Collaborative research initiative aims to boost Australian ag gains

Ten of the nation’s leading agricultural research organisations are pooling their powers to bolster on-farm adoption of research outcomes and returns to farmers.

Delivered through Hort Innovation and led by Enablers of Change, the three-year collaborative initiative will coach researchers and extension practitioners to pilot innovative approaches and learn from each other, with the ultimate goal of delivering results across the agriculture sector.

Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Fifield said it is crucial for agricultural research organisations to collaborate on cross-industry priorities such as research adoption.

“Where there are common challenges and opportunities to tackle, it makes sense to work together to amplify our efforts and reduce duplication,” he said.

“That’s why we are working with other research and development corporations and investor bodies to ensure that we design our research projects with the end-user front of mind from the outset. Getting research gains into the hands of our growers and equipping them to make changes that positively impact their business is a key priority for Hort Innovation – and other research organisations.

“The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has set a bold target for the agriculture sector, to exceed $100 billion in value by 2030, and the horticulture sector has a key role to play in reaching this target. Recent research conducted by Hort Innovation shows that the Australian fruit, vegetable, nut, turf and nursery industries are projected to surge by up to 22.5% in combined value from 2020 to 2030, increasing by $4 billion to $21.8 billion.”

Let’s hope some of the research gains and positive business impacts come our way too, so the Australian olive industry can be a major part of that predicted horticultural value growth.

This program is the latest in a strategic drive to build on joint Research and Development Corporation collaboration and partners involved include: Hort Innovation, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Wine Australia, Dairy Australia, AgriFutures, LiveCorp, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, and the University of Melbourne’s Drought and Innovation Hub.