Grdcgrowers'report
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GRDC Growers’ Report 2008–09 www.grdc.com.au The GRDC 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. GRDC Vision GRDC Mission GRDC Values Driving innovation for a profitable To invest in innovation for the • Commitment and action in and environmentally sustainable greatest benefit to its stakeholders. meeting the needs of our Australian grains industry. This will be achieved by being a stakeholders and exceeding global leader in linking science, their expectations technology and commercialisation • Winning as a team with industry and community needs. • Achievement of superior results • Creativity and innovation • Openness and trust in dealing with people • A performance-driven culture • Ethical behaviour in all our activities TELEPHONE: 02 6166 4500 FACSIMILE: 02 6166 4599 EMAIL: [email protected] INTERNET: www.grdc.com.au 2 GRDC Growers’ Report 2008–09 Report from the Chair and Managing Director An overview of the GRDC, its 2008–09 investment highlights and current activities throughout the regions. The Australian grains industry continued to in Western Australia and 9.7 mt in New undergo significant change in 2008–09. South Wales – these two states accounted Major developments included the for 70 percent of total 2008–09 national deregulation of bulk wheat export marketing winter crop production. arrangements and the lifting of the moratoria Keith Perrett Peter Reading The 2008–09 summer crop production was Chair Managing Director on genetically modified (GM) canola in New 2.9 mt, showing a decrease of 19 percent South Wales and Victoria. The global compared with the 3.6 mt produced in the responsibility for the Wheat Variety financial crisis resulted in increased volatility previous ‘bumper’ year. Classification system which was previously in commodity prices and farm input costs. managed by AWB International. By 30 June The GRDC continues to drive research and Overall, during the 2008–09 season more 2009, more than 40 varieties had been development to help provide you with than 36 mt of grain was produced. Although classified under the new arrangements and improved technologies to address both the grain prices retreated in the second half of a wheat quality council had been challenges and opportunities presented by 2008–09, the total crop had a gross value established to oversee classification a rapidly changing grains industry. of production of more than $11 billion – guidelines. the highest value ever recorded. There were many other highlights throughout Grain production 2008–09 as a result of targeted GRDC The production of winter grains and oilseeds Highlights of 2008–09 investments under the GRDC’s Strategic in 2008–09 was around 33.1 million tonnes Following a request from the Hon. R&D Plan 2007–12, Prosperity through (mt). This was a 30 percent increase on the Tony Burke, MP, Minister for Agriculture, Innovation, which is now into its third year previous season. Production was 13.6 mt Fisheries and Forestry, the GRDC assumed of implementation. Some selected highlights – explained in more detail in the Regional and Output Group reports later in this Total grain production per state over the 5 years 2004–09 Growers’ Report – include: Million tonnes • The long standing strategic alliance 15 between GRDC, CIMMYT (the International 14 Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) 13 and ICARDA (the International Center for 12 Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas) 11 enabled Australian breeding programs to access more than 1300 elite drought- 10 tolerant and disease-resistant wheat 9 and pulse breeding lines. 8 • External and internal financial analysis of 7 GRDC projects showed benefit to cost 6 ratios ranging from 1.5:1 to as high as 36:1. 5 The Australian Cereal Rust Control Program 4 benefit to cost ratio of 23:1 was the highest 3 among a group of ‘Hero Projects’ reviewed across the rural R&D corporations. 2 1 • More than 50 blackleg-resistant canola lines with higher resistance than existing 0 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 cultivars, including both polygenic and ■ WA ■ SA ■ Vic (incl Tas) ■ NSW ■ Qld major gene resistance sources, were accessed by private canola breeders. Where your 2008–09 research dollars were invested ($m) TOTAL CROSS-COMMODITY COARSE GRAINS GRAIN LEGUMES OILSEEDS WHEAT ($106.25m total) ($77.25m total) ($9.29m total) ($7.41m total) ($4.80m total) ($7.48m total) ■ Northern region 23.29 ■ Northern region 16.26 ■ Northern region 2.08 ■ Northern region 1.18 ■ Northern region 1.19 ■ Northern region 2.56 ■ Southern region 48.72 ■ Southern region 34.70 ■ Southern region 5.17 ■ Southern region 3.33 ■ Southern region 2.37 ■ Southern region 3.13 ■ Western region 34.23 ■ Western region 26.28 ■ Western region 2.04 ■ Western region 2.88 ■ Western region 1.23 ■ Western region 1.78 GRDC Growers’ Report 2008–09 3 Report from the Chair and Managing Director • GRDC-supported breeding programs released many new, improved crop How the GRDC is funded varieties. • All Australian breeders of wheat, barley, The quality and extent of Australian grains research, development and extension is envied triticale, oats, pulses and canola throughout the world. The unique method of public and industry research funding, national coordination and structure – and ultimately extension – provides continuing scientific and (including GM canola) took part in the management breakthroughs for grain growers. This translates into productivity gains GRDC’s National Variety Trials. essential in maintaining competitiveness in world markets. • Fourteen new farming systems investments were established, bringing Depending on seasonal conditions, the grains industry invests around $100 million each together grain growers, researchers and year through the GRDC on research. This is funded by a combination of: agribusiness, to enhance the validation • growers paying a statutory levy of 0.99 percent of the net farm gate value of grain and integration of new technologies in produced (maize is levied at 0.693 percent); and, local farming systems. • a sliding scale of matching contributions from the Australian Government. Depending on • In collaboration with the Cotton Research the prevailing market value of the various grains, this sliding scale means the government and Development Corporation, the GRDC contributes around 30 to 40 percent of the total levies collected. developed a number of cooperative The Australian Government matches the levy income up to a maximum of 0.5 percent of programs addressing productivity and the gross value of grains production, provided the government contribution does not climate change in irrigated cotton and exceed grower levies. grain farming systems. This system of joint statutory collections raised over $130 million in 2008–09 which was in • The GRDC is leading the nitrous oxide turn invested back into the industry via the funding of hundreds of research projects. component of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry The 25 leviable grain crops are: wheat; coarse grains (barley, oats, sorghum, maize, Climate Change Research Program, triticale, millets/panicums, cereal rye and canary seed); pulses (lupins, field peas, chickpeas, faba beans, vetch, peanuts, mungbeans, navy beans, pigeon peas, and is a key participant in the soil cowpeas and lentils); and oilseeds (canola, sunflower, soybean, safflower and linseed). carbon and crop adaptation components of the program. Where is your money invested? R&D priorities Where you want R&D funds invested The GRDC’s role is to invest in R&D and related activities to benefit Current R&D priorities for growers were identified during the Australian grain growers, industry and the wider community. development of Prosperity through Innovation. This involved consultations with local research advisory committees, grower There are four key strategies the GRDC follows to achieve this: groups and organisations and individual grain growers. • The coordination of a national grains R&D agenda and portfolio; Your main R&D priorities included: • Delivering results according to Australian Government priorities; • Environmental • Growing and leveraging total grains R&D investment; and, – responses to climate change • Ensuring that R&D is market-driven. – improved water use efficiency In short, the GRDC invests in grains research to address – sustainability and resource management impediments to improving grain growers’ profitability and – soil health and biology sustainability. This means allocating available funds across a • Farm management range of investment areas including: – integrated farming practices and technologies • the investigation and evaluation of the requirements for R&D in – integrated management of weeds, diseases and pests the grains industry; – herbicide resistance management • the coordination and/or funding of R&D activities; and, • Variety development • helping with the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation – biotechnology for improving genetic gain of the results of R&D. – superior new varieties • New and innovative product development Like all successful businesses, the GRDC periodically reviews its goals and plans so your invested dollars are accurately aimed at • Capacity building favourable