The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is kick-starting engagement to shape the next phase of research, development and extension (RD&E) investment aimed at tackling long-term challenges and unlocking breakthrough opportunities for Australia's grain industry.
The engagement follows the completion of an expert, independent review to determine the 'right-size' RD&E investment to continue the remarkable progress driven by Australian grain growers alongside GRDC.
The comprehensive review was instigated by GRDC in September 2024 and focused on levy revenue modelling, an RD&E capacity and ability assessment, and implications of changes to GRDC's RD&E investment levels.
GRDC Chair and South Australian primary producer Sharon Starick said the organisation and the broader Australian grains industry continued to be the beneficiaries of productivity growth, strong seasons and commodity prices and this was the driving motivator for the 'right-size' review.
"GRDC is in an extremely favourable financial position. After a number of outstanding seasons coupled with strong prices, GRDC now has strong cash reserves of $680 million," Mrs Starick said.
This extraordinary position was without question made possible by growers, whose readiness to adopt practice changes and embrace innovative technologies demonstrates the immense value of RD&E to the productivity and profitability of Australian farming enterprises. Independent analysis shows that for every dollar GRDC invests; growers receive a $6-9 return on investment.
"Critically the 'right-size' review, which was completed on schedule in June, provides strong direction on how GRDC's reserves may be strategically invested aligned to GRDC's remit and purpose to ensure RD&E investment continues to drive growth and success for the grains sector."
Mrs Starick said GRDC would begin industry consultation later this month by liaising with growers' representative organisations GrainGrowers Limited and Grain Producers Australia, before going out more broadly to growers over the next three months.
She said the industry consultation would build on the extensive work already undertaken by GRDC to inform the current RD&E Plan 2023-28, as well as the substantive investment areas and priorities already identified by grain growers.
"GRDC has just released our Annual Operational Plan 2025-26 which highlights the focus areas for RD&E investment for the next year and reflects our future-focused approach. If you want to understand where we are investing, the AOP provides an overview of our extensive portfolio of RD&E projects and signals the priority areas for new investment over the coming year," she said.
We have already increased our annual RD&E investment from $180 million to just over $240 million per year over the past three years to meet the rising cost of delivering high-quality research. Like farm inputs, research costs have continued to increase. Our RD&E investment is indexed to maintain investment in real terms and will increase to $275 million or more over the next four years. Importantly, as part of our RD&E Plan 2023-28 we also have more than $525 million in forward commitments. These research investments have been shaped by grower priorities, including direct input from our Regional Panels, and focus on delivering practical, on-farm impact.
Mrs Starick said, as part of the 'right-size' review consultation, GRDC will now ask grain growers and industry for their input into opportunities to identify 'what's next' when it comes to strategic, transformational research.
She said it was important that GRDC continued to fill the front-end of the R&D pipeline, investing in new science and building the next generation of talent.
"GRDC reserves are a result of the shared success of the grains industry and GRDC RD&E. By working in partnership with growers and building on what we have achieved together, we can utilise the reserves to enable greater investment in RD&E that is innovative, transformational and delivering productivity and profitability for growers today and into the future," she said.
The Annual Operational Plan can be accessed on the GRDC website.
Major continuing and planned new investments for 2025-26 include:
- $40 million in biosecurity, weed, pest and disease control, including $21 million over five years in the Soilborne Disease Initiative.
- $21 million in a five-year Low Emissions Intensity Farming Systems project with partners CSIRO, NSW DPIRD, SARDI and WA DPIRD to shape the future of low emissions farming for the Australian grains industry.
- $14 million over multiple projects spanning four years in Value Chain Innovation (open call).
- $17 million over multiple projects spanning five years in Innovations for Soil, Nutrient and Water Productivity (open call).
- $7.8 million in 2025-26 with Grains Australia to drive industry good initiatives that enhance the long-term competitiveness and profitability of the Australian grains industry.
- $3.5 million invested in biosecurity as part of a joint memorandum of understanding with Plant Health Australia to bolster the Grains Industry Biosecurity Plan 2023-28.
- GRDC has established a fellowship program to build excellence in research capacity in Australia. To date GRDC has awarded 12 Scholars $2.5 million for 2025-26. A total of $1.5 million has been awarded to 58 Grains Research Scholars including 14 who will start in 2025-26. GRDC's Grains Research Scholarship program supports PhD students who are in receipt of a Research Training Program scholarship.
The 2025 GRDC Grower Survey also found strong industry support for the organisation with:
- 85 per cent of growers rating GRDC's investment role highly
- 84 per cent saying they had directly benefited from RD&E
- 72 per cent crediting GRDC for contributing to that benefit.
GRDC will share more information about the right-size review findings and recommendations with industry as part of a broader consultation process. Details about consultation opportunities will be released shortly.
