DAFF (Qld)

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) promotes profitable primary industries for Queensland.

We provide expertise and support to assist the State's food and fibre industries to increase productivity, improve sustainability, grow markets and adapt to change.

DAFF is committed to delivering world-class research and development, providing leadership on industry policy, protecting industries against pests, diseases and maintaining animal welfare standards, managing fisheries sustainably and maximising the value of state-owned forests.

ARC

The Australian Research Council (ARC) is a statutory authority within the Australian Government's Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (IISRTE) portfolio.

The ARC advises the Government on research matters, manages the National Competitive Grants Program, a significant component of Australia's investment in research and development, and has responsibility for the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative.

The ARC's mission is to deliver policy and programs that advance Australian research and innovation globally and benefit the community. In seeking to achieve its mission, the ARC supports the highest-quality fundamental and applied research and research training through national competition across all disciplines, with the exception of clinical medicine and dentistry.

In addition, the ARC brokers partnerships between researchers and industry, government, community organisations and the international community.

The outcomes of ARC-funded research deliver cultural, economic, social and environmental benefits to all Australians. Established as an independent body under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, the ARC reports to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Chris Evans.

The ARC fosters excellence, partnerships and the highest ethical standards in research and research training in all fields of science, social sciences and the humanities.

The ARC is the primary source of advice to the Australian Government on investment in the national research effort. The ARC: supports the highest quality research and research training through national competition in all fields of science, social sciences and the humanities; brokers partnerships between researchers and industry, government, community organisations and the international community. ARC funding programs come under the umbrella of the National Competitive Grants Program. The ARC Discovery programs fund individual researchers and projects.

GRDC

The Grains Research & Development Corporation is one of the world's leading grains research organisations, responsible for planning, investing and overseeing research and development, delivering improvements in production, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry.

GRDC is a statutory corporation, founded in 1990 under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (PIERD Act), it is subject to accountability and reporting obligations set out in the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act).

The GRDC's portfolio department is the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

The GRDC's mission is to invest in research and development for the greatest benefit to its stakeholders - graingrowers and the Australian Government. The Corporation links innovative research with industry needs.

The GRDC's vision is for a profitable, internationally competitive and ecologically sustainable grains industry. The GRDC's research portfolio covers 25 leviable crops* spanning temperate and tropical cereals, oilseeds and pulses, worth over $7 billion a year in farm production, alone.

The GRDC is a statutory corporation, operating as a research investment body in partnership with growers and government. Funding is provided through a levy on graingrowers. This is determined each year by the grains industry's peak body. The Australian Government matches this funding, up to an agreed ceiling.

The GRDC derives its functions, powers and objects from the PIERD Act. This enabling legislation provides the foundation for the GRDC's accountability to the Australian grains industry and to the Australian Government for securing the greatest possible returns.

* Wheat Coarse Grains : barley, oats, sorghum, maize, triticale, millets/panicums, cereal rye, canary seed Pulses : lupins, field peas, chickpeas, faba beans, vetch, peanuts, mung beans, navy beans, pigeon peas, cowpeas, lentils Oilseeds : canola, sunflower, soybean, safflower, linseed 

ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls

The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls is a $32 million, seven year collaboration between  universities in Adelaide, Melbourne and Queensland in partnership with SA State Government and seven international institutions.

Established in 2011 with $20.5 million funding from the Australian Research Council and $11.5 million from  partner institutions, the centre is hosted by the University of Adelaide at its Waite Campus and has nodes at both The University of Melbourne and The University of Queensland.

Download a 2 MB overview and summary of the Plant Cell Walls -- ARC Centre of Excellence here.

RIRDC

RIRDC is a statutory authority established by the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (PIERD Act). The Corporation was established by the Australian Government to work with industry to invest in research and development for a more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural sector.

The National and Rural Research Priorities of the Australian Government provide an over-arching framework for public investment in rural research and development. RIRDC's investments are closely aligned with these priorities. 

HAL

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) is a not-for-profit, industry-owned company. It works in partnership with Australia’s horticulture industries to invest in research, development and marketing programs that provide benefit to industry and the wider community.

HAL invests almost $90 million annually in programs designed to align with the strategic investment priorities of Australia’s horticulture industries and the Australian Government’s Rural Research and Development priorities.

HAL receives recommendations on investment from Industry Advisory Committees (IACs) which provide industry specific experience and expertise. IACs are committees of HAL that provide advice to the HAL Board. Membership is recommended to HAL by the Peak Industry Body (PIB) of each industry.

The PIB is responsible for ensuring the skills required on an IAC are met by the persons they recommend. As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to rural research and development, horticulture industries can access matching Commonwealth funding through HAL for research and development activities. More information about the specific investment priorities for each industry, is available here. 

Pork CRC

A key challenge faced by the Australian pork industry is the need to maintain local production of high quality food for a reasonable price and return on production capital invested, without negatively impacting pig welfare, the environment or the health of the consumer.

Through innovative, collaborative, whole value chain research, development and education programs within the CRC, the Australian pork industry will meet this challenge by facilitating production that:

• is efficient and ethical without the need for sow confinement in stalls or crates or widespread use of antibiotic medications

• delivers key nutrients, safely, enhancing the health and well-being of consumers

• utilises revolutionary feed sources and effluent management systems resulting in emissions of less than 1 kg of CO2 per kg of pork produced -contributes significantly to Australia’s economic growth and food security without drawing on the ecological capital of other parts of the world.

Delivery of these outcomes will differentiate Australian pork as a high-integrity meat that is welfare-optimal, premium quality, safe, nutritious and in high demand, which can be produced while conserving energy and water resources, minimising greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining efficiency and cost of production at a level that promotes investment, growth and sustainability of the industry.