The GRDC Northern Panel Reviewed Producer and Research Activities in Queensland

Image: GRDC

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Northern Panel met with growers, researchers and industry stakeholders as part of the Spring Tour, held in the Australian state of Queensland from 8 to 10 September.

The three-day tour, covering the Central Queensland region, included visits to Emerald, Gindie, Capella, Kilcummin and Clermont. The programme included various inspections focusing on agricultural production activities in the region, as well as research, technology and fieldwork.

The Panel’s visit included stops at the Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre, part of the Department of Primary Industries (Queensland), Cowal Agriculture and SwarmFarm Robotics, which develops robotic technologies for agriculture. In addition, trial sites operated under the RiskWi$E and National Variety Trial programmes were also visited.

The tour programme also addressed projects and trial studies developed in line with the priorities raised by growers through the GRDC’s National Grower Network (NGN). In this context, information was gathered on studies examining the profitability and production reliability of canola and carinata production in the Central Queensland region.

The GRDC Northern Panel’s field visits provided a platform for the direct assessment of the priorities and needs faced by growers in the region. Through discussions with growers and other industry stakeholders, panel members gained insights into current initiatives whilst also listening to views on determining future research and investment priorities.

The GRDC Northern Panel continues its work with the aim of listening to producers, monitoring developments in the field and representing their views. The information and feedback gathered from the visits and discussions held as part of the Spring Tour are expected to contribute to shaping the GRDC’s future investments and priorities.