One of Australia’s leading genetic marker developers for plant breeding explains how information technology (IT) had become integral to biotechnology developments

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Investment Plan (Open and Multi-stage Tenders) outlines some of the Corporation’s new investment priorities for 2011-12. 

The GRDC partners with researchers and other investors to help drive innovation in the Australian grains industry and ensure that grain growers have the technologies to enable them to effectively compete in global grain markets. 

Visit www.grdc.com.au/investmentplan for further information and documentation.

A central electronic database of grain industry events and activities in the southern region and beyond has been established by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

New research funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will help plant breeders produce cereal varieties with enhanced performance in drought conditions.

Coordinated research will be conducted at new ‘managed environment facilities’ (MEFs) in three Australian grain growing regions

Australian grain-growing properties have undergone and supported significant change over the past 20 years.

Improvements in farming practices, grain varieties, products and services have positioned the nation’s growers at the forefront of global production.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has confirmed its current funding commitment to sorghum pre-breeding and to enhancing the smooth transition of genetic gains from the greenhouse to growers.

James Clark, GRDC northern panel chair says a recent sorghum pre-breeding summit in Brisbane brought all sectors of the industry together for a strategic look at current and future pre-breeding and breeding priorities. 

Steve Jeffries, Chair of the EPR Steering Committee

End Point Royalties are the funding source for plant breeders. The payment system is constantly undergoing refinement and it’s hoped that soon, the EPR system will be paperless. There’s more information in this edition of GRDC Driving Agronomy featuring an interview with EPR Steering Committee Chair, Dr Steve Jeffries.
Contact: Dr Steve Jeffries, Chair of the EPR Steering Committee. Phone: (08) 8303 6862 Email: stephen.jefferies@ausgraintech.com

Take home message

• Roundup Ready canola used unwisely could increase selection for glyphosate resistance in weeds.
• Reducing the risk of glyphosate resistance requires action in the rest of the rotation.
• The double knockdown needs to be employed properly to ensure glyphosate resistance risk is not increased.
• Seed set control is an effective part of managing weed resistance.

Frost damage – which is estimated to cost the WA grains industry more than $250 million a year – is squarely on the agenda for Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) research funding.

GRDC has brought the nation’s leading frost researchers, agronomists and research collaborators together in Perth to set a new direction for frost research Australia-wide.

Frost – with its ability to decimate bumper crops overnight – is often rivalling drought as the biggest threat to northern region crop returns.

James Clark, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) northern panel chair says frost potentially has a more devastating effect on the individual grower than drought.