Annual Report 2017-18 Research and innovation for rural prosperity Annual Report 2017-18 AgriFutures Australia Annual Report 2017-18 Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from AgriFutures Australia. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be made using the contact details below. AgriFutures Australia is the trading name for Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC). Building 007 Tooma Way Charles Sturt University Locked Bag 588 Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 02 6923 6900 [email protected] agrifutures.com.au ABN: 25 203 754 319 ISBN: 978-1-76053-000-6 Publication No. 18/027 Printed by Union Offset Printers Design by Sunday Collective Copy by Frank & Earnest 4 Annual Report 2017-18 5 Contents Section Pg Section Pg 1 Transmittal letter 6 11 Performance against the 122 Australian Government’s 2 About AgriFutures Australia 8 research priorities 3 Chair’s report 10 12 Communicating R&D results 123 4 Vision, highlights and achievements 14 13 Corporate governance 124 5 Annual Performance Statements 21 14 Auditor’s report and 144 Director’s statement 6 Analysis of performance 22 15 Financial and performance 147 7 Overview of R&D investment 108 statements 171 8 Financial snapshot 110 16 Appendices 9 Evaluation 114 10 Collaboration 116 Section 1 6 Transmittal letter 12 October 2018 The12 October Hon David 201 Littleproud8 MP Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources MemberThe Hon Davidfor Maranoa, Littleproud Queensland MP POMinister Box 6022 for Agriculture and Water Resources HouseMember of forRepresentatives Maranoa, Queensland ParliamentPO Box 6022 House CANBERRAHouse of Representatives ACT 2600 Email:Parliament [email protected] House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Email: [email protected] Dear Minister InDear accordance Minister with the requirements of Section 28 of the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989 (PIRD Act), section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) andIn accordance the Funding with Agreement the requirements 2015-2019, of Section I present 28 the of theAnnual Primary Report Industries of AgriFutures Research Australia and Development for the year Act ended1989 (PIRD 30 June Act), 2018. section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and the Funding Agreement 2015-2019, I present the Annual Report of AgriFutures Australia for the year Underended section30 June 46 2018. of the PGPA Act and in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014, the Directors of AgriFutures Australia have prepared and approved the content of Underthe Annual section Report 46 of. the PGPA Act and in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014, the Directors of AgriFutures Australia have prepared and approved the content of Thethe Annualactivities Report of our. organisation are reported against the objectives, strategies, outputs and outcomes of AgriFutures Australia’s Strategic Research and Development Plan 2017-22, and are consistent with TheAgriFut activitiesures Australia of our organisation’s 2017-18 Annual are reported Operational against Plan the andobjectives, Portfolio strategies, Budget Statement. outputs and outcomes of AgriFutures Australia’s Strategic Research and Development Plan 2017-22, and are consistent with AgriFutIn accordanceures Australia with the’s requirements2017-18 Annual under Operational paragraph Plan 39(1)(a) and Portfolio of the PGPA Budget Act, Statement. the Annual Performance Statement contained in this Annual Report is based on properly maintained records, accurately reflects the performanceIn accordance of with the theAgriFutures requirements Australia, under complies paragraph with 39(1)(a) sub section of the 39(2)PGPA of Act, the t PGPAhe Annual Act, and Performance is in accordanceStatement contained with 16F ofin thethis PGPA Annual Rule Report 2014. is based on properly maintained records, accurately reflects the performance of the AgriFutures Australia, complies with sub section 39(2) of the PGPA Act, and is in Yoursaccordance sincerely with 16F of the PGPA Rule 2014. Yours sincerely Mrs Kay Hull AM Chair Mrs Kay Hull AM Chair cc: Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck Assistantcc: Minister to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources [email protected] the Hon. Richard Colbeck Assistant Minister to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources [email protected] Daryl Quinlivan Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources [email protected] Daryl Quinlivan Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources [email protected] Section 2 8 Annual Report 2017-18 9 About AgriFutures Australia AgriFutures Australia Enabling legislation Certification Annual Report AgriFutures Australia’s enabling On 12 September 2018, the Our purpose is to invest in research This document is AgriFutures legislation is the Primary Industries AgriFutures Australia Board Australia’s Annual Report Research and Development Act 1989 authorised this Annual Report with to government and industry (Commonwealth Government the following resolution: and development that is adopted stakeholders, covering the of Australia) (the PIRD Act). organisation’s operations for Approved the Annual Report for 2017-18. It is aligned with Responsible Minister the year ending 30 June 2018, and assists rural industries to be AgriFutures Australia’s Strategic for the current and previous which includes the following R&D Plan 2017-2022, Annual reporting period certification: “That the Board accepts Operational Plan 2017-2018 and responsibility under Section 46 of productive, profitable and sustainable. The Hon. David Littleproud the Australian Government’s the Public Governance, Performance MP Minister for Agriculture research priorities. It complies and Accountability Act 2013 for and Water Resources and with mandatory and best practice the preparation and content of this Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston reporting and includes: report of operations in accordance Assistant Minister for Agriculture We are guided by an ambition to be with the Public Governance, • An operational report and Water Resources. Performance and Accountability known as an organisation that places (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015. • An Annual Performance Our key performance indicators our people, our rural industries and Statement AgriFutures Australia evaluates regional communities at the heart of • Financial statements performance by measurement of the: everything we do. • The Auditor-General’s report • Level of stakeholder satisfaction on the financial statements. • Degree to which the objectives Our deliverable of five-year research and development program plans are To maximise the knowledge achieved outcomes for industry and government from our research and • Rate of return on investment development (R&D) investments in new and emerging industries, • Extent to which investments established rural industries and address government and industry national rural issues. priorities and optimise partnerships with other research agencies. > Section 3 10 Annual Report 2017-18 11 Chair’s report Our vision is to grow the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries, and the results this year speak for themselves. In 2018–19, the value of farm production is forecast and the world. Even in the toughest of times, growers, Our commitment to investing in research and analysis became AgriFutures Australia. More than just a name to increase by 1.5 per cent to $61 billion, well above producers and industries continue to embrace the to understand and address important issues did change, AgriFutures Australia marks a line in the dirt the 10-year average of $55 billion. technological changes they know are essential to moving not go unnoticed. Our funded Research Activities on and represents our commitment to navigating this new forward. The AgriFutures Australia board, management Rural Roads report and the Horizon Scan series of frontier of agriculture. In a rapidly changing world, this growing contribution and staff are immensely proud to work alongside these reports that identified the emerging industries set to will become increasingly important and the future incredible contributors to our nation. influence the future of the sector resonated across Our vision is to grow the long-term prosperity of of Australian agriculture will be vastly different other Research Development Corporations, producers, Australian rural industries, and the results this year to what we have known. It is a future where the In 2017-2018, AgriFutures Australia managed some 327 consumers, suppliers and investors. speak for themselves. world’s population demands more of our food and projects with a total allocated expense of more than $52 fibre products, changing environments challenge million. A positive impact was also experienced through the We are proud of our achievements in this, our first year as production, globalisation promotes greater investment we made in our people and the leadership AgriFutures Australia, and are more excited than ever by international collaboration, and advances in Our work had a positive impact on many Australian capability of our sector. Through our Rural Women’s the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. technology change just about everything. agricultural industries as well as the innovative Award,