The Western Node of the GRDC's Statistics for the Grains Industry (SAGI) phase three is based at Curtin University.
Managed by both Curtin and the GRDC-supported Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), the project is led by Curtin professor Adrian Baddeley.
The node provides valuable support and training to more than 30 GRDC project investments in the western region, assisting with research projects and the grower-led Regional Cropping Solution Network (RCSN) groups.
CCDM director Mark Gibberd says, through its education initiatives, SAGI West is playing a much-needed role in improving the capability of local researchers.
SAGI West is another example of Curtin and the GRDC co-supporting grains research to improve the profitability and sustainability of Australian farming businesses, he says.
The project will give local researchers the confidence their results are reliable and can be used by growers to make profitable changes on their properties.
SAGI West is another example of Curtin and the GRDC co-supporting grains research to improve the profitability and sustainability of Australian farming businesses
Role of SAGI
SAGI West is one of four nodes of this initiative across Australia, set up by GRDC to deliver an unprecedented level of high quality statistical science to underpin the scientific rigour of hundreds of research projects.
Last year GRDC Managing Director Dr Steve Jefferies announced the SAGI-3 investment of $18 million over the next five years.
He says it will be essential in supporting rapid advances in crop varieties, agronomic knowledge and farming practices ultimately contributing to enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.
This significant investment will increase the national grains industrys capacity in the area of biometrics the application of statistics to biological data which is incredibly important in ensuring that grains research is statistically sound and credible, as well as speeding up research outcomes for the benefit of growers, he says.
Statistical science is an unsung hero of improvements in the grains industry.
"Through the GRDCs statistical investments over the past 15 years, statistical science has played a critical role in the breeding of better grain varieties and more efficient research development and extension (RD&E) targeting grower priorities.
Importantly, the GRDCs long-term investment in SAGI has created enduring capacity in world-class biometricians in Australia and this generation of mid-career statisticians will continue to benefit the grains industry as they grow into our next crop of statistical leaders."
Statistical science is an unsung hero of improvements in the grains industry
Dr Jefferies says the industry outcomes generated from the SAGI investment will be a massive step forward for the Australian grains industry as it strives to provide growers with the tools they need to remain profitable in the face of climate, environmental and economic challenges.
Each of the regional SAGI Nodes (North, South, and West) will provide support for trial design and data analysis for projects relevant to their regions these are projects developed as part of GRDCs Grower and Applied R&D business groups.
The regional nodes will also be responsible for providing statistical training and support for regional agronomists, providing training, mentoring and statistical research collaborative support to researchers, and training a new generation of highly-skilled biometricians.
The SAGI regional nodes will be closely linked to each other and to the national node through training and research initiatives, as well as collaborative projects.