THE TWO grain grower groups with statutory responsibility for overseeing the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) hope a fund set up by the GRDC together with venture capital business Artesian can help lead to research that benefits the farming sector.
However, both Grain Producers Australia (GPA) and Grain Growers (GGL) have cautioned that the fund, designed to attact ag-tech start-ups, was not going to boost growers on its own and it would need to attract the right type of researchers.
"It is really good that the GRDC is looking at commercial opportunities in this ag-tech space, but the real test is going to be what projects they can attract," said Brett Hosking, chairman of Grain Growers.
"We're really happy that GRDC has come out and said that it is open for business and is looking to attract ideas that can help improve profitability in our industry but growers can't expect anything overnight."
Andrew Weidemann, Grain Producers Australia, said the GRDC was acknowledging it was time to think outside the square.
"As an industry we have been flatlining in terms of productivity gains and we need to look for something to take us forward," he said.
"The reality is that it is unlikely to come from incremental improvements, we are looking for transformative change."
However, similar to Mr Hosking, he warned that simply setting up the fund did not mean the GRDC would attract the researcher capable of delivering the work that could have the impact that the shift to no-till farming in the 2000s did.
"This is a bold strategy from the GRDC and we are watching with a lot of interest.
"There is certainly risk involved, we could be reviewing the move in five or ten year's time and saying it was the best money the GRDC ever spent and equally we could be saying it is the worst investment they ever made - we just don't know.
He said he hoped the fund would attract outside research that is not captured within the GRDC umbrella, especially that coming from grassroots farming ranks.
"You have a look at a lot of the ideas that have merit, something like the Harrington Seed Destructor and in the early days it was not something driven by the GRDC, it came up from a private researcher trying to come up with a solution to a problem he was seeing in the paddock."
"I want to make sure that this fund is accessible to that sort of farmer-driven research."
Mr Weidemann said it would also be important the projects were targeted.
"You have certain areas where private companies are investing a vast amount of resources.
"On the data side of it, both Case IH and John Deere are doing a lot of work in that space, so it is important there isn't a duplication of resources."
Gregor Heard
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
Gregor Heard is ACM's national grains industry reporter, based in Horsham, Victoria. He has a wealth of knowledge surrounding the cropping sector through his 15 years in the role. Prior to that he was with the Fairfax network as a reporter with Stock & Land. Some of the major issues he has reported on during his time with the company include the deregulation of the export wheat market, the introduction of genetically modified crops and the fight to protect growers better from grain trader insolvencies. Still involved with the family farm he is passionate about rural Australia and its people and hopes to use his role to act as an advocate for those involved in the grain sector.
