Investment

This consultancy will undertake an independent review of the Australian Fungicide Resistance Extension Network (AFREN2) (CUR2302-002RTX). The review will examine the current progress of the AFREN2 investment and explore national and international extension approaches to fungicide resistance and integrated disease management (IDM). Using these insights, the review will provide GRDC with a report and recommendations on the future need, focus and direction of AFREN.
AFREN is a critical vehicle for communication and extension of fungicide resistance from GRDC R&D investments. AFREN commenced in 2019 and is currently midway into its second contract term (AFREN2) that is set to conclude in November 2025. AFREN, led by Curtin University, aims to provide growers with information on fungicide resistance development and management strategies to preserve their longevity and effectiveness to manage disease of grain crops. This is required due to development of fungicide resistance and the limitation of available fungicide Mode of Actions (MOA). AFREN has successfully engaged a network of experts in pathology and fungicide resistance and has developed a platform of resources to deliver relevant information to growers and advisers across Australia through a series of workshops, webinars, podcasts and media. Integrated disease management strategies for grain crops have been researched and developed through extensive investment by GRDC. Current grower practice has resulted in the selection of higher yielding varieties over varieties with disease resistance leading to a reliance on fungicide applications to manage crop diseases. These current practices are not sustainable and threaten to accelerate fungicide resistant pathogen populations, the loss of genetic durability and effective fungicide options available to growers in the future. Growers need to adopt balanced IDM strategies incorporating rotation, avoidance of susceptible varieties, stubble management tactics and appropriate fungicide use to avoid further development of fungicide resistance and yield and quality losses from crop disease.
The consultant will submit a report to GRDC that reviews the AFREN extension strategy to increase grower adoption of genetic resistance and IDM strategies, providing key recommendations to optimise future IDM extension investments and achievement of the AFREN Outcome; 'By June 2030, 40% of grain growers from across all GRDC regions (Southern, Western and Northern) have adopted and are implementing fungicide resistance management strategies to reduce the emergence and impact of fungicide resistance and preserve the efficacy of fungicide Mode of Action groups.'