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Planning and reporting approach
The GRDC is a statutory corporation, operating as a research investment body on behalf of Australian grain growers and the Australian Government. As well as its responsibilities under the PIERD Act, the corporation has accountability and reporting obligations set out in the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act) and in the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies (Report of Operations) Orders 2005. The GRDC is a portfolio agency of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
In line with its enabling legislation, the GRDC Board communicates its strategic directions and performance objectives through a five-year strategic plan that delivers:
- a statement of the GRDC's objectives and priorities
- an outline of the GRDC's strategies to achieve those objectives and priorities.
The strategic document current in 2006-07, Driving Innovation: the GRDC Five Year Research and Development Plan 2002-07, was approved by the Minister on 16 May 2002. In 2006-07 the GRDC completed the development of the new strategic R&D plan, Prosperity through Innovation, for the period 2007-12. The new plan was submitted to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on 19 June 2007 and took effect from 1 July 2007.
Each year's planned activities are outlined in operational terms in an annual operational plan, and in terms of an outcome-based performance measurement framework in the portfolio budget statements. Both documents are subject to approval by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The GRDC's annual report details the corporation's achievements against its planned outcomes. The output groups used for reporting purposes correspond to the lines of business that underpin the GRDC's business strategy and operations.
In both its five-year strategy and its annual planning, the GRDC responds to the ministerial priorities for rural R&D corporations and the Australian Government's National Research Priorities. These priorities, and the GRDC's achievements in meeting them so far, are discussed in more detail in Part 2.
The corporation uses the Australian National Audit Office Public Sector Governance Better Practice Guide to assess the corporation's overall approach and ongoing development. The GRDC's corporate governance in 2006-07 is discussed in detail in Part 3.
On 1 March 2007, the GRDC received its first public Statement of expectations (SOE) provided by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The SOE outlined the Parliamentary Secretary's expectations of the GRDC in five key areas: roles, government policies, performance reporting, communication and accountability. The GRDC responded with a Statement of Intent on 30 March 2007, and has been working to meet the Minister's expectations, as demonstrated in this annual report. The statements are discussed in more detail in Part 3.
The GRDC's drivers for action, outcomes to be achieved, detailed outputs and future directions are summarised in the performance framework shown in Figure 9.
Drivers |
Australian Government’s National Research Priorities |
Industry priorities |
Role of the GRDC described in the objects of the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 |
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Driving Innovation: The GRDC Five Year Research and Development Plan 2002–07 |
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ObjectivesFour output groups, each with specific investment objectives |
Output Group 1: Provide growers with access to new superior varieties by actively developing world‑leading, cost-efficient breeding programs in Australia. Accelerate the rate of gain in key genetic traits of importance to the Australian grains industry by focusing germplasm enhancement research on traits of significance, reducing duplication and fragmentation, building international alliances and accelerating the speed to market. Explore potential delivery channels for genetically modified (GM) crops in Australia. Accelerate grower adoption of superior varieties, including through promoting results from the National Variety Trials program (NVT). |
Output Group 2: Develop and validate better farming practices and have them adopted faster. Develop sustainable farming systems, adapted to each of the industry’s agroecological regions, that are responsive to grower, community and catchment needs. Develop and deliver cost-effective, robust and environmentally responsible solutions to current and potential crop protection threats and thus minimise their cost to industry. Page 41 |
Output Group 3: Deliver new, value-added grain products and new farm products and services to growers. Identify and implement partnerships necessary to develop and deliver these products and services. Identify opportunities to help new technology reach the Australian grains industry sooner. Access intellectual property from Australia and overseas to apply in the Australian marketplace. Page 51 |
Output Group 4: Increase the adoption of research outcomes and innovations that improve the economic, social and environmental performance of the grains industry, through the development and targeted delivery of imaginative products and services. Communicate and promote the GRDC’s achievements to stakeholders. Turn research outputs into relevant information, products and services that are delivered to meet stakeholder needs. Support the capacity building of growers, advisers and researchers, through professional development. Support studies related to agriculture and science in secondary schools, in order to encourage students to consider them as possible career paths. Page 59 |
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Performance indicators |
Wheat-breeding programs achieve key milestones for 2006–07. Barley Breeding Australia, the newly established national barley-breeding program, achieves key milestones during its first year of operation. The newly established National Pulse Breeding Program (now known as Pulse Breeding Australia) achieves key milestones for field pea, chickpea, faba bean and lentil breeding. New alliances, in addition to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), are established to introduce and evaluate potentially valuable international germplasm. Major research programs—the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, the Value Added Wheat Cooperative Research Centre, the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre and the Australian Winter Cereals Molecular Marker Program—achieve key milestones for 2006–07. NVT achieves key milestones and implements planned enhancements on time. |
Useful results from the continuation of a stratified survey to measure current on‑farm practices such as the use of gypsum and lime for soil amelioration; controlled traffic; precision agriculture; variable rate technology; nutrient budgeting; the application of risk management tools; the monitoring of water use and deep drainage; and the sowing of perennial pasture species. Enhanced management options for cereal foliar and root diseases across agroecological zones. Enhanced farmer capacity to deal with weed, disease and pest constraints on profitable grain production. Increased farmer adoption of weed management practices that delay the development of herbicide resistance. Identification of new avenues of pest control through the genetic manipulation of the pathogen, weed or invertebrate pest, or its host plant. |
A new incorporated joint venture for soil inoculants established, with field trials undertaken and first product(s) released. Objective grain quality testing technology developed to the stage at which a commercial partner can take it forward to develop instrumentation. Development of a research, development and commercialisation plan near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) technologies to measure soil, plant and grain qualities. Establishment of a governing body to develop and implement a post-harvest grain hygiene strategy. Completion of three or more case studies with different end-users to demonstrate and promote a rational basis for trading feed grains. Establishment of a new incorporated joint venture for high-amylose wheat, to deliver a non-GM breeding line with an amylose content in the order of 70 percent. Crop selection and identification of delivery channels for GM crops completed (with the Varieties output group) for the outputs of the Crop Biofactories Initiative. Identification of research opportunities for new technologies to produce biofuels from Australian grain crops. |
Customer segmentation categories identified and strategies implemented to deliver tailored information. Organisational performance surveys carried out to measure the relevance of information, products and services delivered by the GRDC. Increased participation by growers, advisers and researchers in the GRDC’s capacity-building program. A range of educational packages available for teachers and secondary school students. |
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Outputs |
New, improved varieties of wheat, barley, canola, pulse crops and summer crops released to the Australian grains industry. New advanced germplasm, with associated molecular markers, developed and used by relevant Australian breeding programs. New genes with potential importance to the Australian grains industry discovered and made available for proof-of-concept testing and further development. New breeding technologies developed and made available to researchers and crop breeders. A report published, analysing the delivery channels for GM crops in Australia. Crop variety yield and performance data made available to Australian grain growers through the NVT. |
New technology and practices to overcome soil constraints, harness the benefits of soil biota, and extend cropping rotation options. Integrated farm management practices that enable diverse farming businesses responsive to product prices; protect crops from disease and weed invasion; assist in overcoming subsoil constraints; improve opportunities for nutrient inputs, particularly nitrogen fixation; and allow for weather and climate variability. Natural resource management practices integrated into viable farming systems that lead to efficient water use and reduced drainage below the root zone; provide for efficient nutrient uptake; improve catchment management of salinity and water quality; and develop new learning methods. Improved management of weeds, diseases and pests through a better understanding of their biological interactions with crop plants. Increased diversity of crop protection strategies through understanding and use of the genetics of pest or host. Improved risk management through rapid identification of and response to threats. Weed, disease and pest management options that conform to economic, environmental and social demands. |
An incorporated joint venture to introduce, test, distribute and market new soil inoculant technologies sourced from both Australian and international research programs. Extension of objective grain quality testing technology developed for wheat and barley to the stage at which it can be transferred to a commercial partner to enable the development of instrumentation capable of being used by grain majors. Development of NIR and MIR technologies to enable the development of on-farm instrumentation packages to measure soil, plant and grain qualities. Assistance for industry and researchers in order to form a governing body that will develop and implement a post-harvest grain hygiene strategy covering a range of issues requiring further R&D effort prior to commercialisation. Case studies supporting the technology transfer and commercial evaluation of new measures of feed grain quality to demonstrate and promote the benefits of the Premium Grains for Livestock Program (PGLP). Investment in new grain food products that have the potential to improve many aspects of human health, for example by reducing cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, diabetes and obesity. Continued development of new industrial uses for grain crops and commercial partnerships through the Crop Biofactories Initiative with CSIRO, as well as identification of possible investment opportunities in new technologies in the biofuels area. |
A segmented customer database with enhanced functionality to deliver relevant information to identified stakeholder groups. This includes the capacity to meet current information needs as well as respond to emerging issues in a timely way. Improved exchange of relevant research information among our government, industry and research partner stakeholders. Mechanisms put in place to build the capacity of growers, advisers and researchers. Faster adoption of research outcomes and innovations through delivery of information, products and services. Raised profile of agricultural science among secondary school teachers and students. |
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Outcome |
Through its commitment to innovation, an Australian grains industry that is profitable and environmentally sustainable for the benefit of the industry and wider community |
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Future |
The GRDC be recognised as a leader in setting, coordinating and facilitating a national grains R&D agenda driven by market signals that would enable grain growers to compete on world markets, and deliver against Australian Government priorities |
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