Facelift for grains-research group
Anational commitment to advancing Australia’s grains industry has prompted a ‘realignment and refocus’ of the country’s leading grains-research investment organisation.
Grains Research and Development Corporation has revamped its structure and operations to better position and resource itself to continue to encourage enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.
GRDC managing director Dr Steve Jefferies said the organisation’s remodelled business structure and adoption of a fresh investment strategy would propel grains research, development and extension, into the future.
The changes were designed to enable growers to adapt to ever-increasing challenges and grasp new opportunities.
“Change in our grains industry is occurring at a rapid pace,” Dr Jefferies said.
“We are constantly seeing advances in technology, increasing climate variability, consolidation of farms, globalisation and shifts within the market place.
“It is therefore imperative that as Australia’s major investor in grains research, development and extension, the GRDC is not only keeping pace with that change but is at the forefront of change and leading the industry response through targeted investment. To do that, we need to have the right people with the right skills in the right place so we can respond to grower needs with agility, leading to swift, positive impact in the paddock and ultimately on grower profitability.”
GRDC is bolstering its workforce, particularly in the regions, boosting the organisation’s outreach to growers, advisers, farming systems groups, researchers and agribusiness. “We need to have the right skills and experience on the ground to actively manage the research, development and extension portfolio to ensure it delivers value to growers,” Dr Jefferies said.
“We have created a raft of pivotal new positions within the organisation, so I encourage anyone who is keen to play a role in advancing this most inspiring grains industry of ours, through the delivery of relevant and impactful research, development and extension, to consider applying for one of the positions now available.”
Among the many positions on offer are six new grower relations manager roles – two in each of the GRDC’S southern, western and northern regions.
Grower relations managers will be responsible for helping ensure important research findings focused on improving grower profit are adopted on-farm.
They will also look to identify the more innovative growers to help further ‘stretch’ them with focused research, but to also help lead others in the adoption of new technologies.
This ramping up of personnel and associated expertise and resources coincides with a new five-year strategic research, development and extension plan.
“The research, development and extension plan for 2017-22, which sets out the GRDC’S primary, strategic objectives for the coming five years, will unapologetically be focused on driving grower profitability,” Dr Jefferies said.
“The GRDC recognises that to achieve this critical goal, on-farm transformational technologies are necessary and so our investments in research, development and extension going forward will be geared more towards breakthrough science and high-impact outcomes for growers.”
GRDC will soon start consulting with growers and industry on the new plan.
“It’s critical that GRDC invests levy dollars in research, development and extension that has high impact on grower profitability,” Dr Jefferies said.
“Growers need to take the time to ensure they have input into the plan so they can ensure the high-priority issues that drive grower profitability are addressed.”