Growers still push for industry-owned research

The move follows Agriculture Minister John McVeigh's rejection of a proposal by the Grains Research Foundation (GRF) for the formation of an independent body, the Queensland Grains Research Institute (QGRI), to run research.

The proposed institute would be funded by government, voluntary grower levies, research agencies and industry stakeholders.

It would involve the transfer of Queensland DAFF grains research staff and selected grains assets to the new organisation.

GRF chairman Damien Scanlan, said he was disappointed with the minister's response to the proposal but would "continue to hammer away to get him to reconsider".

"With the backing of AgForce Queensland and numerous leading industry organisations and individuals, we believe we have a duty to levy-paying Queensland growers and associated businesses to continue to lobby the Government to reconsider their decision," he said.

"The minister, in his letter, stated that the government is looking to optimise R&D through the current structures.

"However we feel that over the past 20 years these structures have been restructured several times under subsequent governments, with no real gain to the productivity and profitability of the industry and in fact a decline in RD&E spend and capacity."

Mr Scanlan said the new, not-for-profit, industry-owned research company would focus on research and development that achieved the most effective and timely improvements in grain production, productivity and profitability.

"We firmly believe that research should be driven by growers and industry in partnership with scientists, and not by bureaucrats and academics. We are building something for the future, not just for the term of the government," he said.

"We are asking the grains industry to stand up and let the Newman Government know that this decision should be reconsidered for the future prosperity of the Queensland grains industry."