDC Investment Projects ended 30 June

September

Round of Training Award applications close

Ministerial approval of the GRDC Annual Report

Program Teams assess tender responses from External Investment PlanDirect negotiation and renegotiation of continuing investments

October

Training Awards announced for GRDC Scholarships / FellowshipsDecember

Research Advisory Committee (RAC) meetings held in the Southern and Northern Regions• Industry Consultation meetings held in the Western Region• RAC meetings also held at other times of year depending on region and

RAC structure

Round of Conference, Travel and Industry Development Award applications close

January

February

Review and Priorities Meeting• Provide final sign off on new investments• Discuss and review finishing projects• Discuss and provide preliminary ranking of Regional Panel Priorities for

Investment Planning Week

GRDC Board Meeting• Board approval of budget and investments for next financial year

March

Finalise Regional Panel Priorities Paper• Regional Panel Priorities are provided to Program Teams to be considered when

developing new investments for the following yearApril

Program Teams review project progress reports for continuing investmentsProgram Team discussions in preparation for Investment Planning WeekMay

Finalise outstanding contracting and variations to continuing investments

Cross-LOB discussions in preparation for Investment Planning Week

Ministerial approval of the GRDC Annual Operational Plan

June

November

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

This supplement compiled andedited, on behalf of the GRDC,by Australian Grain magazine

Designed and Typeset by Four Design Group P/L

Documents

GRDC Growers Report 2008 09€¦ · global leader in linking science, technology and commercialisation ... a rapidly changing grains industry. Grain production The production of winter