AS NATIONAL Science Week kicks off, the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) has announced 11 new projects to boost grains research and development and industry profitability.
The $5.2million projects build on extensive work by the department and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). Department Grains Research Development executive director Mark Sweetingham said the wide-ranging projects were tailored to address grains production issues specific to WA and to fine tune regional cropping systems.
"These projects will provide a significant boost to regionally-based grains research and development by improving the depth and scientific understanding of key constraints to optimising crop production and profitability," Dr Sweetingham said.
"They will enhance the great work already being done by the department, together with the GRDC, universities, grower groups and other partners throughout the grainbelt."
The projects address issues including: crown rot in oats, innovative seed coating techniques, early sowing of field peas, smart technology for pest and disease surveillance, better ways to sample and assess soil properties, powdery mildew management in wheat, slug and snail controls and novel genetics for rapid germination and grain fill in wheat.
The projects form part of the department's $20 million Boosting Grains Research and Development project, through Royalties for Regions investment.
"These new research investments are helping to delivery on the project's key themes of more grain from less rain, lifting the yield ceiling and regional agronomy systems," Dr Sweetingham said.
