Registrations are now open for Western Australia’s premier grains industry forum – the 2023 GRDC Grains Research Update, Perth.

The two-day event will be held at Crown Perth on February 27 and 28.

GRDC senior regional manager – west, Peter Bird, says more than 700 people registered for 2022’s virtual event and it would be fantastic to see growers, advisers and researchers coming together in-person at next year’s event to help further WA’s highly successful export-focused grain industry.

“The GRDC Grains Research Update in Perth showcases the latest research, technology, market development and management innovations to improve the productivity and profitability of the grains industry,” Mr Bird says.

“Off the back of another projected record-breaking season in 2022, and after a year that was not without its challenges, growers and the grains industry are eager to look at ways they can invest in further improvements to increase the sustainability and profitability of farms and the industry.”

GRDC Western Region Panel chair Darrin Lee says information presented at the Update will range from research to underpin improved agronomic practices for increased profitability on-farm, through to broader insights on big picture trends and issues impacting the industry overall.

GRDC Western Region Panel chair Darrin Lee says to remain competitive, growers must stay at the forefront of grains RD&E. Photo: GRDC

“2022 threw a lot of curve balls at the grain industry, including the war in Ukraine, high input costs and continued global trade disruption and labour shortages due to COVID. We expect these challenges to remain in 2023,” Mr Lee says.

“In order to remain competitive, we must continually adapt and change, which means staying at the forefront of grains RD&E to adjust our farming systems to meet market and climate challenges and opportunities.”

The plenary sessions at the Update will feature ‘The sustainability of Australian grains farming systems’, the presentation of the Seed of Light awards, and an update from Grains Australia, a peak body responsible for delivery of industry good activities that benefits the industry's competitiveness and profitability.

More than 50 concurrent sessions will be held over two days on issues impacting crop choices and farming systems, agronomy tips, crop protection updates on prevalent weeds, pests and diseases and information on crop nutrition in the face of increased fertiliser costs.

Extended focus sessions will take place after lunch on the second day and will include crop rotations for 2023 and beyond, reducing grain farming emissions and plant breeding.

After the success of the ‘New researcher snapshots’ in recent years, these will form part of the day two program running concurrently with the focus group sessions.

These snapshots give up-and-coming researchers the chance to showcase their projects to the grains industry and receive valuable feedback.

The GRDC Grains Research Update, Perth, will be followed by five one-day regional Updates across grain-growing regions in WA. Locations will include:

• ​​​​​​Bencubbin (March 2)
• Northampton (March 8)
• Dalwallinu (March 14)
• Albany (March 20)
• Hopetoun (March 22)

For more information or to register visit GIWA 2023 research updates or GRDC Updates; contact GIWA on 08 6262 2128 or researchupdates@giwa.org.au