Media Releases
22 June 2009 - Productivity gains key to climate change adaptation
Ensuring rural research and development provides credible and independent evidence for the development of climate change policy is essential for Australian farmers to manage climate variability and boost rural productivity.
New technology to boost digestible energy - 8 January 2009
Collaborative research by the GRDC and the Pork CRC promises a new era in valuing and producing feed grains.
The commercialisation of Near Infrared Calibrations (NIRS) will allow the nutritive value of livestock grains to be rapidly determined.
“This will help bring about more accurate grain trading, revolutionise the cost effectiveness of diet formulations for pigs and other livestock, while allowing plant breeders to develop true feed grains more rapidly,” Dr Roger Campbell, CEO of the Pork CRC, said.
Dr Campbell believes NIRS will benefit grain growers and livestock producers.
“Developing feed grains with higher yields and available energy content will increase nutrient or energy yields per hectare while improving margins for both groups.”
Contact: Dr Roger Campbell, Tel 08 8303 7683
Rural R,D & E investment benefits rural sector, wider society - 16 December 2008
The most comprehensive evaluation of rural research and development projects ever undertaken in Australia has found these projects return an average $11 for every one dollar invested by the country’s 15 Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).
The evaluation, from the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations’ Chairs (CRRDCC), looked at a sample of 32 randomly selected projects from a pool of 600 RDC projects and found a minimum average return was achieved of $11 for each dollar invested in 2007 dollars.
“This report shows the Government’s rural R&D model is exceeding expectations and delivering benefits not only to the primary industries sector, but also producing other very positive social and environmental benefits way beyond the scope of the original investment,” said Enzo Allara, Chair of the CRRDCC.
Download the full media release here.
Paper argues bioenergy needs more support - 8 December 2008
A discussion paper suggests that carbon trading alone will not be enough to stimulate a significant bioenergy industry in Australia.
Carbon Trading and Renewable Energy – a discussion paper on carbon credits and bioenergy developments for forestry and agriculture – was released today at the Bioenergy Australia 2008 conference in Melbourne. It was produced by Bioenergy Australia and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
The paper shows that the development of biomass energy crops in agriculture and forestry can be a win-win for the environment and primary producers, but that a low-carbon price under the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) would not be enough to stimulate large-scale investment.
Download the bioenergy media release from RIRDC
Access the full discussion paper at the RIRDC website www.rirdc.gov.au
Productivity answer is home grown - 8 July 2008
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd can head to the G8 meeting in Japan this week with the answer to improving world food security growing in his own back paddock.
That’s the view of Chair of the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporation Chairs, Enzo Allara, who says the answer is increasing farm productivity. That is, growing more food from the same amount of farming land.
Mr Allara says currently annual global food production is growing at only 1.5%, not enough to keep up with demand.
“A recent study commissioned by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and undertaken by the Centre for International Economics, found that food production has lagged annual demand for five out of the last eight years."
Read the full release here
Rural R&D investment important source of drought support - 1 July 2008
The CRRDCC has applauded the Australian Government’s intention to review drought policy and is encouraging all levy payers to participate in the extensive public consultation and submission process.
The Productivity Commission has been asked to review both business support and income support measures provided to help farmers and small businesses manage drought. The Commission is also reviewing the range of social support services available to farm families and rural communities.
Chair of the CRRDCC, Enzo Allara believes it’s essential that drought policy be reviewed to encourage more producers to adopt better risk management strategies.
“While some emergency support may still be required, producers in all industries will need to be able to manage the reality of more frequent and severe drought events in the future as a result of climate change.”
Read the full release here
New body to be formed to assure pollination of crops - 21 May, 2008
A new cross-industry alliance will be formed to guide the establishment of a commercial pollination industry to help protect the honeybee industry and ensure continued pollination of important food crops in Australia.
Pollination Australia is an alliance of the honeybee industry and a number of horticultural and plant-based industries that are dependent on pollination.
The development of the alliance received funding support from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL).
Read the full release here
Research tackles methane use and capture in agriculture
Using Methane in Intensive Livestock Industries is targeted at researchers and industry and provides a summary of existing information and recommendations on future R&D needs to make methane capture and use a reality.
These reports were funded by RIRDC's Methane to Markets in Australian Agriculture program which is jointly funded by the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust and National Landcare Program, and four rural R&D Corporations - RIRDC, Australian Pork Limited, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Dairy Australia.
Read the full release here
Rudd Government provides grants to help young innovators - 8 May 2008
Applications are now open for the 2008 Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Awards.
Supported by nine Rural RDCs, the Awards encourage young Australians with innovative plans to boost the competitiveness of our rural industries.
Read the full media release here
Access the Bureau of Rural Sciences website here
Read case studies on the 2007 recipients here
Climate Change, Evaluation top the agenda - 6 September, 2007
Communique from the meeting of the CRRDCC in Canberra on 4 September, 2007
Rural RDCs welcome new research direction - 25 May, 2007
Media release from Terry Enright, Chair of the Council of Rural R&D Corporations' Chairs
Download here
R&D for farmers benefits all – 24 April, 2007
Opinion piece from Terry Enright, Chair of the Council of Rural R&D Corporations' Chairs as published in the Australian Financial Review
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Rural R&D generates benefits of $8.5 billion – 27 March, 2007
Media release from Terry Enright, Chair of the Council of Rural R&D Corporations' Chairs
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Rural RDCs say Productivity Commission has underestimated benefits of rural R&D – 9 February 2007
Media release from Terry Enright, Chair of the Council of Rural R&D Corporations' Chairs
Download here
Drought portal shares research benefits – 28 November, 2006
Media release from Terry Enright, Chair of the Council of Rural R&D Corporations' Chairs
Download here
