A CALL for a new round of research projects to benefit WA grain growers has been made by the Council of Grain Grower Organisations (COGGO).
COGGO is looking to fund new innovative ideas for start-up research and development projects starting in 2019 that will support the WA grains industry.
COGGO chairman Rhys Turton said his organisation was committed to the catalytic funding of local research and development projects aimed at improving the profitable growing of grain crops.
Projects funding ranges between $20,000 up to $100,000 for a one or two-year project, and is allocated on a competitive basis to projects which offer clear benefits to WA grain growers.
“COGGO gets applications for projects from a broad range of applicants and has funded projects from grower groups, universities, CSIRO, the State government’s agriculture department and agricultural consultants,” Mr Turton said.
“COGGO has funded 47 projects over the past six years.”
Topics tackled in these projects in the past year included evaluating the use of a naturally-occurring fungus to control aphids, summer cropping options for high rainfall areas, evaluating high vigour reduced tillering wheat in low rainfall environments, cost-effective mechanical management of crop residues and the evaluation of multispectral sensors on drones, analytics programs and mapping software.
“Our aim is to use COGGO funding to test new ideas to a proof of concept stage for possible further funding from government, grower and companies for funding,” he said.
The research fund is financed through a voluntary levy collected from WA growers and all growers are eligible to become members.
Further information and Expression of Interest application forms are available at giwa.org.au/coggoresearchfund or by calling 6262 2128.
Applications close on Tuesday, July 3, 2018.
