Postscript
Peter F. Reading
As outlined in this Strategic R&D Plan, Prosperity through Innovation, the grains industry is continuing to experience significant change driven by market dynamics and the challenges of climate change and climate variability and sustainability. The plan goes into considerable detail on these changes and how they will impact the Australian grains industry.
Over the years, research and development has played a pivotal role in the success of the grains industry and contributed significantly to total factor productivity growth, which has tracked well ahead of other rural industries and the Australian economy as a whole. The RDC model, a co-investment partnership in agricultural research and development between the Australian Government and rural industries, remains the envy of many of our overseas competitors.
The aim of the Strategic R&D Plan is to continue to focus on driving the outputs of research and development into technologies and services, through the lines of business strategies, which will support Australian grain growers to effectively compete in the constantly changing grain markets. The strategies to achieve this aim are clearly articulated in the plan and are consistent with the National Research Priorities and Rural R&D Priorities.
The successful implementation of these strategies will depend on the GRDC working closely with its key stakeholders and research partners to:
- jointly determine key research priorities
- design appropriate R&D investments with clearly defined outcomes
- monitor these investments right through to delivery.
The main emphasis in this Strategic R&D Plan is on collaboration with clearly defined performance measures and outcomes that will provide growers with the technologies and practices they require to remain competitive in global grain markets.
PETER F. READING
Managing Director