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64 results found
  • GRDC launches industry-driven research consortium to capitalise on growing global oat market
    Announcements, 18 Apr 2024
    GRDC launches industry-driven research consortium to capitalise on growing global oat market

    The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has launched the Oat Grain Quality Consortium (OGQC), a significant new research initiative aimed at reinforcing Australia's reputation as a top-quality, value-added oat producer. Announced by GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart in Perth, the consortium represents a collaborative investment of over $12.5 million over five years, with $5.75 million from GRDC and an additional $6.7 million from research and industry partners. The consortium, led by InterGrain and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), includes a wide array of participants from academia, industry, and the food and beverage sectors, such as Curtin University, Murdoch University, and major companies like Oatly and Sanitarium. The initiative is set to capitalize on the growing global demand for nutritious oat-based products by enhancing oat quality through targeted pre-breeding research. This research will focus on developing industry-relevant quality traits and providing breeders with new germplasm and molecular tools to create oat varieties tailored to high-value market needs. The OGQC aims to deliver substantial benefits across the entire oat supply chain, from breeders to processors and manufacturers, ultimately positioning Australian oats as a preferred choice for consumers worldwide.

  • Call for AgTech solutions: Apply to innovate!
    Announcements, 11 Apr 2024
    Call for AgTech solutions: Apply to innovate!

    The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has teamed up with Cicada Innovations to kick off the Grains Challenge, a new initiative designed to foster technological advancements and innovative solutions within the grain industry. This collaboration aims to tackle the crucial challenges grain growers face, such as improving productivity, yield, cost-efficiency, and navigating market volatility. Recognizing Australia's esteemed position in global grains production, the program seeks to sustain and elevate this status through cutting-edge innovation. GRDC's investment in this and similar programs underscores its commitment to supporting groundbreaking technologies and business ideas, especially those emerging from unconventional sources like growers and entrepreneurs. Cicada Innovations, known for transforming startups into global leaders in deep tech, brings its extensive experience to the partnership.

  • DataHarvest to unlock Australian grains RD&E data potential
    Announcements, 29 Feb 2024
    DataHarvest to unlock Australian grains RD&E data potential

    The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has partnered with Curtin University to initiate DataHarvest, an innovative program designed to revolutionize the management of grains research, development, and extension (RD&E) data for the benefit of Australian grain growers. DataHarvest aims to significantly improve how RD&E data is collected, managed, and shared by upskilling over 80 GRDC research partners across Australia. This initiative will standardize data handling practices, ensuring that the vast reserves of RD&E data are more effectively utilized, fostering quicker knowledge transfer and spurring innovation within the grains industry. Dr. Washington Gapare, GRDC's research data manager, highlighted that DataHarvest will align data management with the FAIR principles, making it findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable.

  • GRDC leads $42M initiative to bolster biosecurity for Australia’s grain grower
    Announcements, 26 Feb 2024
    GRDC leads $42M initiative to bolster biosecurity for Australia’s grain grower

    The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has unveiled a transformative $42.7 million National Grains Diagnostic and Surveillance Initiative (NGDSI), aiming to bolster Australia’s grains biosecurity system against exotic pests and diseases. Announced by GRDC Chair John Woods at the Grains Research Updates in Perth, this collaborative venture involves GRDC and five state government departments, including DPIRD in WA, SARDI in SA, DEECA in Victoria, NSW DPI, and QDAF in Queensland. Over six years, the initiative will employ advanced technology to enable rapid, near-paddock detection and accurate diagnosis of biosecurity threats, moving away from traditional centralized laboratory methods.

  • Start-ups invited to field-test future agtech
    Announcements, 23 Feb 2024
    Start-ups invited to field-test future agtech

    The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has launched a call for expressions of interest for the GroundUp Program, inviting startup founders and agtech innovators to bring forward their cutting-edge solutions aimed at enhancing productivity and practices in the Australian grain farming sector. This initiative, a collaborative effort with the Agtech and Logistics Hub, is designed to fast-track agtech innovation, aligning with GRDC's commitment to advancing the grains industry.

  • Seeking: Outstanding GRDC grains leader in WA
    Announcements, 19 Feb 2024
    Seeking: Outstanding GRDC grains leader in WA

    The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is on the lookout for a dynamic and dedicated leader from the Western Australian grains sector to chair its Western Regional Panel. This crucial role is at the forefront of connecting GRDC with the grains industry, significantly influencing research, development, and extension (RD&E) strategies to meet the specific needs of growers and the broader industry. With an investment of over $200 million in RD&E for the current financial year, GRDC emphasizes the need for a chair who is not only a passionate advocate for the grains industry but also possesses the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to guide RD&E initiatives. The role demands a broadminded and inquisitive individual committed to advancing the grains industry through strategic investments. The new chair will succeed Darrin Lee, who has served since 2018, starting from September 1, 2024, for an initial term of two years.

  • GRDC invests $1.9m in research for climate-resilient crops
    Announcements, 15 Feb 2024
    GRDC invests $1.9m in research for climate-resilient crops

    The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) has embarked on a pivotal partnership with the Australian National University (ANU) and other industry stakeholders, dedicating $1.9 million over three years to enhance the development of climate-resilient wheat varieties. This innovative project focuses on creating wheat genetics capable of withstanding high temperatures and aims to unravel the mechanisms that allow wheat to thrive under heat stress. Professor Owen Atkin from ANU's Agrifood Innovation Institute highlighted the urgency of this research, noting the adverse effects of rising global temperatures on wheat yields worldwide. With predictions indicating significant yield losses for every degree increase in global mean temperature, the initiative seeks to counteract these challenges by improving crop productivity in the face of a burgeoning global population. GRDC's Prameela Vanambathina emphasized the critical role of understanding leaf carbon exchange processes — encompassing both photosynthesis and respiration — in achieving this goal.

  • GRDC and Farmers2Founders launch agtech program pathway
    Announcements, 05 Feb 2024
    GRDC and Farmers2Founders launch agtech program pathway

    The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in partnership with Farmers2Founders (F2F) has initiated TEKLAB Grains, a comprehensive program designed to propel the development of agtech solutions tailored for the grains industry. This unique pathway aims to nurture farmers, students, tech developers, and budding entrepreneurs through the entire lifecycle of a startup, from ideation to commercial success. By focusing on the grains sector, TEKLAB Grains seeks to address specific industry challenges, enhancing yield, efficiency, and profitability for grain growers. Skye Raward, Co-Founder of Farmers2Founders, emphasizes the program's role in bridging the gap between great ideas and their implementation, providing essential tools and resources to minimize risk and expedite development.

  • GRDC announces major investments to combat Septoria tritici blotch in wheat
    Announcements, 18 Jan 2024
    GRDC announces major investments to combat Septoria tritici blotch in wheat

    The NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australian National University, and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) have united to combat Septoria Tritici Blotch (STB), a significant threat to wheat production in Australia's northern and southern grain-growing regions. With STB capable of slashing yields by up to 50%, and the annual cost of traditional fungicide control reaching $121 million, this $8 million, five-year research investment is a strategic response to the evolving resistance against common fungicides like triazoles and strobilurin. GRDC's genetic technologies officer, Prameela Vanambathina, outlines the project's tripartite approach: identifying novel STB resistance genes, finding optimal combinations of adult plant resistance genes, and understanding plant-pathogen interactions. This initiative aims to equip Australian grain growers with essential tools and knowledge to mitigate STB's impact, addressing the increasing fungicide resistance and the susceptibility of most wheat varieties to STB. The project is poised to play a crucial role in the development of new, disease-resistant Australian wheat varieties, ensuring sustainable wheat production and reducing reliance on fungicides.

  • Updated essential herbicide manuals released
    Announcements, 11 Jan 2024
    Updated essential herbicide manuals released

    GRDC has released updated editions of two essential herbicide manuals for Australian grain growers.

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