The McGowan Government is investing $2.78 million in a suite of new grains research collaborations designed to overcome local production challenges and boost industry productivity and profitability.
The Science Partnerships are a unique initiative of the State that has attracted co-investment in five research projects that address Western Australian grains production issues not currently being examined by other research endeavours.
The projects aim to develop:
- strategies to control weeds after soil amelioration;
- new tools to manage Turnip yellows virus and its vector, the green peach aphid;
- a production package for high protein malt barley and assist in the accreditation of malt varieties to capture new market opportunities;
- soil amelioration strategies for production areas where soil borne diseases and nematode pests are a major constraint to farm productivity;
- smart phone and light sensing technologies that provide improved crop monitoring systems to manage pests in canola and cereals.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will deliver the projects in association with collaborators SoilsWest, cesar, the University of WA, Agriculture Victoria, the South Australian Research and Development Institute, InterGrain, the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre, Secobra and AB InBev.
The investment is a part of the State Government's commitment to augment grains research, development and innovation in WA to ensure the industry remains at the forefront of production advances and continues to be internationally competitive.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"The Science Partnerships will build on current grains research to generate solutions to production constraints - improving crop production and growers' margins.
"The collaborative approach of these projects draws on the strengths of the participants to deliver an outcome that will benefit grain growers and the broader industry.
"The Science Partnerships add to the State Government's investment in grains research in WA, including its longstanding partnership with the Grains Research and Development Corporation, as well as universities, CSIRO, industry groups and the commercial sector.
"Science Partnerships field trials are already underway across the grainbelt, and the collaboration fostered in these projects adds to the department's scientific capacity.
"The McGowan Government is committed to reinvigorating RD&I in WA's primary industries and improving commercial outcomes, industry performance, economic growth and employment."
