1. R&D to drive innovation and industry growth - issues for funders and researchers Dr Mark Sweetingham Executive Director Grains Industry - DAFWA Co-chair - Grains Industry National RD&E Strategy AG Institute Australia Forum August, 2015

2. Kelly Ryan developed MyCrop® to ensure your crop is the picture of health. Grains Industry

4. WA Government’s growth agenda Focus on supporting industries and businesses that are capable and motivated to grow. Economic Development Supporting your success Double the value of the sector by 2025+

5. Our biggest and growing sector - an innovation success story ‘000 Against the backdrop of a drying climate

6. GVAP up 80% in 15 years GVAP up 66% in 15 years

7. What R&D Funders Want Governments Economic Growth - productivity, jobs, export income, value adding, wealth creation Industry Increased returns to levy payers - business profitability, reduced business risk, increased asset value Private Sector Return to Shareholders / Members - products and services, market size, profitable clients All want it sustainable

8. What do Researchers want Employment and career pathways Worthwhile & exciting projects Opportunities for networking and knowledge expansion Straightforward and efficient administration transactions (funders and own organisation)

9. Timeframes in Ag Innovation From Discovery to Commercial Success Rhizobium inoculants (1896, Germany) Hybrid corn (1933, USA) Australian Sweet Lupin (1959, WA) RR GM soybean (1980, USA) Understanding & responsibilities for funders and researchers On average a 24 year cycle in agriculture Alston, Pardey and Ruttan (2008) management process decision tool new product new skill fail

10. Supporting your success How state agencies, CSIRO, universities, the private sector and GRDC will work together with industry National Grains Industry RD&E Strategy National / International Research (Discovery) Regional Development (Translation) Local Extension (Adoption)

11. Representation State Departments (5) C’wlth Department of Agriculture (1) GRDC (1) CSIRO (1) Universities (ACDA) (1) Grain Producers Australia (3) We are doing a very good job ! What’s the problem ?

12. Stakeholders Survey 2009 What growers and agribusiness thought of State Agencies CSIRO Universities CRCs GRDC highly valued individuals anti-private sector personal expertise driven un-strategic difficult to engage with internally bureaucratic low morale

13. Stakeholders Survey 2009 What growers and consultants thought of AgChem Biotech Plant Breeding & Seed Fertilizer Machinery short-term pragmatists product solution focussed globally big, but locally weak

14. drying climate, more frost & seasonal variation total factor productivity growth flat-lining higher input costs increasing farm debt market deregulation and increased price volatility the Asian market opportunity increased competition from low-cost producing countries The business environment

15. The RD&E environment Decreased public funding Increased private funding Globalisation of agchem, biotech, ag engineering and infotech Ageing workforce and infrastructure Declining regional capacity Supporting your success Public sector

16. Increased private sector involvrment State Departments (5) C’wlth Department of Agriculture (1) GRDC (2) CSIRO (1) Universities (3) Grain Producers Australia (3) National Agribusiness Reference Group (1) Grain Trade Australia (1) Cereal Breeders Alliance (1) CropLife Australia (1) 2011 2014 Grains industry 2025+

17. Pillars of the National Grains RD&E Strategy 1.A forward-looking plan to secure the skilled people and the critical infrastructure 2.Consultative planning processes to identify and align government and industry priorities 3.A more flexible and efficient RD&E system 4.Access the best global technology and partnerships 5.Enhanced delivery and practice change www.npirdef.org/cms_strategy/project/6/6 Highly efficient RD&E system that fosters world-class innovation

18. Industry and Government Priorities OUTCOME STREAMS Improved Varieties Improved Practices Market Competitiveness Sector Capability Productivity Markets Biosecurity Climate Variability Resource Management Regional Development Industry Capacity Access to new genetics and varieties with better on-farm performance and enhanced market competitiveness. Practices and systems that increase farm productivity and profitability whilst maintaining the resource base and product integrity. Knowledge access and connections to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of the supply chain. Up skilling to increase farm business and sector viability. TFP growth to 2.5% p.a. by 2025

19. Powered by GRDC partnership investment Projects Long term (> 8 years) Medium term (3-8 years) Short term (0-3 years) National / International Regional Local 4%

20. Other GRDC Investments eg. Research Companies AGT, InterGrain, LongReach ACPFG AEGIC Bilaterals CCDM Australian Grains Genebank Cooperative Research Centres Plant Biosecurity CRC ARC Centres of Excellence Plant Energy Biology Capacity Building AGI Skills & Capacity Initiative

21. The Road to 2025 Further transformation of the public – private agri-food innovation system NZ Crown Research Institutes UK Agri-Tech Catalyst EU Translational Research & Knowledge Exchange in Value Chains

22. Not for profit company Northam HQ Geraldton, Merredin, Esperance, Perth nodes 150 DAFWA staff Scope Agronomy Soil Productivity Crop Protection Genetic Improvement Farming Systems R&D to boost grain growing productivity; access relevant global grain science and technology; distribute knowledge and support innovation at the farm business level Grains West Ltd Proposed

23. Why More flexible Lower overheads More efficient Easier for the private sector to partner with Greater industry ownership and direction R&D to boost grain growing productivity; access relevant global grain science and technology; distribute knowledge and support innovation at the farm business level Grains West Ltd Proposed

24. The innovation system would benefit from - Balanced portfolio of investments over the short and long term Combination of Block Grants and Competitive Grants Take some risks in blue-sky and accept failures - fail early or pivot - blue sky doesn’t have to mean big $ Embed researchers in industry (real world exposure, mentoring) Groom successors - start early - don’t over-protect junior staff - takes time to become a really good innovator (15 year investment) ConsumersFood companies Primary processors Handlers/ traders