wheat inspection
 
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — Murdoch University, located in Murdoch, Western Australia, has received a A$3 million Grains Industry Infrastructure Grant to develop a new crop research hub in Western Australia. The crop research hub would be charged with improving grain crop productivity and disease resistance across Australia.

The development of the crop research hub is expected to be a collaborative effort between Murdoch University and the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

“The Coalition Government knows how critical research and development is to productive and profitable industries and that’s why this government is investing unprecedented amounts under various programs into R&D,” said Barnaby Joyce, deputy prime minister and minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. “This innovative project will draw on the specialist research skills from each party to develop new research in crop pathology, plant physiology and genetic improvement.

“The outcomes of this research will be applied to improve crop productivity and resistance to disease, strengthening the national grain industry and profitability for Australian grain growers.”

John Woods, chairman of the Grains Research & Development Corp. (GRDC), said for the GRDC to deliver on its purpose of investing in R&D to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers it was essential for research partners to have the critical capacity they required.

“Our RD&E partners need good infrastructure and the right tools to deliver for the grains industry,” Woods said. “For the first time GRDC has gone out nationally to support our research partners in creating critical capacity and capability to deliver greater profitability for growers. This is essential to ensure a sustainable grains industry to underpin strong rural communities and a healthy economy.

“This partnership, of two universities, a state government department, the federal government and a rural R&D corporation, is a perfect demonstration of genuine collaboration to address key grower priorities.

“This newly created Grains Research Hub designed to significantly improve the efficiency of crop research in Western Australia would not have been possible without everyone working together.”

Murdoch University’s A$3 million grant will be coupled with a co-contribution of A$2 million by the project partners.

The collaboration is part of the Grains Industry Infrastructure Grants program, which is administered by the GRDC, with 15 recipients sharing in A$15 million in competitive grants.