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The GRDC is a grains research organization, responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing RD&E to deliver improvements in production, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry.
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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA —The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) invested more than A$192.8 million ($146.4 million) in 898 projects to deliver new and improved varieties, practices, technologies and capability to the Australian grain industry during 2015-16 year. These projects were delivered by over 2,500 researchers from 283 partner organizations.

The GRDC is a grains research organization, responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing RD&E to deliver improvements in production, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry. The goal for the corporation is to drive the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation to enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the industry and the wider community.

In 2015-16, the GRDC made a A$10 million commitment to the International Wheat Yield Partnership, which aims to increase the yield potential of wheat by up to 50% in the next 20 years.

Due to a study conducted about the impact of weeds on Australian grains production a baseline was established that the GRDC said will help guide its investment in weed research.

In partnership with Australian state governments, the GRDC created new positions for researchers in regional areas of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

In the 2016 Grower Survey, 85% of growers rated the GRDC’s performance as high quality, and 71% said they had recently benefited from GRDC activities.

A GRDC regional office network was established during 2015-16, comprising new offices in Adelaide, Dubbo and Toowoomba as well as the existing office in Perth.

The GRDC celebrated 25 years in research, development and extension for the Australian grains industry.

The GRDC is a statutory corporation, founded in 1990, under the Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989, it is subject to accountability and reporting obligations set out in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The GRDC’s portfolio department is the Australian Government Department of Agriculture.

The functions of the GRDC under the act include coordinating or funding R&D activities; monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the impact of R&D activities on the grains industry and the wider community; and facilitating the dissemination, adoption and commercialization of the results of R&D.