Business development and commercialisation

Our purpose and activities

Our purpose is to invest in research, development and extension (RD&E) to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.

We carefully select the best pathway to deliver the outputs of our investments (Project Outputs) to ensure maximum adoption and impact. Our project outputs are delivered via freely via our extension activities or packaged for uptake by the commercial sector.

Where commercialisation is identified as the most effective path to impact, we will develop a strategy which reflects our Commercial Principles and includes an Intellectual Property(IP) strategy to protect and advance the rights of Australian growers.

Our strategies promote public and commercial partnerships not just as an opportunity to bring in new ideas, expertise and/or investment monies but to de-risk our investments.

The majority of outputs are delivered by a traditional licensing pathway for further development or deployment by industry. Learn more about IP and Licensing.

However, we may also pursue commercialisation via alternate approaches such as:

Agtech innovation initiatives
Strategic investments - usually larger partnerships with an international and/or private sector focus.

Learn more about the activities of the Business Development team. You can also contact busdev@grdc.com.au to discuss existing or new opportunities.

Examples of BD and Commercialisation cases

Super High Oleic Safflower

Super High Oleic (SHO) safflower was specifically developed by the joint GRDC–CSIRO Crop Biofactories Initiative to expand crop options and develop new markets for Australian grain growers.

It produces oil with an oleic acid content greater than 90 per cent, making it the only plant-based source of oil suitable for a large number of high-value industrial applications including lubricants, plastics, polymers, resins, cosmetics and biofuels.

The technology and safflower materials for the production of SHO safflower have been licensed to Go Resources, an Australian clean technology company specialising in renewable and biodegradable raw materials for industrial and oleochemical markets.

The SHO safflower was featured on the ABC's Landline program.

Integrated weed seed destruction technology

GRDC co-invested in the development of non-chemical, mechanical harvest weed seed destruction technology. Development of the idea was first conceptualised by WA grain grower, Ray Harrington around 20 years ago.

Further research with the University of South Australia led to the development of a version of the technology that could be integrated into the harvester. GRDC's mechanical weed seed destruction technology was licensed to De Bruin Engineering, an Australian agricultural engineering company.

Learn more via iHSD's website.

Kebari ® - Ultra low gluten barley

Omega-3 canola

In 2011, GRDC joined forces with CSIRO and Nuseed® to develop omega-3 canola for commercialisation. The collaboration developed canola seed that has a unique oil profile, including long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The resulting oil is a reliable land-based source of long-chain omega-3s that will help address the limitations of fish oil.

Omega-3 canola will open potential markets, including the massive global aquafeed and health food markets. It will also provide growers with a high-value canola market.

GRDC is co-investing with partners in the development of the technology to make the production of the special canola possible. Nuseed is managing the global commercialisation.

Learn more about omega-3 canola.

Microwave weeding technology - Growave

Non-wetting soils technology- Divine®

The development of the Divine® test and treatment technology is the outcome of extensive industry collaboration.

Co-funded in part by GRDC and BASF, the majority of testing was led by researchers at Swinburne University.

This was supported by the CSIRO, the University of New England and the University of Western Australia, as a part of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Polymers.

The technology is being commercialised in Australia and overseas by BASF.