Major initiatives

GRDC major initiatives are investments and activities that align with GRDC’s purpose to invest in RD&E to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers. Major initiatives can span various areas and involve partner organisations from sectors beyond grains and agriculture.

These include:

National Variety Trials (NVT)

The NVT program was established in 2005 by GRDC and is managed and funded by GRDC with the support of local partners who sow, maintain and harvest the trials.

NVT is the largest independent co-ordinated trial network in the world comprising more than 650 trials, sown at over 300 locations across Australia for 10 crop species.

The data collected from the NVT undergoes rigorous quality assurance tests before publication. As part of this process the data is analysed by statisticians. The statistical analysis results are then published on the NVT website.

For more information visit the NVT website.

Online Farm Trials (OFT)

A GRDC investment, OFT is a web-based searchable database of cropping research trials undertaken and contributed by a wide range of grower and farming system groups, government research teams, universities and industry organisations.

Developed by the Centre for Research and Digital Innovation at Federation University Australia and launched in 2014, OFT provides open access to historical and current trial research information and data on a broad range of cropping topics and issues that can assist growers with decision making, planning and the adoption of new practices.

OFT includes web-based interactive maps, and search and filtering tools to find trials quickly and easily on a topic of interest or in a particular region.

For more information visit the Online Farm Trials website.

GrainInnovate

The $50 million GrainInnovate fund was established by GRDC and Artesian. It was launched in February 2019 and invests in startups to help drive the future profitability and sustainability of Australia’s grain growers. The fund invests from the seed to growth stages of startups in Australia, and globally, in start-ups that fit the fund’s investment mandate. As at 30 June 2023, the fund had invested in 21 start-ups.

For more information visit the GrainInnovate website.

International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP)

The IWYP represents a long-term global endeavour that uses a collaborative approach to bring together funding from public and private research organisations from a large number of countries. GRDC is a funding and research organisation partner of IWYP and invests in research as part of it.

For more information visit the International Wheat Yield Partnership website or the GRDC investment pages for IWYP.

Stored Grain Information Hub

GRDC invests in the Stored Grain Information Hub to provide information and training for growers to use best practice for on-farm grain storage. This national investment provides new knowledge to growers and the wider grains industry on grain storage infrastructure, effective grain storage hygiene and pest control as well as adding value to grain through blending or segregation to target higher value grain markets by using grain storage best management practices.

For more information visit the Stored Grain Information Hub website or the GRDC investment page on stored grain.

Accelerating Genetic Gain Strategic Initiative

GRDC is seeking co-investment for $20 million of targeted research and development investment that will deliver a step change in the genetic gain of Australian grain crops.

This Initiative, through national and global partnerships, will position Australia as a global leader in the development and deployment of advanced breeding technologies.

For more information, visit the Accelerating Genetic Gain Strategic Initiative page.

Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)

AHRI is a national research and communication team based at the University of Western Australia. AHRI research focuses on crop science, weed science and herbicide resistance in the Australian grains industry. They conduct research and extension to encourage sustainable cropping and weed control across Australia.

AHRI receives major investment from GRDC and is a GRDC national centre.

For more information visit the AHRI website or the GRDC investment page: AHRI.

GRDC RD&E data management

To remain competitive in the digital economy, the Australian grains industry must improve its ability to harness the value of research, development and extension (RD&E) data.

GRDC invests in the creation of RD&E data through its RD&E projects. This RD&E data are a resource that holds value for creating enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.

To effectively manage this resource for the benefit of Australian grain growers, GRDC will:

Ensure RD&E data are used to drive innovation and accelerate RD&E outcomes.
Encourage collaboration to extend the value of RD&E data.
Require RD&E data to be secured and accessible.
Require RD&E data to be accurately collected, stored and maintained.
Support ongoing training and education in relation to RD&E data management.

The Data and Insights Foundational Enabler within the GRDC RD&E Plan (2023-28) builds on previous work completed as part of the GRDC Data and Analytics Core Framework of the GRDC RD&E Plan (2018-23). The Data and Insights Foundational Enabler underscores GRDC's commitment to harnessing data-driven approaches to tackle the complexities and seize the opportunities within the grains industry.

GRDC works with its partners to manage RD&E data generated from its investments. As part of this, GRDC follows established data management principles; provides direction on data collection, storage, access and sharing; and requires partners to complete Data Management Plans.

GRDC is also investing in initiatives to support GRDC RD&E data management, including the GRDC Data Catalogue and Data Harvest, which build on the Data Partnerships Initiative.

For more information visit GRDC RD&E data management.

Grain Automate

Grain Automate is an innovative, five-year initiative developed by GRDC to accelerate the adoption of machine automation, autonomy, and digital intelligence technologies by Australian grain growers.

Between 2023–2028, $35 million will be invested into Grain Automate for a portfolio of new research, development and extension (RD&E) investments, enhancing GRDC’s existing precision agriculture, digital agronomy, and advanced analytics programs.

For more information visit the Grain Automate page.

Weed Management Initiative

The Weed Management Initiative is a $47 million investment led by GRDC and developed to support Australian grain growers to manage one of the most persistent and costly challenges facing farming businesses.

WMI aims to provide sustainable and effective weed management strategies through four nodes across Australia, ensuring both national collaboration and regional specificity.

The 5.5-year initiative will bring Australia’s leading researchers and communications and extension specialists together to work on innovative, cutting-edge weed management research, development and extension (RD&E).

For more information visit the Weed Management Initiative page.