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GRAINS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–21

Responsible Minister:Hon. David Littleproud MP Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management

Enabling legislation:Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989

Representative organisations:GrainGrowers LimitedGrain Producers Australia

GRDC Board:Chair John Woods

Deputy Chair Roseanne Healy

Managing Director Steve Jefferies Mr Tony Williams (from 3 August 2020)

Non-executive Directors Dianne AngusChris Blanchard Helen GarnettRichard HeathStephen PowlesSharon Starick

GRDC Executive Management:Managing Director: Steve Jefferies. Mr Tony Williams (from 3 August 2020)General Manager, Grower Communications and Extension: VacantGeneral Manager, Applied Research and Development: Peter CarberryGeneral Manager, Genetic and Enabling Technologies: Nicole JensenGeneral Manager, Crop Protection, Biosecurity and Legislation: Ken Young (Acting)General Manager, Operations and Chief Financial Officer: Martin PriestGeneral Manager, Business Development and Economics: Ron Osmond (Acting)

About GRDC OUR PURPOSE:To invest in research, development and extension to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is a corporate Commonwealth entity established in 1991 to plan and invest in research, development and extension (RD&E) for the Australian grains industry.

Grains are significant contributor to the Australian economy, with exports of grain generating an average of $10.7b in revenue over the past 5 years. The GRDC portfolio invests in 25 grains from cereals to oilseeds to pulses. All grains combined have a five-year average Gross Value of Production of $13.7b.

GRDC invests approximately $170 million annually in RD&E projects to deliver new and improved varieties, farming practices, technologies, and capability to the Australian grains industry.

GRDC is led by its Board of Directors and managed through the office of the Managing Director and Executive Management Team. Regional Panels and National Panel, made up of grain growers, researchers and advisors, provide guidance and input to the investment portfolio.

About GRDC iiIntroduction 1Our Investment process 2

Investment development 3Balanced research portfolio 4Commercialisation 4Grains Innovation Investment Trust – GrainInnovate 5

2020–21 Investment portfolio 6Performance framework 8Key Investment Targets for 2020–21 9Key Investment Targets Development 38Core frameworks 39

Data management and analytics 39Capacity and ability 40Grower communication and extension 40Biosecurity 41

2020–21 Budget forecast 422020–21 allocation to R&D Portfolio 43Appendix A - RD&E investment estimates 2020–21 across Commonwealth Government priorities 44

Contents

Introduction Our strategic approach to investing in research, development and extension activities is set out in the GRDC 2018-2023 Research, Development and Extension Plan. The plan sets out how GRDC will perform its investment activities towards its purpose to invest in research, development and extension to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers by creating a deliberate focus across the following strategic objectives:

• To improve yield and yield stability• Maintain and improve price • Optimise input costs• Reduce post-farm gate costs• Manage risk to maximise profit and minimise lossesGRDC has developed strategic investment outcomes across 29 Key Investment Targets (KITs) that will drive the development of research, development and extension activities across a longer-term horizon as well tactical opportunities in the short term. These KITs are supported and underpinned by four frameworks: Grower Communication and Extension, Capacity and Ability, Data Management and Analytics and Biosecurity.

GRDC continues to engage with growers, advisors and researchers to develop the research, development and extension opportunities that will deliver against these strategies.

Key investment initiatives to be deployed over 2020–21 will include:

• GRDC will continue to plan and invest in research, development and extension to minimise the impact of frost on the profitability of Australian grain growers. This will include a concentrated effort to extend known frost research to growers in frost prone areas across all three grain growing regions. This effort will provide growers with the knowledge, confidence and ability to implement best management practices in pre-season planting, in season management and post frost response to minimise the impact of frost on their profitability (KIT 1.2).

• Strategic investment in pre-breeding and breeding activities that will improve the ability of Australian grain growers to grow high value pulse crops that are adapted to their production environment. This includes research to deliver acid soil tolerance traits found in wild relatives into chickpea and developing new breeding models for pulse crops that are more efficient and more able to respond to the needs of grain growers (KIT 2.1).

• GRDC has established and will invest in a new industry good company called Grains Australia Ltd. Grains Australia will deliver the scale and efficiency required to ensure all sectors of the Australian grains industry benefit from improved market access, enhanced grain functionality that meets the needs of end use markets and other agreed industry initiatives.

• GRDC is investing in research initiatives with other Research and Development Corporations to foster greater collaboration on issues that affect multiple agricultural industries. In 2020-21, GRDC has budgeted $500,000 for investment in research initiatives to be developed by the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations, the first of these being a Climate Resilience initiative, which is being developed using a design led thinking approach.

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–211 INTRODUCTION

Our Investment process

In response to the changing dynamics in the grains research and extension landscape GRDC administers a continuous investment cycle with an online IT system to improve the way that research and extension providers apply to partner with GRDC and manage RD&E investments.

This system features an ongoing call for investment partners and is targeted at simplifying the application and reporting process for our research partners. Calls for investment partners are advertised on the GRDC website on an ongoing basis and updates can be monitored through alert subscriptions for investment areas of interest.

Figure 1: GRDC Strategic Investment Model

GROWERS ADVISERS RESEARCHERS REGIONAL STAFF OTHER PANELS STAKEHOLDERS

…...…………………………………………...……………...…………………………………………….

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–212 OUR INvESTMENT PROCESS

Investment development As foreshadowed in the 2018-2023 RD&E Plan, GRDC will progressively develop and publish strategies for each of the Key Investment Targets. GRDC will take an agile approach to KIT strategies that allows for adjustment and refinement as research challenges and issues arise over the next five years. The figure below describes the approach that guides the KIT strategy development and investment decisions.

Development of an outcome that is specific, measurable, attributable, realistic and time-bound and describes practice change at the farm level.

Capture assumptions underpinning likelyand expected impact to allow economicassessment.

OUTCOME

The outcome describes the desired impact of the strategy aligned to a specific Objective (Yield, Price or Cost) and must deliver on Purpose.

Dependent on the KIT but at a minimum usually includes grower and researcher input. GRDC Panel input important.

Utilises a modified Program Logic approachto determine if the GAP between current and desired states exists because of a lack of:• Motivation• Ability (skill &/or capacity)• Knowledge• Technology

GAP ANALYSIS

Assess the GAP between the desired outcome and current situation.

Dependent on the KIT but at a minimum usually includes grower and researcher input. Panel input important.

Determine the tangible deliverable required to address identified GAPs – Could be reports, varieties, chemistry, workshops etc. but must be tangible.

OUTPUTS

Describe the deliverables required to address GAPs and deliver an outcome.

Mostly developed internally based on the GAP analysis but with input from consultants where required.

Researchers generally not involved to manage any real or perceived conflicts of interest.

Calls for expression of interest are developed internally based on the outputs being sought.

Investments are tailored to deliver defined outputs but managed in an Agile manner with our research partners.

INVESTMENTS

Individual investments developed that deliver one or many outputs. Groups of investments are managed together and are adjusted as new information becomes available (Agile management).

Projects are developed in collaboration with preferred partners to agree approaches and milestones.

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT ACTIONSPROGRAM LOGIC STEP

Figure 2: GRDC investment development model


Balanced research portfolioThe planning and delivery of a portfolio that delivers a balanced mix of investments is a key function of GRDC. To achieve this GRDC considers the following elements in deciding investments.

Transformational and incremental impactInvestment in RD&E can have a different quantum of impact (either directly or indirectly) on each profit driver, ranging from incremental improvements of 1% to 2% to transformational changes of 10% to 20%.

Incremental profit improvements are important in maintaining grower competitiveness in current international markets. RD&E investment to support incremental improvements generally delivers on-farm changes in the short to medium term (up to eight years), and is characterised as having lower technical, commercial and/or adoption risk.

Transformational change underpins the innovation required to remain competitive in the long term and potentially provides opportunities for Australian growers to establish dominant positions in some markets. RD&E to support transformational change is generally high risk and requires longer time periods for delivery.

In keeping with the focus on an investment culture, GRDC will shape the R&D investment portfolio to balance the need for continual incremental improvements in profit with the desire for larger transformational changes. Following consultation with growers and researchers, a target for investment in transformational RD&E of at least 50% has been established. Adjustments to the investment portfolio to transfer the focus to higher levels of integrated transformational approaches will take some time to implement, given current investments with out-year commitments. However, it is expected that the target level of transformational investments should be met by the end of the second year of this plan at the latest.

GeographyGRDC’s focus is on maximising the impact of RD&E investment on the profitability of the growers that contribute the majority of funds, rather than on the locations where the funds are invested. While investment on a regional and local basis is a critical component of any program seeking to influence grower attitude, motivation or ability to adopt new innovations, the location where the RD&E to support the development of innovation is performed will be determined only by the capability and capacity that is required. Therefore, for the provision of strategic and applied research at least, GRDC will continue to work with the best. The best research partners will be identified from within Australia and internationally.

CommercialisationGRDC seeks to commercialise intellectual property when Australian grain growers can capture the maximum value from GRDC investment in RD&E. Our collaboration with Bayer CropScience is an example of how GRDC can leverage advantage for Australian growers through a commercial partnership. The cost of discovering and delivering a new herbicide to market typically exceeds $250 million, far beyond GRDC’s resources. Instead, by investing $9 million a year over five years with Bayer CropScience, Australia’s most problematic weeds become part of Bayer’s research. Any new compounds used in other countries, such as the US, Canada, or in Europe, earn GRDC a royalty that will be invested back into research in Australia for the benefit of Australian growers.

GRDC also protects the interests of Australian growers by securing intellectual property (IP) through patents, Plant Breeder’s Rights or other legal arrangements. This also attracts co-investment from commercial partners bringing new ideas and or expertise to our industry. Protected IP can then be licensed to industry. Examples include: ultra-low gluten barley technology licensed to The Healthy Grain company and German brewer Radeberger; harvest weed seed- management technology licensed to de Bruin Engineering; endophyte technologies with Grasslanz Pty Ltd, the Omega3 canola program, a co-investment between CSIRO, Nuseed Pty Ltd and GRDC to develop canola that expresses long chain omega 3 fatty acids; and the oat breeding program, a co-investment by SARDI, DPIRD, Uncle Toby’s and GRDC to develop new oat varieties.

GRDC has also been instrumental in establishing the end-point royalty system, providing a ‘value capture’ mechanism for commercial plant breeding, allowing the transition of canola, wheat, barley and lupin breeding from the public to the private sector. This has attracted further commercial investment in plant breeding, including investment from international parties that would otherwise not be interested in investing in Australia.

In some cases, GRDC IP has been used to form a start-up company in which GRDC participates as a non-controlling shareholder. Examples include Australian Grain Technologies Pty Ltd and InterGrain Pty Ltd. Both were formed from co-owned public breeding programs and have increased total investment in wheat breeding.


Grains Innovation Investment Trust – GrainInnovateThe GrainInnovate fund was launched in February 2019. GrainInnovate is a partnership between GRDC and Artesian, a full stack venture capital firm. Artesian manage the fund that includes $25m contribution from GRDC and matching funds from Artesian.

The fund may invest in start-ups that are developing a variety of product or services including software, hardware or new business models applicable to grain growers. Areas of interest include:

• Genetic tools and technologies• Crop and environmental sensing• Grain storage logistics• Renewable technologies• Task automation• Crop protection technologies• Water and nutrient use efficiency• Crop management logisticsThe Fund seeks to build a diverse portfolio across geographies, technologies, business models and delivery times, in order to maximise its chances to deliver transformational value to growers and co-investors.

In line with its investment strategy, in its first year of operations, the fund has made eight investments across several areas including precision agriculture, non-chemical weeding, on-farm and satellite communication, soil biology and grain storage. Investments were made in both domestic and international start-ups to encourage the deployment of international solutions to the Australian market. In 2020–21, the fund’s goals include increasing the number of investments and funds deployed by around two-fold and, in addition to the growing Australian agriculture innovation ecosystem, an increased focus on international companies suitable to the Australian market.


Objective and key performance indicators

Key investment targets

1 Improve yield and yield stabilityMinimum yield increases equivalent to 1% per annum for cereals, 2% per annum for pulses and 1.5% per annum for oilseeds, achieved while identifying and investing in technology for transformational improvement in yield potential and yield stability.Minimum 20% closure of the gap between potential and achieved yield over five years.

1.1 Minimise the impact of high temperature at flowering and grain fill on grain yield and stability.

1.2 Minimise the impact of spring radiation frost on grain yield and stability.

1.3 Change fundamental plant architecture, physiology and/or biochemistry to maximise water-limited yield potential in wheat, barley, canola and sorghum.

1.4 Improve the potential and actual grain yields of high-value pulses, oilseeds (other than canola) and oats in profitable farming systems.

1.5 Reduce the gap between actual and potential grain yield through more informed and timely decision-making on:• planting time• crop/variety choice• weed management• pest and disease control• crop nutrition.

1.6 Reduce the impacts of water repellence, compaction, hard-pans and other barriers to the capture and storage of water in soils.

1.7 Reduce the impacts of soil salinity and sodicity on plant water uptake to improve grain yield and stability.

2 Maintain and improve priceIdentification of potential new products and investments where a supportive business case can be established.Support for and enhancement of current products through identification of opportunities for differentiation and maintenance of current market access programs.

2.1 Expand the area of high-value crops to boost average prices and profitability of farming systems, specifically:• pulses• oats for food or industrial uses• linseed for industrial uses• sorghum for food• soybeans for food and/or animal feed.

2.2 Maintain and/or improve the price of Australian grain through differentiation based on:• functionality• food safety and traceability• sustainability of production

Objective and key performance indicators

Key investment targets

• reduced downgrading • new and/or enhanced grain classification processes• optimal management of biosecurity issues.

3 Optimise input costsMaintenance of chemicals costs below the forecast trend for 2018–23, equivalent to $85.50/ha or a ratio of input costs:crop revenue of 0.166.Maintenance of fertiliser costs below the forecast trend for 2018–23, equivalent to $84.30/ha or a ratio of input costs:crop revenue of 0.164.

3.1 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing weeds.

3.2 Generate more informed, accurate and timely input for decision-making (e.g. sensor/monitoring technology or decision support models).

3.3 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing diseases.

4 Reduce post-farm-gate costsTimely RD&E-based submissions to government to support policy decision-making.Timely addressing of technical barriers to trade issues.

4.1 Support research to advise policy and investment decisions that lead to reduced post-farm-gate costs.

5 Manage risk to maximise profit and minimise lossesThe number of growers undertaking business trainingEstablishment of a behavioural economics initiative to research grower decision-making.

5.1 Improve the accuracy of short-range and medium-range weather forecasting.

5.2 Understand grain grower decision-making and the drivers for adoption of new technology.

Purpose: To invest in research, development and extension to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growersKey performance indicator: Minimum 6.0% rate of return by 2023

2020–21 Investment portfolio

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–216 2020–21 INvESTMENT PORTFOlIO

Focus on profitThe 2018-23 RD&E Plan is part of a 10 to 20-year strategy to deliver on GRDC’s purpose: Investing in research, development and extension to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers. The key drivers of grain grower profitability are yield, price, costs (on farm and post farm gate) and risk. The relationships between these drivers can be expressed as: Profit = [Yield x Price – Costs] x Risk. This Annual Operation Plan for 2020–21 focusses on delivery of research against the primary Key Investment Targets identified in Table 1 below.

Table 1: 2020–21 Priority Key Investment Targets (KITs)

KIT number KIT title KIT impact statementImprove yield and yield stability 1.1 Minimise the impact of high temperature at flowering and grain fill on grain yield and stability. Growers manage their farm businesses to minimise the impact of flowering heat stress on yield.1.2 Minimise the impact of spring radiation frost (SRF) on grain yield and stability. Growers in frost-prone regions managing their farm businesses to minimise the impact of frost on yield to

optimise profit.1.3 Change fundamental plant architecture, physiology and/or biochemistry to maximise

water-limited yield potential in wheat, barley, canola and sorghum.Growers have access to wheat, barley, canola and sorghum varieties possessing transformational improvement in water-limited yield potential.

1.4 Improve the potential and actual grain yield of high-value pulses, oilseeds (other than canola) and oats in profitable farming systems.

Growers in current production areas have access to higher yielding, high value crop varieties.

1.5 Reduce the gap between actual and potential grain yield through more informed and timely decision-making on: planting time/crop/variety choice/weed management/pest and disease control and crop nutrition.

Growers understand and have access to management practices that reduce the yield gap to increase profit with acceptable business risk.

1.6 Reduce the impacts of water repellence, compaction, hard-pans and other barriers to the capture and storage.

Growers have access to management options that optimise the capture and storage of available water to improve yield.

1.7 Reduce the impacts of soil salinity and sodicity on plant water uptake to improve yield and stability.

Growers are able to correctly identify soil salinity and sodicity constraints that impact yield and have access to cost-effective options for reducing the impact of those constraints.

Maintain and improve price2.1 Expand the area of high-value crops to boost average prices and profitability of

farming systems.Growers in non-traditional production areas have access to new, high value and profitable crops and knowledge of how to integrate them into farming systems

2.2 Maintain and/or improve the price of Australian grain through differentiation. Grower’s profitability is improved through access to differentiated markets and/or reduced downgrading.Optimise input costs3.1 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and

sustainably managing weeds.Growers are able to sustainably reduce the impact of the most important weeds on farming systems and grain production.

3.2 Generate more informed, accurate and timely input for decision-making (e.g. sensor/monitoring technology or decision support models).

Growers are able to optimise input costs and profitability through data-informed decision making.

3.3 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing diseases.

Growers are able to sustainably reduce the impact of the most important diseases on farming systems and grain production.

Reduce post-farm gate costs4.1 Support research to advise policy and investment decisions that lead to reduced

post-farm-gate costs.Growers realise increased farm gate returns by accessing lowest-cost pathways for grain storage and transport logistics and other post-farm-gate costs.

Manage risk to maximise profit and minimise losses5.1 Improve the accuracy of short-range and medium-range weather forecasting. Growers have access to accurate weather forecasts (out to 14 days) that enable improved decision-making

and risk management on farm.5.2 Understand grain grower decision making and the drivers for adoption of new technology. Growers and their advisers have the knowledge, tools and understanding of decision-making behaviours

to make informed decisions and accelerate the rate of adoption of new knowledge, technology and practices to improve profit and manage risk.

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–217 2020–21 INvESTMENT PORTFOlIO

OUR PURPOSETo invest in research, development and extension to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers

WHAT WE DOPlan, manage and implement investments to underpin profitability in the Australian grains industry

Performance framework

IMPROVE YIELD AND YIELD STABILITY

MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE PRICES OPTIMISE INPUT COSTS REDUCE POST-FARM

GATE COSTS

MANAGE RISK TO MAXIMISE PROFIT AND MINIMISE LOSSES

Minimum yield increases equivalent to 1 per cent per annum for cereals2 per cent per annum for pulses 1.5 per cent per annum for oilseeds.By 2023 a minimum 20 per cent closure of the gap between potential yield and actual yield

Identification of potential new products and investments where a supportive business case can be established.Support for and enhancement of current products through identification of opportunities for product differentiation and maintenance of current market access programs.

Maintenance of chemical costs below the forecast trend for 2018-2023, equivalent to $85.50/ha or a ratio of input costs crop revenue of 0.166.Maintain increases in fertiliser costs below the five-year trend (2018-2023) equivalent to $84.30/ha or a ratio of input to crop revenue of 0.164.

Timely RD&E based submissions to government to support policy decision making. Timely addressing of technical barriers to trade issues.

The number of growers undertaking business training.Establishment of a behavioural economics initiative to research grower decision-making.

• Minimise the impact of high temperature at flowering and grain fill on grain yield and stability.

• Minimise the impact of spring radiation frost on grain yield and stability.• Change fundamental plant architecture, physiology and/or biochemistry to

maximise water-limited yield potential in wheat, barley, canola and sorghum.• Improve the potential and actual grain yields of high-value pulses, oilseeds

(other than canola) and oats in profitable farming systems.• Reduce the gap between actual and potential grain yield through more

informed and timely decision-making on: planting time; crop/variety; weed management; pest and disease control; crop nutrition.

• Reduce the impacts of water repellance, compaction, hard-pans and other barriers to the capture and storage.

• Reduce the impacts of soil salinity and sodicity on plant water uptake to improve yield and stability.

• Expand the area of high-value crops to boost average prices and profitability of farming systems.

• Maintain and/or improve the price of Australian grain through differentiation.

• Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing weeds.

• Generate more informed, accurate and timely input for decision-making (e.g. sensor/monitoring technology or decision support mode).

• Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing diseases.

• Support research to advise policy and investment decisions that lead to reduced post-farm-gate costs.

• Improve the accuracy of short-range and medium-range weather forecasting.

• Understand grain grower decision making and the drivers for adoption of new technology.

OUR OBJECTIvES

KEY PERFORM

ANC

E IN

DIC

ATORS

KEY INVESTM

ENT TARG

ETS (2020–21 PRIO

RITIES)

ENABlING FRAMEWORKS Data management and analyticsBiosecurity

Grower communication and adoptionCapacity and ability

ORGANISATIONAl EFFECTIvENESS – GOAlSDeliver transformational impact on grain grower profitability.Be valued by growers.Ensure GRDC can deliver in the long term.

Ensure GRDC has people with the capability and motivation to deliver on purpose in a safe environment.Become an attractive investment partner.

Capitalise on GRDC’s influence in the Australian grains industry contribution to the national recovery of the regional communities it supports.

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–218 PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

KIT 1.1 Minimise the impact of high temperature at flowering and grain fill on grain yield and stability

Key Investment Targets for 2020–21

Growers manage their farm businesses to minimise the impact of flowering heat stress on yield.

IMPACT

FORECAST EXPENDITURE 2020–21

$2.44m

OUTCOMES INvESTMENT FUNDED IN 2020–21 2020–21 OUTPUTS

1.1.4 Plant breeders have tools to effectively improve the heat tolerance of major grain crops.

Maintenance of grain plumpness and transfer of heat tolerance into Australian barley germplasmHeat damage is arguably the most common and most limiting production constraint in Australian grain crops. This investment brings together genetic researchers and Australian barley breeding companies to identify new sources of barley heat tolerance and develop selection tools to support breeding programs use these sources.

Validate genetic regions conferring improved barley heat tolerance and identify candidate genes.Cross sources of heat tolerance into adapted barley backgrounds and provide to breeding companies.

Improving canola heat tolerance – a coordinated multidisciplinary approachExtended period of high temperature stress and short periods of heat shock (> 30°C) during flowering and seed filling are major threat to canola grain and oil yield in canola grown regions in Australia. Annual average economic losses from heat damage in Australian canola are estimated at over $400 million.This project addresses major impediments to achieving improved rate of genetic gain for heat stress including developing improved field phenotyping approaches and exploiting potential new international genetic variability for tolerance to high temperatures.

Validate the heat tolerance of previously Identified canola germplasm under field conditions, Screen new germplasm for field heat tolerance including in field-deployable heat chambers.

Introgression of heat-tolerant genes to broaden genetic variation in current wheat breeding populationsPeriods of extreme high temperature, in particular short periods of heat shock, are a major threat to wheat yield and grain quality throughout much of the Australian wheat belt. Current projections of Australian climate change indicate that heat waves and temperature variability will become more frequent and more intense in the coming decades. This project seeks to develop wheat germplasm with improved high-temperature tolerance, and molecular tags linked to this tolerance, that Australian breeders can use produce more tolerant cultivars.

A genomic prediction-based strategy to identify the best lines and parent combinations validated, and its usefulness demonstrated.Lines ranked based on GEBV delivered to commercial Australian breeding companies.

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–219 KEy INvESTMENT TARGETS FOR 2020–21

KEY INVESTMENT TARGETS FOR 2020–21 CONTINUED

KIT 1.2 Minimise the impact of spring radiation frost on grain yield and stability

IMPACT

Growers in frost-prone regions manage their farm businesses to minimise the impact of frost on yield and profit.


$1.51m


1.2.1 Growers have more accurate knowledge of the pattern and severity of frost events across the cropping landscape.

FrostSense: An integrated modelling framework to rapidly map the extent of stem and reproductive frost damage in wheat and barleyThis investment will generate a model to map the severity and duration of frost events during vegetative and reproductive phases in wheat and barley and predict the likely extent of yield loss. It will enable growers to make more profitable decisions in response to frost events. (addresses both 1.2.1 and 1.2.10)

Complete initial literature review that will guide the incorporation of remote sensing algorithms into the existing modelling methods.Participate in first cross-investment program technical committee planning meeting with the other crop monitoring projects.Collect key environmental data from selected field sites in WA, SA and Victoria.

1.2.5 Growers have access to varieties with improved yield in frost-affected cropping regions.

leveraging International Germplasm to Deliver Improved Chickpea Chilling Tolerance for Australian GrowersChilling and frost tolerance are major constraints to improving the yield and profitability of chickpea in existing and target expansion regions of Australia. A recent co-investment involving GRDC, CSIRO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Harran University in Turkey, reported the identification of wild chickpea (Cicer) lines with significantly improved chilling tolerance relative to commercial chickpea cultivars under field conditions. This investment will capitalise on this discovery and accelerate delivery of this material to Australian chickpea breeding programs to develop cultivars with reduced sensitivity to cold during flowering.

In 2020/21 this project will:• screen wild chickpea lines for

vegetative and reproductive chilling tolerance

• commence validation in Australia of putative sources of chickpea chilling tolerance identified in field trials in Turkey

• commence development of a controlled environment screening assay for chickpea that is scalable, accurate and reproduces field rankings of chickpea germplasm for chilling tolerance.

1.2.6 Plant breeders have tools to effectively reduce the frost sensitivity of major grain crops.

Accelerating wheat genetic gain by establishing a high-throughput spike phenotyping platformThe project will deliver a step-change increase in the phenotyping capacity (throughput) and accuracy of GRDC pre-breeding investments seeking to identify genetic variation for maintenance of grain number under environmental stresses including frost and heat.

Installation of X-Ray CT System.

1.2.8 Growers have improved knowledge of the economic value of modifying different in-season management practices to reduce frost-related yield losses.

Applying current knowledge to inform grower decision making to mitigate the impact of frost, now and in the futureThe direct and indirect financial impacts of frost to growers can be considerable. The purpose of this investment is to extend and apply the outcomes of previous R&D investments relating to frost to build knowledge that will inform grower and advisor decisions relating to pre-season planning, in-season management and post-frost event responses. (addresses both 1.2.4 and 1.2.8)

Knowledge transfer forums held.Demonstration sites established to extend information on frost management.



KIT 1.3 Change fundamental plant architecture, physiology and/or biochemistry to maximise water-limited yield potential in wheat, barley, canola and sorghum

IMPACT

Growers have access to wheat, barley, canola and sorghum varieties possessing transformational improvements in water-limited yield potential.


$5.12m


1.3.1 Plant breeders and researchers have knowledge of and selection tools for plant characteristics that can maximise water uptake.

Rooty: A root ideotype toolbox to support improved wheat yieldsThis project will provide Australian wheat breeders with information on the value of four different root architectural types – their impact on yield in the field.

Wheat lines of each of the four root architectural types (narrow/high biomass, wide/high biomass, narrow/low biomass, and wide/lo biomass) producedLines distributed to CIMMYT and Longreach Plant Breeders for evaluation in Mexico and Australia, respectively.

1.3.2 Plant breeders and researchers are accelerating the transfer of relevant knowledge from other species to wheat, barley, canola and sorghum.

Manipulation of stomata to increase yield potential in wheat (IWyP collaboration)Transpiration efficiency (TE), the amount of biomass produced per unit of water transpired, is influenced by the distribution of stomata on the leaf surface and their response to environmental signals. This project, with International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) collaborations, will assess how modifications to genes involved in stomata development and function influence TE and water limited yield potential.

Wheat lines with mutations in target stomatal genes collated from national collections Lines with modified stomatal genes obtained from Canadian collaborators.

1.3.4 Plant breeders and researchers have knowledge of and selection tools to manipulate flowering processes and structures of wheat, barley, canola and sorghum to optimise grain number in relation to water availability and biomass.

Improving the Adaptation and Profitability Of High value Pulses (Chickpea And lentil) across Australian agroecological zonesThe fit between a crop variety and its local environment has a critical impact on productivity. The timing of stages in the crop growth cycle is referred to as “phenology”, and this timing plays a central role in adaptation to an environment. This investment will generate fundamental genetic and physiological phenology knowledge for chickpea and lentil that breeders require to improve their adaptation and yield.

Molecular characterization of known genetic regions controlling flowering time in lentils and chickpea.Field and controlled-environment screening of lentil and chickpea diversity sets.New genetic regions controlling flowering time identified.

Maintaining wheat grain number under reproductive-stage drought conditionsPrevious research has identified variation in capacity of different wheat lines to maintain grain number under reproductive drought stress. This project will determine the genetic and biochemical basis of this variation with a view to developing knowledge and tools which breeders can use to increase grain number under water limited conditions.

Molecular markers for wheat genetic regions associated with maintenance of grain number under reproductive drought stress.



KIT 1.4 Improve the potential and actual grain yield of high value pulses, oilseeds (other than Canola) and oats in profitable farming systems

IMPACT

Growers in current production areas have access to more reliable, higher yielding and profitable high-value crop varieties.


$18.41m


1.4.2 The key addressable constraints and opportunities for improving yield potential and reliability in current production zones are identified and prioritised.

Developing farming systems for the lRZ of Western AustraliaThe project will evaluate three complimentary potential farming systems changes in the low rainfall zone (LRZ). Novel soil moisture management techniques, early sowing and high value break crops (field peas, lentils, chickpeas and/or lupins) will all be tested. This project investigates the interactions between these approaches and how they can build upon each other to improve the profitability of farming systems in the LRZ.

Using data gathered during the project, economic and biophysical modelling will be completed, and guidelines developed about the profitability and risk of novel water management and pulse and pasture options for the LRZ of the Western Region, including the development of management packages that incorporate pulses (with a focus on chickpea, field peas, lentils and lupins) and pastures/fallows that reduce risk and increase grower profitability in the LRZ of the Western Region.

Understanding the implications of new traits on adaptation, crop physiology and management of pulses in the southern regionPulses are an important part of many productive, profitable and sustainable farming systems in southern Australia. In addition, pulses have expanded into the low (LRZ) and high rainfall zones (HRZ) where they are less adapted. Breeding programs continually identify and develop new traits to improve crop adaptation to a range of environments, this project will contribute to the understanding of pulse growth and performance under changing environmental and management conditions.

An extensive coordinated program of research across GRDC Southern Region on near release or commercially available lupin, vetch, lentil, field pea, faba bean and chickpea germplasm (representing a range of known phenology types) that will identify and define agronomic practices targeted at addressing priority constraints or opportunities to increase profitability by and realise water limited yield potential.

1.4.3 Growers have access to tools, technologies, varieties and products that support maximising the yield and reliability of high-value crops.

validating recent research on break crop options in the low rainfall zone to determine the best options for the different climate, soil type and biotic stress situationsImproved production and profit of low rainfall farming systems due to the adoption of break crop management packages developed for low rainfall systems, including a summary of recent relevant research, determination of best break crop options for different environmental conditions, development of agronomic packages and extension of this information to growers.

The project will conclude in 2020, including the development of a manual of key project findings, the extension of key messages from the project to farming systems groups. This and other key outcomes of the project will be summarized with the delivery of a final report in 20/21.




1.4.4 Plant breeders and researchers have the tools and knowledge to deliver high-value crop varieties with improved yield and yield stability.

Multi-species DNA chip platform - A resource for pulse genetic improvementThis project will accelerate research outcomes for chickpea, field pea, faba bean, lentil and lupin improvement by providing pre-breeders with increased genetic resolution (e.g. moving from QTL to causal genes), more rapid discovery, faster marker development and increased power in experiments. The use of a common DNA genotyping platform across projects will enable data mining that derives new value from data and feeds back to further accelerate pre-breeding research. These enhancements in pre-breeding will ultimately assist breeders and underpin the development of new pulse varieties with superior agronomic performance, disease resistance and specific quality traits.

A fully validated multi-species pulse SNP chip platform for chickpea, lentil, lupin and field peas, designed to provide whole genome tiling and Australian relevant SNP content, incorporating appropriate genetic diversity making it amenable and most relevant to on-going genetic improvement for the crops involved, and the availability of this chip platform to relevant breeding programs and researchers.

lupin Breeders Toolbox - A Resource for lupin Genetic ImprovementThis proposal aims to expand the current genomic and genetic resources available for the major grain legume grown in WA, the narrow-leafed lupin (NLL; Lupinus angustifolius L.). These resources will significantly help accelerate breeding improved varieties for Australian lupin growers.

Fully validated lupin SNP sets will be available for implementation by the lupin breeding program, along with a fully characterized TILLING population resource for breeding and pre-breeding applications.

Investing in phenology diversity un germplasm to optimize profitability from April sown oatsThis investment aims to:a) Screen a wide range of oat lines (including international

germplasm) at two locations under controlled environment (irrigation for establishment) conditions for adaptation and suitability to WA growing conditions.

b) Investigate milling oat varieties and breeding lines expected to be released, when sown early (April and May), under different nutrition strategies to determine the best-bet agronomy for growers to meet tightening milling oat quality specifications.

Australian and international germplasm will be evaluated in two environments (Northam and Katanning) in the Western Region, to assess variation in phenology, allowing identification of germplasm with a wider variation in phenology than current milling varieties. A report summarising the phenological observations from assessing a wide range of germplasm options will be presented to pre-breeders, breeders and the oat industry in Australia.

KIT 1.4 Improve the potential and actual grain yield of high value pulses, oilseeds (other than Canola) and oats in profitable farming systems (continued)



KIT 1.5 Reduce the gap between actual and potential grain yield through more informed and timely decision-making on: planting time; crop/variety choice; weed management; pest and disease control; crop nutrition (continued)

IMPACT

Growers understand and have access to management practices that reduce the yield gap to increase profit with acceptable business risk.


$37.40m


1.5.3 Growers and their advisers understand the options to address identified yield constraints and how to integrate into their system.

National variety Trial ProgramThis investment provides comparative data on yield performance, quality, and disease resistance ratings of commercially available grain varieties that is independent, consistent, timely, and accurate to assist grain growers in Variety choice decisions.

Onboarding of new Trial Service Providers. Implementation of updated Protocols.Establishment, management, & measurement of approx. 650 variety yield & quality field trials in line with the updated trial distribution model.Establishment, management, & measurement of greenhouse and field-based pathology trials.

National Phenology Initiative This investment will enable wheat and barley growers to plant new and existing cultivars at optimal times from the point of release through an improved understanding of genetic by environment interactions and improved ability to predict flowering date.

Validation dataset consisting of flowering time for the Australian phenology panel from field experiments as well as existing phenology data from other GRDC investments available for model validation.APSIM parameters derived for all genotypes within the Australian phenology panel from a combination of SNP, marker and/or controlled environment data.APSIM simulation of flowering time for Australian wheat and barley phenology panels validated.Curated database of development alleles assayed via perfect markers in all new (typically 5-10) wheat cultivars released annually over the duration of the project made available to breeders and the wider grains industry.

Improving farming system efficiency in Southern NSWThat growers in the northern region achieving more than 75% of the water-limited production potential of the system. This is to be achieved by focusing on the efficiency of an entire crop sequence, where the legacies of water, nitrogen, weeds and diseases act over time to limit potential. The efficiency gap at the sequence level is greater than that at the crop level, providing significant opportunities to develop systems and practices that increase system efficiency and profitability.

Synthesis and extrapolation of field trial data to evaluate economic risk and return (including sensitivity analysis), environmental impacts and trade-offs across Northern region farming systems.Publishing of materials, including reports and journal articles, and delivery of presentations to extend research findings and their implications to Northern region growers.




Optimising plant establishment, density and spacings to maximise crop yield and profit in the Southern and Western regionsThis investment aims to investigate the value of seed singulation and alternate planting configurations on crop establishment, seed costs, yield and profit in selected winter crops. New data, information and agronomic knowledge will assist growers and advisers to improve crop establishment practice and investigate the fit of precision planting systems in winter cropping systems.

A report summarising methods, results and implications of field experiments and commercial scale trials comparing the establishment, growth and yield of canola, lentil and faba bean in the southern region, and canola, wheat and lupins in the western region, sown with a number of seeding practices and systems.

Optimising sorghum yield through agronomic managementThe investment aims to generate new data, information and knowledge that will inform new agronomic management guidelines for the key sorghum production zones across the Northern Grains Region.

Report on field trial activities across Northern New South Wales, Southern and Central Queensland, targeting diverse water and temperature stress environments per the 2020–21 AOP.Agronomic management guidelines will be updated and published electronically as new data and knowledge becomes available.

1.5.4 Growers make informed and objective business and management decisions to prioritise potential responses and effectively implement.

Developing Farming Systems for the lRZ of Western AustraliaThis investment aims to develop and extend farming system knowledge in a low rainfall zone of Western Australia, to increase profitability and reduce risk through the integrated use of novel soil moisture management approaches and a wider diversity of crop species.

Completion of economic and biophysical modelling at whole of farming system level. Development of associated guidelines that will inform grower and advisor decision making regarding the profitability and risk of novel water management and rotational options identified.






1.5.5 New solutions that address current risk and reward trade-offs to further reduce the gap between attainable yield and water-limited yield potential with acceptable business risk are discovered and benefits quantified.

Development of crop management packages for early sown, slow developing wheats in the Southern region / Improving grower profit through longer season wheat crops / Using long season wheats for increase in profits and grazing opportunitiesThese investments will provide growers and advisors with sound agronomic knowledge and supporting data to allow them to exploit early sowing opportunities with long-season wheats.

Summation and further extension of R&D investment outcomes from the investment to growers, advisors and broader industry (Ali P, Kaara K, Josh J/Lizze P).

1.5.6 Growers and their advisers implement new knowledge, tools, technologies or practices into whole-of-farm systems to set new attainable yield benchmarks.

Hyper yielding Crops: Setting new attainable grain yield targets in high yield potential environmentsThis investment will identify, develop and support growers and their advisers to implement new knowledge, tools, technologies or practices into whole-of-farm systems to set new economically attainable grain yield benchmarks in High Rainfall Zones of Australia.

Establishment of five major trial sites, GRDC Centres of Excellence, for research and development across Australia and as hubs for extension activities.Establishment of 25 focus farms nationally, and associated peer-to-peer grower and advisor discussion groups providing technical support, information and advice to growers to improve crop management practices, implement project learnings at paddock-scale and create a high profile and competitive platform to set new economically attainable yield targets.



KIT 1.6 Reduce the impacts of water repellence, compaction, hard-pans and other barriers to the capture and storage of water in soils


1.6.2 Growers understand the causes of soil compaction, water repellence and other constraints impacting water capture and storage at farm level.

Soil Quality iBookGrowers, advisors and researchers will have access to a digital interactive platform to read, listen and view information on soil management in the Western Region.

Develop and deliver a further three soil quality iBook chapters relating to GRDC investment in Soils constraints west and other related soils investments consistent with GRDC branding guidelines.

1.6.3 Growers understand the available options to overcome soil constraints impacting the capture and storage of water.

Maintain the longevity of soils constraints investments and increase grower adoption through extension - western regionGrain growers and advisers in the low-medium rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia will have a better understanding of how to identify different types of soil physical constraints (compaction alone and/or cementing behaviour) and recommendations for improved targeting of strategic deep tillage for cost-effective outcomes.

Conduct extension events/meetings in each port zone with the content to be tailored to the requirements of the growers in the region (soil type, constraints, farming systems etc).Provide assistance to growers and grower groups when required, in the development (design and analysis) of demonstration trials.Validation report completed of the effectiveness of the soils constraint extension program and the extension methods applied.

1.6.4 Researchers develop new tools for addressing identified soil constraints on farm.

Re-engineering soils to improve the access of crop root systems to water and nutrients stored in the subsoilGrowers in the western region will be using the information and technologies to enable identification and effective amelioration of soils with multiple constraints to increase long-term profitability.

Provide a diagnostic framework and potential strategies to manage combinations of soil constraints for sands and texture contrast soils. Deliver new knowledge on how to diagnose multiple constraints, define soil profile characteristics and utilise this to determine the most effective amelioration techniques, combinations and timing to provide the most profitable long-term benefit.

IMPACT

Growers have access to management options that optimise the capture and storage of available water to improve yield.


$6.29m




1.6.5 Growers have access to tools to assess the enduring economic impacts (including trade-offs) and risks of different options to overcome soil constraints that impact the capture and storage of water.

Increasing farming system profitability and longevity of benefits following soil ameliorationGrowers with ameliorated soils in the medium and high rainfall zones of WA have adopted new farming systems techniques that maintain the benefits of soil amelioration, and reduce the risks of poor crop establishment, soil erosion and reversal of soil constraints.

A report quantifying farming systems practices and benchmarking survey for management and agronomy of ameliorated soils. Deliver new knowledge on seedbed preparation and furrow formation to maximise establishment and herbicide tolerance of wheat, lupin and canola crops on ameliorated soils.Industry (growers, advisors and researchers) will have access to research results and information on the potential impact deep soil amelioration has on key soilborne diseases in GRDC Western Region.

1.6.6 Growers have access to crop types and farming systems to optimise yield and profitability on soils where the constraints that adversely impact the capture and storage of water have been overcome.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Understanding causes of physical constraints in sandy soils and implications for targeted deep tillageGrain growers and advisers in the low-medium rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia will have a better understanding of how to identify different types of soil physical constraints (compaction alone and/or cementing behaviour) and recommendations for improved targeting of strategic deep tillage for cost-effective outcomes.

A final technical report is submitted to GRDC, detailing the project objective/s, the industry problem or issue being addressed, the methods used, results, farm/crop management implications, future research and development and any key communication messages.A technical report suitable for advisers and leading growers describing the nature of cementing layers in Mallee sands and how they are influenced by amelioration practices.

KIT 1.6 Reduce the impacts of water repellence, compaction, hard-pans and other barriers to the capture and storage of water in soils (continued)



KIT 1.7 Reduce the impacts of soil salinity and sodicity on plant water uptake to improve grain yield and stability


1.7.1 Growers and researchers have access to field diagnostic tools that efficiently and effectively estimate the severity of salinity and sodicity and their impacts on yield and yield stability.

Economics of ameliorating soil constraints in the northern region: Spatial soil constraint diagnosesApproximately 75% of Australian soils have single or multiple constraints mostly sodicity and salinity. The project combines global archive of Landsat satellite imageries which are analysed to predict yield and constraint relationships.

A decision framework allowing growers to identify areas with the greatest potential to respond to precision soil amelioration techniques.

A platform to interpret soil attributes to support profitable farming systemsThis innovation will evaluate NIR handheld scanners for fine scale mapping of soil attributes to provide reliable real-time information to growers to support their decision-making processes in the field.

Growers and advisers have access to a system which will allow fine-scale mapping of multiple soil properties from proximal soil sensors.

1.7.2 Growers and researchers have knowledge of the causes of salinity and sodicity and their impact on yield and yield stability.

Methods to predict plant available water capacity (PAWC)The project will review available rules of thumb for predicting PAWC for different crops, develop a predictive approach that incorporates an understanding of the effects of subsoil constraints on the crop’s ability to extract soil water.

A report of the new knowledge and conclusions of the project in estimating crop yield potential in constrained soils.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship - Crop lower limit: Root water extraction responses to soil properties as key to variability in PAWC Post-Doctoral research looking into how soil constraints affect crop rooting patterns and root water extraction.

Data supporting improved understanding, quantification and prediction of crop root water extraction as affected by crop rooting architecture and soil properties including soil constraints.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship – Understanding mechanisms of subsoil ameliorationThis project will help us to understand how surface and subsoil amendments affect the soil structure and root proliferation in soil layers, crop water and nutrient uptake, and grain yield.

Growers will have an increased understanding of crop × soil water × amendment interactions, that result in grain yield increases during the amelioration of poorly structured subsoils.

IMPACT

Growers are able to correctly identify soil salinity and sodicity constraints that impact yield and have access to cost-effective options for reducing the impact of those constraints.


$5.10m




1.7.3 Growers understand current options to overcome salinity and sodicity.

Economics of ameliorating soil constraints in the northern region: Soil constraint management and ameliorationThe project will work with grain growers, grower groups and consultants to identify the best management options for the range of constrained soils across the different cropping systems the northern region.

Data quantifying the efficacy of traditional and innovative techniques to ameliorate surface and sub-soil constraints in the low, medium and high rainfall zones.

Understanding the amelioration processes of the subsoil application of amendments in the Southern RegionThe project will review current knowledge about organic matter application to soils and how they can boost crop yields and assess the long-term residue value of applying organic matter on grain yields.

Grain growers and their advisers in south-eastern Australia have access to cost effective techniques to ameliorate poorly structured subsoils and increase crop production and profitability through the incorporation of organic matter and/or other amendments.

Increased grower profitability on soils with sodicity and transient salinity in the eastern grain belt of the Western RegionThe purpose of this investment is to explore and develop management options for cropping soils constrained by sodicity and transient salinity across the low rainfall eastern grainbelt of Western Australia.

Deliver data and new knowledge on amelioration and mitigation treatments and their impact on crop water supply and productivity.

1.7.5 Growers have knowledge of the enduring economic benefits and risks of different options to overcome salinity and sodicity.

Economics of ameliorating soil constraints in the northern region: Economics of adoptionThe project anticipates delivering case study examples of how growers are managing soils constraints from a logistical and economic point of view.

A series of published reports for each sub-region quantifying the costs and economic impact of adopting amelioration practices.

KIT 1.7 Reduce the impacts of soil salinity and sodicity on plant water uptake to improve grain yield and stability (continued)



KIT 1.7 Reduce the impacts of soil salinity and sodicity on plant water uptake to improve grain yield and stability (continued)


1.7.6 Growers have access to tools to assess the whole-of-farm business impact (including on capital value) and risks of different options to overcome salinity and sodicity.

Economics of ameliorating soil constraints in the northern region: Economics of adoptionThe project anticipates delivering an economic assessment framework and tool for growers and advisors to evaluate the economics of amelioration options against soil constraints at the paddock and farm scale.

A bio-economic framework for use by growers to quantify the profitability and risk associated with amelioration treatment options.

1.7.7 Growers have access to crop types and farming systems to optimise yield and profitability on soils where salinity and sodicity constraints have been addressed.

Improving wheat yields on sodic, magnesic, and dispersive soilsThe purpose of the work is to develop strains of wheat with improved tolerance to a number of stresses associated with sodic soils, which wheat breeders can use to increase wheat yields in the future.

A clear value proposition of germplasm adapted to sodic soils developed in UA00159.



KIT 2.1 Expand the area of high value crops to boost average prices and profitability of farming systems, specifically: pulses, oats for food or industrial uses, linseed for production uses, sorghum for food, and soybeans for food and/or animal feed


2.1.1 The grains industry has access to market intelligence to support the identification of high-value crop opportunities that have potential for expansion in new production areas and support more profitable farming systems for growers.

Expanding options for sorghum – Food and DistillingSorghum, and important component of Northern cropping systems, is an ideal target for the transformation of a low value commodity to a high value food/beverage product. Currently, it is largely used in Australia for animal feed. However, internationally, sorghum is used in higher-value products for human consumption. The dramatic increase in gluten free products worldwide may also provide new options for sorghum. To explore this opportunity, this project is aimed at understanding of the size and scope of the sorghum human consumption market and the suitability of Australian sorghum varieties to meet the requirements of these markets.

Current Australian sorghum hybrids are being evaluated for their fermentability and suitability for Baijiu production in collaboration with Tainjin University of Science and Technology, China. The main investment outputs for 2020–21 will be optimized protocols for fermentation testing and a determination of the suitability of a subset of Australian sorghum hybrids for Baijiu production.

2.1.2 For each high-value crop with expansion potential, growers and researchers have access to tools and knowledge that support the identification and characterisation of new target production environments.

Improving the adaptation and profitability of high value pulses (Chickpea And lentil) across Australian agroecological zonesThe fit between a crop variety and its local environment has a critical impact on productivity, and it is well known that environmental variables such as temperature, daylength and soil moisture, and exposure to abiotic stresses such as heat, frost or drought have a major influence on crop growth and performance. These factors vary widely across Australian production zones and determine where and when any given variety can be successfully grown.This project will develop a national strategy to address these needs, generating new information and leveraging insights from world-leading research and breeding programs internationally to systematically characterize the genetic and physiological variation in phenology in Australia’s two major high-value pulse crops, chickpea and lentil. Work will combine intensive research in controlled conditions with extensive field trials across Australian production environments, to identify existing and novel variation for phenology that will guide the development and deployment of new varieties.

Transcriptome sequence data generated for a minimum of 50 varieties each for lentil and chickpea diversity panels covering representative phenological diversity in Australian and international material grown under contrasting environments.Field trials conducted providing detailed phenotypic data on phenology in diversity panels (including flower initiation, development and opening, maturity, etc) will be conducted to provide performance data that that will ultimately be collated and transferred to breeders.

IMPACT

Growers in non-traditional production areas have access to varieties of high-value and profitable crops and knowledge of how to integrate them into farming systems.


$4.77m



KIT 2.1 Expand the area of high value crops to boost average prices and profitability of farming systems, specifically: pulses, oats for food or industrial uses, linseed for production uses, sorghum for food, and soybeans for food and/or animal feed (continued)


2.1.3 For each high-value crop with expansion potential, the key barriers to expansion are identified.

leveraging Existing International Germplasm to Deliver Improved Acid Soil Tolerance Chickpea for Australian Growers (GRDC/USA/Ethiopia Initiative)An international collaboration with the UC Davis-led Chickpea Innovation Lab to explore the potential of chickpea germplasm to tolerate acid soils. The program will harness traits from chickpea landraces, grown for millennia on acid soils in Ethiopia, and pre-breeding populations containing the massive and previously untapped genetic potential of chickpea’s wild relatives, to understand whether these tools have potential applicability in Australian acid soils.

The screening, genetic analysis and fine mapping of populations for landrace crosses will be completed during this year, as well as phenotyping wild hybrid populations. This will support the identification and further characterization of promising acid tolerance traits in glass experiments.

Pulse Productivity Improvements – Agronomic / PhysiologicalNew knowledge underpinning the design of specific plant architectural-by-agronomic system interactions for the LRZ and HRZ, which currently have limited pulse options. The economic value of specific traits will be further investigated to inform models and develop crop ideotypes to address the program output by increasing productivity of pulses.

This project is at an early stage and underpinning work such as screening germplasm and field trials will be undertaken this year. Diverse germplasm sets for shoot and root-based traits will be screened to identify extremes in phenotypes, along with field experiments and associated data analysis.

2.1.4 Growers in new production environments have access to high-value crop varieties that address barriers to production.

Collection, phenotyping and exploitation of wild Cicer genetic resources for chickpea improvementWhile chickpea production has expanded dramatically over the last decade to become Australia’s most valuable pulse export, the Mediterranean regions in the south and west have not recovered their earlier position as dominant production areas. In addition to Ascochyta, Mediterranean production regions pose specific adaptive challenges such as terminal drought, low temperatures during flower and pod set, salinity and low pH (particularly in WA). This project targets finding novel genetic sources to of diversity for these constraints to provide breeders with material to support the adaptation of chickpeas to new production environments.

This program will deliver two major outputs in 2020–21 . Using a combination of data from multi-environment trials in target sites in Turkey and Australia, identify wild chickpea germplasm accessions with putative chilling tolerance; second, ship and deposit to Australian grain gene bank (AGG) - Horsham, the 2015–16 wild chickpea collections under multiplication and seed bulk up in Turkey.



KIT 2.1 Expand the area of high value crops to boost average prices and profitability of farming systems, specifically: pulses, oats for food or industrial uses, linseed for production uses, sorghum for food, and soybeans for food and/or animal feed (continued)


2.1.5 Growers have access to knowledge and tools for production management and market information to facilitate the expansion of high-value crops into new production environments.

Building capacity, skills and knowledge for the pulse industry in the Southern Region: Supporting expansion of high value pulses into new areas and ensuring sustained profitability of all key pulse crops in existing areasThe purpose of this investment is to realise the potential long-term farming system and financial benefits of pulse crops in the low rainfall zone of the Southern Region through targeted expansion of lentils and chickpeas into new areas and sustainable intensification of pulse crop production in existing areas by providing growers and advisors in these areas with skills and knowledge relating to profitable and sustainable pulse crop production.

This program has a focus on extension through peer to peer learning opportunities through field days and workshops. Planned events for the groups this year are: Webinars, field days including visits to the Southern Pulse agronomy trial sites and bus tours to the established pulse (lentil and chickpea) growing areas of the MRZ including processing facilities.

Demonstration of legume crops for reliable profitability in the Albany Port ZoneThe need for a profitable pulse crop in the Albany port zone (APZ) is well accepted, and one of the main limitations to growing profitable pulses is a lack of farmer knowledge and confidence in the region. This project brings together the 3 largest grower groups in the Albany port zone, namely Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Southern Dirt, and Gillamii and Fitzgerald Biosphere Group (FBG), along with Farmanco Management Consultants to deliver demonstration sites and workshops using the latest pulse varieties to help fast track the adoption of pulse crops in this region.

Field demonstrations will be delivered in the current growing season, examining the follow-on benefits to cereals following a legume rotation inclusion the previous season. These results will be analysed and collated, and key messages extended to industry.



KIT 2.2 Maintain and/or improve the price of Australian grain through differentiation based on: functionality, food safety and traceability, sustainability of production, reduced downgrading, new and/or enhanced grain classification processes, and optimal management of biosecurity issues


2.2.1 Growers understand the opportunities to maintain and/or improve the price of Australian grain through market differentiation, including:• matching grain

functionality with end use markets

• defining new market opportunities based on existing or new grain functionality attributes

• exploiting Australian advantages in crop provenance, food safety, traceability and sustainability.

Who’s eating what? Understanding the consumption of grain-based products in South East AsiaWe currently have very limited understanding of how diets and consumption habits of grain-based foods are changing in South East Asia. This project will collect detailed consumption information directly from South East Asian consumers.

Australian grains industry better understands grain product consumption in South East Asia and uses this understanding to recapture parts of the market.Australian grains industry tailors grain offerings to market segments that are willing to pay for higher quality grain.

Feed demand wheat and barley towards 2030: specific export opportunities for AustraliaThis project will investigate the growing demand for feed quality grain in South East Asia to identify opportunities to increase the value of these markets to the Australian industry.

Industry stakeholders better understand opportunities in South East Asian feed markets, and they act to capture higher value for Australian grains.

Quantifying the value of pulse grainsA suite of analyses developed through this project will accurately identify germplasm for traditional Indian sub-continent markets and also for emerging or high-value markets.

Generate tools for quantifying pulse quality traits, to be incorporated as part of the germplasm screening process. The information can be used by the grains industry to support Australian pulses particularly for emerging high value markets where pulses are used for the manufacture of foods or fractionation into protein isolates and starches. During 2020/21, research outcomes will be finalised and communicated to plant breeders and associated researchers and to the broader pulse grains industry.

2.2.2 Growers understand the opportunities to reduce the prevalence and impact of downgrading.

An improved model of late Maturity alpha-Amylase (lMA) field risk in Australian wheatThe susceptibility of new wheat varieties to the Late Maturity Alpha-Amylase (LMA) defect is a key concern for wheat breeders and growers, as it can result in downgraded grain for Australian growers under certain environmental conditions. A capacity to characterise and quantify actual LMA risk at field scale remains a crucial outstanding industry issue with significant impacts, both economically and for wheat breeding research. This project aims to determine LMA risk profiles for a range of flowering dates of selected genotypes across the wheat belt and deliver a tool that is accessible to Australian wheat growers and breeders to manage its occurrence.

Work towards outputs in 2023 of:• detailed characterisation of the environmental

conditions that trigger LMA in a wide range of Australian germplasm under Australian field conditions.

• a refined LMA risk model incorporating detailed phenology and environmental conditions, and key LMA genetic loci, to predict real field risk at a shire level.

IMPACT

Growers’ profitability is improved through access to differentiated markets and/or reduced downgrading.


$5.73m




2.2.3 Growers and other grains industry participants have access to and knowledge of new tools for capturing and delivering opportunities to add value through differentiation.

Understanding future grain quality preferencesThis project will use new technology to collect information from the markets on grain quality and functionality attributes preferred when making various end products. A choice modelling app and new collection techniques will vastly reduce the cost of collecting this type of information.

Wheat quality requirements better understood for many markets and products to inform breeding and classification decisions.R&D investment and activity is better directed across a range of markets.

Australian wheat for premium Chinese noodlesThis project assists Chinese millers and noodle manufacturers realise the value of incorporating a range of Australian wheat classes, to complement the currently used ASW, for premium noodle products. AEGIC will also present the opportunity to use Australian oats to produce healthier noodle products.

Chinese industry is better informed about the use of Australian wheat for premium noodles, and this influences their buying decisions.Premium noodle quality requirements are better understood for the Chinese market, assisting breeders with quality targets and Wheat Quality Australia with classification.Greater Chinese demand for Australian oats in premium “healthy” noodles.

2.2.4Growers and other grains industry participants have access to new tools and knowledge to limit the prevalence and impact of the downgrading of Australian grain.

A novel high-throughput, low-cost test to determine cause of starch damage in wheat grainLate maturity α-amylase (LMA) is a grain defect causing a reduction in Hagberg falling number and results in potential failing to meet receival or market specifications. The incidence of LMA in wheat grain is currently assessed using an ELISA assay to detect and quantify high pI α-amylase, the product of LMA expression. The test is relatively low-throughput, and this project aims to develop new tools that will be useable by breeders and researchers to more rapidly determine the cause of starch damage in breeding materials and research populations.

During 2020, the project will undertake work for the early testing and validation of new methods to detect LMA.The ultimate outcome of the project will be, by 2023, Australian industry will have access to accurate, high-throughput screening tools for LMA expression can differentiate between LMA and damage that is caused by post-harvest sprouting.

KIT 2.2 Maintain and/or improve the price of Australian grain through differentiation based on: functionality, food safety and traceability, sustainability of production, reduced downgrading, new and/or enhanced grain classification processes, and optimal management of biosecurity issues (continued)



OUTCOMES PROJECT FUNDED IN 2020–21 2020–21 OUTPUTS

3.1.2 Growers and researchers understand the current and future potential impacts of different weed species.3.1.3 Researchers focus efforts on weeds prioritised on the basis of current or future potential impacts.

Weed species for potential research investmentThere are hundreds of weed species present in the cropping systems of Australia. The individual impact each of these species imparts on the farming system differs and can change between geographic regions and over time. RD&E investment needs to be directed to the weed species which have the most significant risk of negative impact. A defined process needs to be used to determine which weeds are prioritised for future investment. By December 2020, GRDC is prioritising investment in RD&E on weed species by utilising a risk-based approach based on their current and future impacts.

Develop a model to prioritise grain cropping weeds for future RD&E investment by October 2020.Assess existing models that allow weed prioritisation for their suitability to deliver a test list of at least 15 known grain cropping weeds.Develop an additional list of at least 20 cropping weed species currently considered ‘emerging’ or a threat with an unknown risk using the most appropriate system.

3.1.5 Growers have the knowledge and tools to effectively monitor changes in the impact, crop interactions and herbicide resistance status of weeds.

Determining the incidence of herbicide resistance in Australian grain cropping systems Herbicides are the dominant weed management tactic in grain cropping systems However, herbicide resistance is a significant issue for a diverse range of land managers including agricultural and public assets. This investment will continue to monitor the incidence and extent of herbicide resistant weeds across the grain growing areas of Australia. The results will generate information to be used by growers in implementing integrated weed management practices and also by GRDC and researchers to focus additional RD or E where required.

Up to seven major weeds in each region will be collected in random survey during 2020–21.

Paddock level herbicide resistance management for Western growers and advisers This investment will demonstrate the value of herbicide resistance testing to Western growers and their agronomists. It will create groups of growers and their agronomists, who will undertake targeted sampling of problem weed populations to be tested against both single and combinations of herbicides using different modes of actions. The growers and their agronomists will work together to ensure a full understanding of the resistance testing results. This investment also aims to use the knowledge of a behavioural economist to understand growers’ and agronomists’ attitudes towards herbicide resistance testing.

Identify the level of herbicide resistance of key problem weeds for 40 properties in the Western region by October 2021.Develop qualitative evidence on the positive and negative drivers for the adoption of herbicide resistance testing. by November 2021.

KIT 3.1 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing weeds

IMPACT

Growers are able to sustainably reduce the impact of the most important weeds on farming systems and grain production.


$18.57m




3.1.6 Growers have access to diverse biological, chemical, agronomic and physical options for the control of weeds.

GRDC Bayer Herbicide Innovation Partnership The Herbicide Innovation Partnership (HIP) is a six-year investment between GRDC and Bayer to promote the discovery and development of herbicides with new modes of action that are effective against Australian weeds and suitable for Australian farming systems. The HIP research places the interests of Australian growers centrally within the focus of the Bayer herbicide discovery program. Importantly, it brings the extensive knowledge, infrastructure and linkages of Bayer to bear on the control of several key weed species that are problematic to Australian growers. Without this type of partnership, Australian growers would be at a decided disadvantage. The Australian market is too small to warrant a primary focus for most international herbicide development programs, and GRDC does not have the resources to support an independent approach to herbicide discovery (the latest review estimates the cost of development and release of a single chemistry to be in the range of $300 million to $400 million).

This work is ongoing and through 2020–21 progress will be made towards:• Continuing herbicide molecule discovery.• Screening of molecules for efficacy

against Australian weeds.• Testing of new molecules in Australian

field conditions.• An increase in the number of chemicals

screened per year at Bayer over that occurred pre-investment.

• Improved methods of identifying new Modes of Action, enabling new approaches to chemistry design and supports the development of new screening assays that accelerate development cycle time.

3.1.7 Growers understand the risks and economic implications of weed management options within farming systems. (continued)

Agronomic management of weeds, crop nutrition and farming operations in Central NSW, Northern NSW and Southern Queensland to maximise crop profitability This investment seeks to leverage past and current research findings by facilitating delivery and validation of key learnings to growers and advisors across the Central NSW, Northern NSW and Southern Queensland sub-regions of GRDC’s Northern region. Through targeted development and extension activities this investment will ensure growers have the knowledge and confidence to adopt best practice in their farming practices to help create enduring profitability.

A number of extension outputs will be delivered to help growers better manage weeds. Areas of work that require extension outputs includes:• Competitive cropping strategies

including narrow row spacing and higher seeding rate and its application across rainfall environments in summer and winter crops.

• Spray application technologies and their impact on small weed target efficacy including the influence of stubbles, water volume, water quality and coverage.

• Optical sprayer use and optimisation.

KIT 3.1 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing weeds (continued)




Grass and broadleaf weed control strategies in sorghum e.g. reduce reliance on S-metolachlor group K herbicide, Atrazine group C and Fluroxypyr group I to manage resistance.Integrated Weed Management strategies to growers’ to manage locally important hard to control weed species in crop and fallow situations e.g. annual ryegrass, sowthistle, fleabane, wild oats, windmill grass, barnyard grass, urochloa, brome grass, and minor weeds button grass, and tar vine.

3.1.9 Growers plan and implement optimal weed management tactics and strategies.

Developing strategies to mitigate and manage resistance to key herbicides in modern Australian cropping systems Developing effective and economic weed management strategies to delay the onset of herbicide resistance is an important component of integrated weed management. This investment will develop practical strategies to delay the onset of herbicide resistance in key weeds of grain cropping systems through improved knowledge of resistance evolutionary dynamics in the context of the associated farming systems.

Development of practical and regionally relevant effective weed management strategies to mitigate new herbicide resistance issues in key summer and winter grain cropping weeds.





Area Wide Management for cropping systems weeds, investigating the weed management, social and economic opportunity (A Rural R&D for Profit investment) This project will identify the benefits, key principles and practices of successful weed Area Wide Management (AWM). AWM involves multiple stakeholders in a coordinated effort to reduce the impact of mobile weeds. This project will develop an improved understanding of the bio-physical, geographic, economic and social drivers of AWM success by studying key weed species across diverse landscapes. This project involves forming a network of AWM groups, comprising of representatives from key growers and industries, in three case study regions: Darling Downs, Sunraysia and Riverina. In these regions, farm-scale field trials will be conducted to determine and test the most appropriate and effective weed control strategies that reduce weed dispersal. The project will also characterise and identify the social and economic costs and benefits of weed management across a range of land uses. Understanding the key principles which influence successful weed AWM will lead to development of frameworks that can be tailored and deployed in other locations.

Area wide management (AWM) groups will be established in three case study regions (Sunraysia, Riverina, Darling Downs).Field trials in partnership with the local AWM groups will be established to test the potential impact of appropriate weed control tactics and strategies.An economic analysis that defines the constraint from an economic perspective of weeds and their management across land-uses, cost and benefit drivers for the case study regions.Completion of a survey that investigates growers’ agronomists’ public land managers’, industry representatives and government staff attitudes to AWM across the case study regions.Mapping the distribution of herbicide resistant weeds in each region where trials are conducted.





3.2.3 Growers and industry have access to tools enabling automated processing of raw data into analysis-ready formats to improve the timeliness and accuracy of crop input decision-making.

Future Farm: Improving farmer confidence in targeted N management through automated sensing and decision supportThis investment is focused on developing a data gathering, fusion and analytics procedure that incorporates on and off-farm data to improve N decision making. It will also develop a prototype multi-sensor platform for automated sensing of crop N status and adjustment of fertiliser applications

Delivery of updated information on using vegetation indices for N decision making at 4 different GRDC winter crop updatesField testing of the initial multi-sensor platform and finalisation of the role of machine vision as an integrated component of the platform.

3.2.4 Growers have the knowledge and tools to extract greater value from existing on-farm data sources in forecasting the likely production outcomes of crop input decisions.

SoilWaterNow: Soil Water Nowcasting for the Australian Grains IndustryThis investment will develop a unifying analytical framework to predict plant available soil water (PAW) at depth and at the sub-paddock scale using a combination of water balance models, remotely sensed data layers, digital soil maps and on-farm data layers. It will provide a foundational data layer that makes best use of various data layers to predict key variable that affects N decision making, yield forecasting and more.

Complete initial literature review that will guide the development of PAW productsParticipate in first cross-investment program technical committee planning meeting with the other crop monitoring projects.Finalise site locations for the 2020 field campaign and collect key on-farm data.Deliver first series of prototype PAW products to a list of growers, advisors and industry participants on the R Shiny platform.

CropPhen: Remote mapping of grain crop type and phenologyThis investment will use satellite imagery, crop simulation models, machine learning and extensive field datasets to develop a method to remotely map crop type and phenology every 5 days at a 10m resolution using satellite imagery. Paddock maps of crop developmental stage will provide a key data layer that can be used to calibrate various agronomic models to aid with tactical and strategic crop input decisions.

Complete initial literature review that will guide the development of remote sensing algorithms.Participate in first cross-investment program technical committee planning meeting with the other crop monitoring projects.Finalise details of the core validation sites and survey activities to be undertaken during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

KIT 3.2 Generate more informed, accurate and timely input for decision-making (e.g. sensor/monitoring technology or decision support models)

IMPACT

Growers are able to optimise input costs and profitability through data-informed decision-making.


$4.64m




3.2.5 Growers have access to tools enabling the timely detection, mapping and forecasting of different production constraints on farm.

Mapping variability in soil constraints and predicting crop yield using machine learning techniquesThis investment will leverage the on-farm spatial datasets held by Precision Cropping Technologies and Lawson Grains against existing soil, topographical, climatic and remotely sensed data layers to train machine learning models capable of mapping soil constraints and in turn forecasting crop yield.

Complete initial feasibility plan for assessment by the machine-learning technical consultation group.Develop soil constraint maps of the Australian grain belt using newly developed machine learning models.

FrostSense: An integrated modelling framework to rapidly map the extent of stem and reproductive frost damage in wheat and barleyThis investment will generate a model to map the severity and duration of frost events during vegetative and reproductive phases in wheat and barley and predict the likely extent of yield loss. It will enable growers to make more profitable decisions in response to frost events.

Complete initial literature review that will guide the incorporation of remote sensing algorithms into the existing modelling methods.Participate in first cross-investment program technical committee planning meeting with the other crop monitoring projects.Collect key environmental data from selected field sites in WA, SA and Victoria.

3.2.6 Growers have access to the prediction tools required to quantify the seasonal and farming system impacts of strategic agronomic decisions.

AgScore: An agricultural approach to assessing the skill of seasonal climate forecasting systems and their value for aiding on-farm decision makingThis investment will use a software tool called AgScore to assess the skill of seasonal climate forecasting systems in an agricultural context and identify the economic value in using targeted climate forecasts to help make strategic decisions about crop choice prior to sowing.

Technical report on the assessment of the ability of seasonal climate forecasting systems to predict rainfall and temperature across Australia at key on-farm decision points for multiple agricultural industries including grains.

3.2.7 Growers have access to the tools and knowledge required to more accurately predict the return on investment and optimise the whole-of-farm business implications from key seasonal crop input decisions.

Improved sampling methods to better predict nutrient availability and supply for soils in the Western regionThis investment will develop a new methodology for collecting soil samples that will improve the accuracy of estimating plant available nutrients in Western region soil types.

Public report extending a new soil sampling methodology that improves the detection of plant available nutrients and improves grower decision making on fertiliser applications.

KIT 3.2 Generate more informed, accurate and timely input for decision-making (e.g. sensor/monitoring technology or decision support models) (continued)



KIT 3.3 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing diseases


3.3.2 Growers and researchers understand the current and future potential impacts of different diseases.

Surveys and associated diagnostics and severity of diseases of cereals and pulses within the Northern RegionSurveys and associated diagnostics of the incidence and severity of diseases of cereals, pulses and oilseeds in the Western RegionConduct an integrated surveillance and monitoring program for endemic diseases of cereals, oilseeds and pulses and for five pathogens identified as High Priority Pests.

Random stratified surveys across the Australian grain growing areas provide knowledge of and changes in the incidence and severity of established disease and proof of area freedom from the top five high priority exotic grain diseases.

3.3.5 Growers have the knowledge and tools to effectively monitor changes in the impacts, crop interactions and fungicide resistance status of diseases.

validation demonstration of decision-making tools for managing blackleg in Canola in the Western RegionIncrease grower and advisor confidence in the use of decision-making tools to manage disease in canola in the Western Region.

BlacklegCM app demonstration field days conducted for Western Region growers and advisors.

3.3.7 Growers have access to diverse genetic, chemical, biological and cultural options for the control of diseases.

Soilborne diseases interaction in Australian farming systemsNational soilborne disease investment provides new knowledge of soilborne disease biology and epidemiology to better understand the risk associated with multiple pathogens present at yield limiting densities within the same paddock.

Soilborne diseases with potential to cause economic impact on pulse and oilseed crops determined through national disease survey.

Durum Crown Rot benchmarking for improved grower access to durum varieties with greater Crown Rot resistanceEvaluate the tolerance and resistance of these lines under crown rot pressure in field trials in the Northern and Southern regions.

Durum germplasm distributed to Australian durum breeders following crown rot tolerance and resistance testing.

IMPACT

Growers are able to sustainably reduce the impact of the most important diseases on farming systems and grain production.


$27.80m




Minimising the impact of major barley foliar pathogens on yield and profit Develop pathogen / host differential sets for NFNB, SFNB and Scald. Conduct annual field surveillance to monitor the pathogen evolution of NFNB, SFNB and Scald in the field.Increase diversity for NFNB, SFNB and Scald resistance genes and determine the optimal combinations of resistant genes to enable greater durability of resistance in deployed cultivars, and ultimately more sustainable barley cropping systems for Australian growers.

Understand Net form of Net blotch, Spot Form of Net Blotch and scald pathogen population structure and virulence shifts, identify new sources of effective and durable resistance and screen barley breeding lines from Australian breeding companies.

3.3.11 Growers have knowledge of the short-term and long-term relevance of varietal responses, rotations, disease thresholds and farming system changes in making informed decisions on disease management.

Integrated disease management strategies for southern region cereal and pulse growersThis investment provides new knowledge on pathogen biology, epidemiology, and developed integrated disease management strategies for the key diseases of grain crops in Southern region to allow growers to effectively the diseases.

Yield loss associated with Turnip yellows virus in field pea and lentil, Cucumber mosaic virus in lentil and Pea seed-borne mosaic virus in field pea determined.

KIT 3.3 Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing diseases (continued)



KIT 4.1 Support research to advise policy and investment decisions that lead to reduced post-farm-gate costs


4.1.1 Growers and policy makers are aware of the major constraints on the efficiency of supply chain logistics.

Supply chain workshopIdentify opportunity for research to define and understand major constraints to the efficiency of grain supply chain logistics.

Gap analysis that informs future research approaches to identifying major constraints.

IMPACT

Growers realise increased farm gate returns by accessing lowest-cost pathways for grain storage and transport logistics and other post-farm-gate costs.


Expenditure for this KIT will be established following gap analysis in 2020–21



KIT 5.1 Improve the accuracy of short-range and medium-range weather forecasting


5.1.1 Growers have easy-to-use access to weather forecasts to aid decision-making.

Rural R&D for profit: Forewarned is Forearmed: Managing the impact of extreme climate eventsThis cross-RDC investment will improve the Bureau of Meteorology’s seasonal climate forecasting system ACCESS-S, develop new multi-week forecasting products tailored to the needs of the agricultural industry and improve growers, advisors and industry’s knowledge of how to managing climate extremes such as heatwaves and frost.

Webinar series on how to use weather and climate information to manage on-farm riskPublic release of the five new multi-week seasonal forecast products.Extension activities around spring field days promoting new forecast products.

5.1.4 Growers are equipped to make more informed on-farm decisions by integrating weather forecasts into agronomic and business decision-making.

Air inversion modelling to manage spray driftThis investment will develop a method to predict air inversion to aid with assessments of spray drift risk on-farm during herbicide applications.

Delivery of a spray application decision technology to predict air inversion risk.

5.1.6 Growers can accurately forecast rainfall and temperature at the farm and/or paddock scale.

Managing Climate variability (MCv) – Phase v investmentThe MCV program invests in various RD&E projects to generate tools, technologies and communication materials that aid growers and producers to manager climate risk on-farm, including issues such as heatwaves, frost and other events within the 1 to 14-day timeframe.

Maintenance of the CliMate app and the Climate Kelpie website.Various individual technical reports from contracted research projects within MCV .

IMPACT

Growers have access to accurate weather forecasts (out to 14 days) that enable improved decision-making and risk management on farm.


$0.19m



KIT 5.2 Understand grain grower decision-making and the drivers for adoption of new technology


5.2.4 Growers and their advisers understand the relative importance and whole-of-farm systems impacts of key decisions and are able to identify the key profit-driving decisions.

Understanding grower decision making process around increasing wheat grain protein yield to maintain profitability in the Western Region.The aim of this investment is to determine if growers have the tools and technology to increase grain protein, yield and other constraints and understand their decision-making process to meet any future market opportunities or to maintain market share.

By December 24, 2020, complete first season of 10-hectare trial paddocks (1paddock per grower) in accordance with the approved trial protocol including the collection and analysis of all technical and economic data and decision-making processes that were required for the production of this crop. By March 31, 2021, produce a preliminary detailed report around the technical and human factors for increasing GPY for the fifteen growers. The report will cover the first season of the project.

5.2.5 GRDC has identified the risks, driving forces and barriers to adoption of key management decisions.

Paddock level herbicide resistance management for Western growers and advisersThis investment proposal aims to build on the success of the ‘Focus farm fighting weed foes’ project, which has recently been completed, where a select cohort of growers experienced supported herbicide resistance testing. This project was very successful as it was targeting known problem paddocks with suspected herbicide resistant annual ryegrass.

By October 2021, the level of herbicide resistance of key problem weeds will be known for 40 properties in the Western region.By November 2021, deliver to GRDC qualitative evidence on the positive and negative drivers for the adoption of herbicide resistance testing.

5.2.8 Growers and their advisers have access to information and knowledge presented in a manner based on behavioural science principles.

Application of behavioural science principles to GRDC communications and extension outputsThis investment proposes a review of six communications outputs and three extension outputs from existing investments and will include prototyping and testing of multiple designs based on behavioural science principles and nudge theory. The investment also includes training of staff and key GRDC extension delivery partners in utilising behavioural science in the design of communications and extension outputs. This investment may require the use of grower and adviser (agronomic) focus groups to inform assumptions, benchmark the status quo (Barriers and drivers of adoption), and test nudge effectiveness.

Analysis report of nine communications and extension products including recommendations for nudges to trial.

IMPACT

Growers and their advisers have the knowledge, tools and understanding of decision-making behaviours to make informed decisions and accelerate the rate of adoption of new knowledge, technology and practices to improve profit and manage risk.


$0.85m


Key Investment Targets Development

As foreshadowed in the 2019-20 AOP, a total of 30 KITs will be developed through the life of the 2018-2023 RD&E Plan. The first 15 KITs have been developed and are now published on the GRDC website. In 2020–21 the following KITs will be finalised and published. Investments in these KITs will be progressively reported in each GRDC AOP.

KIT 1.8: Reduce the impacts of low pH, aluminium toxicity and other nutrient toxicities on plant water uptake to improve grain yield and stability.

TARGETED IMPACT:Growers address acid soil constraints such that soil pH is maintained above critical levels and root growth, uptake of water and nutrients, grain yield and profitability are maximised.

SCOPEUnderstanding of the need to act and quantification of the benefits of action: Understanding of the causes and potential impacts on crop production of soil acidity is increasedSoil and crop management options to address acid soil constraints: Crop yields and profitability are increased by minimising acidification, treating acid soils with effective amendments, and improving plant tolerance of soil acidity.Adoption of practices to address acid soil constraints: The adoption of improved soil amendments, tolerant crop species and varieties and/or agronomic practices to address soil acidity is increased.

KIT 1.9 Reduce the impact of waterlogging to improve grain yield and stability.

TARGETED IMPACT: Growers implement strategies that help to realise crop yield potential and increase profitability by addressing the impacts of waterlogging.

SCOPEUnderstanding of the need to act and the quantifiable benefits of action: Growers and their advisers understand and are motivated to act on the frequency, duration and potential impacts of chronic and acute waterlogging events at the whole-of-farm and paddock scales.Deployment of existing solutions to maximise profit: Growers and their advisers understand how, when and where to implement the existing solutions to waterlogging to realise direct and indirect benefits.Discovery to innovate: Growers and their advisers have access to a range of new solutions to avoid or mitigate the impacts of waterlogging, with the costs and benefits quantified.

KIT 3.4: Develop and implement management options to minimise the cost of effectively and sustainably managing vertebrate and invertebrate pests.

TARGETED IMPACT:Integration of a diverse range of management options to reduce the impact of priority pests in grain crops and stored grain.

SCOPEUnderstanding the distribution and impact of pests in crops and stored grain: The current and potential distribution and impact of pests is known and used to determine investment priorities.Understanding the biology and ecology of priority pests and their predators: Knowledge of the lifecycles of pests and their predators under current and future farming systems is improved to inform the development of optimum pest management tactics and strategies.Development of tools, tactics and technologies for strategic pest management: Improved genetic, physical cultural, chemical and biological tools and technologies for pest management are developed.Integration of new tools, technologies and knowledge to make informed pest management decisions in whole of farming systems context: Applying pest management strategies, on-farm and across the landscape, to optimise long-term grower profitability.

KIT 3.5: Develop technology to reduce fertiliser manufacture and/or application costs and improve fertiliser use efficiency.

TARGETED IMPACTGrowers generate more profit through access to cost-effective and sustainable technologies or practices that better match nutrient supply to crop demand.

SCOPEReduced costs associated with fertiliser manufacture and supply: Growers have access to cost-effective fertilisers through savings associated with the manufacture, transport, storage and handling of fertiliser pre-farm gate.Reduced costs and/or improved efficiency of on-farm nutrient storage and application: Technologies and practices that lower costs associated with on-farm nutrient storage and application are implemented.New solutions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of nutrient supply, uptake and use by crops: Growers have a range of new products or technologies available to them to minimise nutrient losses and/or improve nutrient access, uptake or efficiency of use by crops.

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–2138 KEy INvESTMENT TARGETS DEvElOPMENT

Core frameworks

GRDC’s 2018-23 RD&E Plan is a strategic framework to deliver grower profitability through investment in RD&E that addresses the primary drivers of profitability. Included in the plan are four core frameworks that underpin all RD&E investments: data management and analytics; biosecurity; grower communication and extension; and capacity and ability.

Data management and analyticsData-driven agriculture is set to deliver transformational change across the grains industry. Growers, researchers, governments and industry are increasingly looking to capture and exploit data relevant to the grains industry, including:

• within paddock, whole-paddock and whole-farm performance data

• regional, national and global production data, including yields and inputs

• data from R&D experimentation• environment characterisation data (e.g. soil maps,

high-resolution imagery and climate and weather data)• economic data (e.g. market supply and demand data).Combining these rapidly expanding data resources with state-of-the art analytics and the power of artificial intelligence will enable a step change for the grains industry. For instance, precision agriculture technology and analytics will enable grain growers to gain an improved understanding of the yield, cost and risk components of their grain production operations at a resolution and scale not previously possible. Real-time data availability through connected technologies, remote sensing and market analytics will allow grain growers to make more evidence-based, informed decisions throughout the year to maximise their enterprise profitability.

In addition to continuing support long-term investments in data management and analytics such as Statistics for the Australian Grains Industry (SAGI), Online Farm Trials and National Variety Trials( NVT), GRDC will build its digital agriculture portfolio with a view to facilitating the development of data resources, enabling technologies and analytics. The corporation is uniquely positioned to invest in the science that is necessary to underpin and maximise the value of digital agriculture for Australian grain growers.

Forecast expenditure 2020–21: $12.06m

Key investments in 2020–21:In 2020–21 GRDC will establish a coordinated and focussed approach to building machine learning capacity for the Australian grains industry. Investments in this area will include:

Identifying a machine learning approach to weed recognition in Australian grain production systemsThis investment will create an open source weed image library to make weed recognition data freely available to the grains industry and develop machine learning models to demonstrate the utility of the database.

Machine learning to extract maximum value from soil and crop variabilityThis investment will combine multi-layer paddock and field trial datasets with machine learning analytics enhanced with cropping scenarios generated by the crop simulation model APSIM.

AgAsk: A question-answering conversational agent for data-driven growing decisionsAskAg, is a machine learning question-answering system, that will interpret natural language questions and provide contextualised access to insights into agricultural research. Text information that is currently locked away in GRDC project reports and scientific publications will be searched and synthesised by AskAg into succinct and relevant answers to growers’ questions.

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–2139 CORE FRAMEWORKS

Capacity and ability

Growers and industry The Australian grains industry requires grain grower leaders who can contribute innovative ideas, facilitate industry discussion on the RD&E portfolio, and be role models for the adoption of innovation into profitable farming systems and business models. GRDC will continue to contribute to enhancing the leadership competencies of Australian grain growers in these critical areas.

While profitable grain growers are a fundamental building block of a healthy grains industry, grain growers need to operate within a functional, effective and innovative grains industry value chain. GRDC is well placed to facilitate collaboration and cooperation across the grains industry and to assist in leveraging positive, precompetitive outcomes for the value chain. To that end, GRDC will participate in industry good functions, including beyond the farm gate, where those functions align with GRDC’s purpose.

ResearchersGRDC must collaborate with RD&E providers to ensure the ongoing provision of appropriate experience and ability to deliver key outputs and understanding of often complex issues. GRDC will continue to contribute to broad RD&E capacities and abilities, but will focus more on establishing critical mass of expertise and delivery pathways in the most important investment areas.

Forecast expenditure in 2020–21: $14.35m

Key Investments in 2020–21 GRDC invests approximately $15 million per annum in a range of capacity and ability activities. These include:

• Nuffield Farming Scholarships• Science and Innovation Awards for young people• Horizon Scholarship• Grower and industry tours and travel awards• Grains Research Scholarship• Post-Doctoral Fellowships

victorian Grain Innovation PartnershipAgriculture Victoria and GRDC have entered into a strategic partnership with the broad aim of increasing the profitability of southern grain growers through research and innovation, and the development of R&D capacity in Victoria. Five programs of work are planned across five years (2019–2023):

• Developing alternative legume crops• Physiological and agronomic approaches for

transformational productivity changes in pulses• Capturing grain quality on-farm through next-generation

technologies and targeted segregation• Overcoming multiple soil constraints• Maximising profit from rainfall through double cropping,

companion cropping and optimising cropping sequences.

Grower communication and extensionThe desired outcome of every GRDC investment is the adoption of new technologies or innovations that maintain or enhance grain grower profitability. Communication (raising awareness) and extension (influencing behavioural change) are essential to affecting that adoption.

For each KIT, GRDC will identify requirements for addressing gaps in grain growers’ Motivation, Ability to change, access to appropriate Knowledge, Attitudinal barriers, and Technology constraints (MAKAT).

Because extension is delivered at the local level, GRDC staff with skills in communication and extension are being placed in offices in all three GRDC regions. Having communication and extension staff side by side with GRDC research staff and key collaborators ensures that the most appropriate path to adoption is being considered as a critical component of every R&D investment, from design to delivery.

To ensure that its communication and extension activities have the greatest impact, GRDC will continue to strive to understand as much as possible about growers’ learning preferences, attitudes to information channels, decision drivers and barriers to adoption. These understandings will be central in tailoring development and extension packages to meet the needs of different grain grower segments.

With around 80% of growers using adviser services to inform their decision-making on farm, GRDC will work closely with key influencers—including grower groups, farm advisers and agribusiness stakeholders—to ensure that all appropriate communication channels are being leveraged to get the right information to growers in a timely way and in the best format to help increase adoption and, ultimately, profitability.


While still providing information in hard copy, GRDC will continue to transition to existing and emerging digital platforms, in recognition that different growers prefer to receive information in different ways and that growers and their influencers will be increasingly able to access information via digital channels as technology and bandwidth improve.


Key Investments in 2020–21 Reflecting GRDC’s commitment to communicating with growers and extending the results of R&D to growers, advisors and other industry participants, GRDC invests $10-12 million each year in both discreet communication and extension activities, underpinning technology and information to support extension and several communication channels. These include:

• GroundCover™ publications• GrowNotes™• Industry specific Webinars• GRDC Research Updates• GRDC Farm Business Updates™• Variety and Crop Sowing Guides• Ute Guides™• Social Media communications• Support for grains industry conferences, conventions,

symposiums, meetings and workshops

Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN): fungicide resistance management targeted at regional levelThe Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN) is a collaboration with participating organisations to deliver an integrated extension and communication solution for the training of growers and agronomists from each of the grain growing regions on the key elements that drive

the development of fungicide resistance to the currently available fungicide modes of actions and the strategies that can be implemented to manage fungicide resistance.

How does behaviour impact the technical choices that are made to grow better quality wheat?World wheat markets are becoming more discerning, which is increasing the demand for high protein wheat. Western Australia is at risk of losing market share as we have a history of producing low protein wheat, especially on the south coast. Western Australian growers need to have the skills and tools to be able to grow higher protein wheat if the price signals dictate a premium for these grades. The production of high protein wheats such as Prime Hard and durum wheats have traditionally been in Queensland, Northern New South Wales and South Australia. It is easier to achieve consistent high protein yield on some soil types and environments. This investment will consider how to achieve high protein wheat on many low fertility light soils.

Identification, surveillance and advisory platform for management of grains pestsThis investment establishes a national grains pest identification, surveillance and advisory initiative that will use available monitoring data to accurately identify pest problems and provide timely and independent management options for growers and advisers.

BiosecurityAustralia is fortunate in being an island that is not subject to many of the more damaging pests and diseases of grain production and storage experienced in other parts of the world (e.g. Karnal bunt, Sunn pest and Khapra beetle). This provides benefits to Australian growers through the lower requirement for inputs to manage pests and diseases, and the trade advantages associated with a clean, green and safe image. Recent exotic pest incursions, most notably

the presence of Russian wheat aphid and Fall army worm, highlight the need for ongoing surveillance, the development and implementation of pre-emptive control measures and the appropriate implementation of management plans when incursions do occur. These requirements are consistent with those identified by the RD&E National Biosecurity Committee and GRDC will continue to work closely with State and Federal Departments, Plant Health Australia and growers to ensure adequate use of surveillance to detect possible incursions, contributions to the discussion on the appropriate response when an incursion is detected and co-ordination of management if an incursion is deemed to become endemic.


Key Investments in 2020–21 Distribution of Ramularia across the Australia grain beltThis investment combines three surveillance approaches over two seasons to determine the incidence and distribution of Ramularia across the Australian grain belt with the aim that Australian grain growers can implement effective disease management strategies that minimise the impact of priority diseases on production.

Prevention and preparedness for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)GRDC will continue to invest in research outputs that will allow the GRDC to rapidly and effectively respond to the research, development and extension needs of the Australian grains industry through well-targeted and coordinated future investments on FAW. In addition, during 2020-21 GRDC will invest in the development of a Business Continuity Plan to provide guidance on mitigating the risks of FAW to the grains industry. Collectively, this will enable Australian grains growers to maintain their productivity, profitability and global competitiveness in the face of this recent biosecurity threat.


2020–21 Budget forecast

Table 2*

2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023

$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000

REvENUE

Levies 100,000 116,017 136,407 140,322

Commonwealth contribution 69,560 70,047 77,341 82,127

Interest income 4,665 4,281 3,455 3,219

Royalties 3,400 4,500 5,300 5,400

Grants income 6167 5746 0 0

Other revenue 2,405 1,303 2,266 2,191

Total revenue 186,197 201,894 224,769 233,259

EXPENSES

Research Payments 181,610 185,000 188,000 188,000

Employees 13,131 14,066 15,816 16,290

Supply of Goods and Services 17,085 17,761 17,374 17,860

Depreciation & Amortisation 5,544 6,194 3,911 3,670

Total expenses 217,370 223,021 225,101 225,820

Surplus/Deficit -31,173 -21,127 -332 7,439

*The figures in the this table are indicative only. The final figures will not be confirmed until September 2020 following the completion of the Federal Budget and the publication of the 2020-21 Portfolio Budget Statements.

GRDC ANNUAL OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020–2142 2020–21 BUDGET FORECAST

2020–21 allocation to R&D Portfolio Following the completion of the 2018-2023 RD&E Plan, GRDC is working to progressively align the existing research portfolio across the Objectives and Key Investment Targets and Core Frameworks. As at 1 July 2020 approximately 95 per cent of the portfolio has been aligned. The remaining five per cent will be completed by 30 June 2020.

These figures represent the amount of expenditure committed for 2020–21 at 1 July 2020. They do not include investments that are currently in the early stages of development or in procurement. The actual expenditure for 2020–21 will be provided in the GRDC Annual Report 2020–21 .

Figure 4: Allocation of Objectives to R&D portfolio at 1 July 2020

Improve yield and yield stability

Maintain and improve price

Optimise input costs

Reduce post-farm gate costs

Manage risk to maximise profit and minimise losses

$55.24m

$15.24m

$49.72m

$2.97m

$1.43m

2020–21expenditureat 1/7/2020

Figure 5: Budget allocation to frameworks at 1 July 2020

Capacity and Ability

Data management and analytics

Grower Communication and Extension

Biosecurity

Not yet assessed

$14.35m

$12.06m

$9.04m

$3.45m

$.305m

2020–21expenditureat 1/7/2020


Appendix A - RD&E investment estimates 2020–21 across Commonwealth Government priorities

Figure 6: Rural R&D priorities

Adoption of R&D

Advanced Technology

Biosecurity

Not yet assessed

Other

Soil, Water andManaging Resources

$30,000,000

$25,000,000

$20,000,000

$15,000,000

$10,000,000

$5,000,000

$0

Figure 7: Science and Research priorities

Advanced Manufacturing

Environmental change

Food

Not yet assessed

Other

Resources

Soil and Water

$30,000,000

$35,000,000

$40,000,000

$25,000,000

$20,000,000

$15,000,000

$10,000,000

$5,000,000

$0*Estimated expenditure only based on approved and contracted investments as at 30 June 2020. Actual expenditure is published in each annual report.

Other includes unallocated research, R&D management and corporate support.


© Grains Research and Development Corporation 2020

This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

GRDC contact detailsgrdc.com.au

CanberraLevel 4, East Building 4 National Circuit Barton ACT 260002 6166 4500

PO Box 5367 Kingston ACT 2604

Adelaide187 Fullarton Road Dulwich SA 506508 8198 8400

PerthSuite 5, 2a Brodie Hall Drive Bentley WA 610208 9230 4600

Toowoomba214 Herries Street Toowoomba QLD 435007 4571 4800

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