The Western Australian Government has invested in a visionary new $20.4 million project to ensure the long-term productivity, sustainability, profitability and resilience of the State’s valuable grains industry in an increasingly dynamic climatic and market environment.
The State Government has injected $12 million in the five-year WA Farming Systems project, while the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC) has committed $8.4 million to deliver the agronomic tools and business pathways for the industry to grow and thrive.
The project will explore a range of farming systems risks and opportunities, including crop diversity, expanded seeding windows, and integrating greenhouse gas mitigation strategies into farming businesses.
Learning hubs will be established in the Merredin, Geraldton and The Lakes districts, reflecting different production environments, to undertake rigorous scientific system trials to ground truth a range of farming systems and extend learnings.
Consultation with growers is underway to help guide the project and aid the adoption of new farming practices adapted to future climate scenarios and market demands.
The WA Government continues to work alongside the GRDC to boost the prospects of the WA grains industry through its co-ownership of the WA-based cereal breeding company InterGrain and joint backing of the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre.
This new project is another demonstration of the McGowan Government’s support for the agricultural sector, together with the recent launch of the Western Australian Agricultural Research Collaboration, to drive research towards keeping WA’s primary industries internationally competitive.
For more information about the WA Farming Systems project, visit https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/wa-farming-systems-project
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The WA grains industry is at a critical juncture exposed to increasing pressures from climate change, high input costs and a volatile commodity market, as well as customer expectations for sustainably produced, low emission food products.
“The WA Farming Systems project will assist our biggest agricultural industry to take on these pressures head on, so our grain growers can remain ahead of the game with research-based production practices that are both profitable and sustainable.
“I am pleased to see that the project will embrace on-ground trials to support future scenario modelling, providing growers with the empirical evidence required to make informed decisions when modifying their operations to strengthen business resilience.
“The project takes a pragmatic approach to sustainable production, such as exploring increasing break crop diversity by integrating grain and pasture legumes and oilseed crops, as well as examining time of seeding risks and trade-offs to lift whole-farm profitability.
“The world is changing rapidly and the McGowan Government continues to look forward by making strategic investments to equip the State’s primary industries with credible evidence, knowledge and experience to adapt and seize emerging opportunities.”
