FUNDING to the tune of $42 million, mostly aimed at unlocking some of WA’s problematic soils, was announced by the State government last week.
The funding will develop a scientific research partnership between the WA government and the Grain Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
An additional $6m will be invested jointly in three exploratory projects aimed at boosting oat, canola, lupin and pulse production and value for WA growers, taking the total spend to $48m.
Of the funding, the McGowan government has committed more than $25m over five years for the WA-based projects, which will be led by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) research arm.
The funding commitment includes $22m to overcome soil constraints and develop transformational soil technologies.
A further $3m will help examine new opportunities for the WA grains industry, including a new approach to matching genetics for early sowing opportunities for oats, canola and lupins in key environments.
The GRDC will contribute the remainder of the funding.
The six projects that come under the announcement include:
Re-engineering soils to improve water and nutrient flow to crops;
Increasing farming system profitability and the longevity of benefits following soil amelioration;
Increased grower profitability on soils with sodicity or transient salinity in the eastern grainbelt;
Optimising yield and expanding the area of high-value pulses – lentil, faba bean and chickpea – in WA;
Evaluating milling oat varieties and optimising profitability from early-sown oats;
Expanding the sowing window for canola and lupins.
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the State government had worked hard to establish this partnership with the GRDC to support WA-based research, which would enable growers to make the most of technological advancements and remain globally competitive.
“This agreement is a starting point in securing a better deal for WA and we look forward to further investment in the future,” Ms MacTiernan said.
“Scientific research is key to helping our growers change and adapt to produce better crops, increase productivity and export competitiveness, and in turn support our regional economies and communities.
“This industry is hungry for technology to address WA’s unique conditions and market challenges while striving for record growth such as this season’s impressive 17.9 million tonne harvest – our second biggest crop ever.
“The McGowan government is committed to ensuring DPIRD maintains its core scientific skills and expertise across grain production, sustainability and biosecurity.
“DPIRD scientists, many operating from regional locations from Geraldton to Esperance, are working alongside university researchers, grower groups and farm consultants to link innovation from the laboratory to the paddock to the market.
“By uniting this effort, WA researchers can attract more Commonwealth and industry investment to the ultimate benefit of our industries.
“We look forward to further investment in partnership with GRDC on research opportunities that address WA’s grains industry priorities and make a difference for our growers and the national economy.”
GRDC said the first and largest of the three new soils research projects would focus on overcoming multiple soil constraints, by using combinations of various soil amelioration techniques, while also considering the feasibility and potential benefit of ameliorating soils to a much greater depth than what has been attempted before.
This project will focus on the 12 million hectares of sandplain soils in the medium to high-rainfall areas of WA where multiple soil constraints, such as sub-soil compaction, sub-soil acidity and water repellence, regularly occur.
A second soils project will focus specifically on the 2.5mha of sodic and transient saline soils of the low rainfall areas of WA’s eastern grainbelt.
This project aims to reduce the risk and improve the profitability of grain production on these often-hostile soils.
It will assess new options for improving the capture and infiltration of rainfall through novel furrow formation and management techniques.
This project will also assess the potential and financial feasibility of targeted root zone subsoil amelioration and/or application of soil amendments on these eastern grainbelt soils.
The final of the three soils projects will focus on how WA grain growers can best ensure the long-term benefit and profitability of new and previously developed soil amelioration and amendment techniques.
This will include assessing options for reducing the risk of poor crop establishment and soil erosion, both problems commonly associated with new soil amelioration practices.
GRDC chairman John Woods said these three new projects, in partnership with DPIRD, addressed specific key investment targets outlined in GRDC’s new five-year RD&E plan launched last July.
“There are 30 key investment targets in the new plan, almost all of which are relevant to WA grain growers,” Mr Woods said.
GRDC and DPIRD have also announced a partnership to deliver three new pilot research projects focused on some exciting new opportunities for WA grain growers and important key investment targets in GRDC’s new five-year RD&E plan.
These pilot projects address specific needs while GRDC plans how it can best deliver transformational impact in these key investment areas.
The projects, with a combined budget of more than $6m, will focus on optimising yield and expanding the area of high value pulses, including lentil, faba bean and chickpea, in WA as well assessing options for expanding the sowing window of oats, canola and lupins in WA.
“The new five-year RD&E plan has re-focused the direction of GRDC’s investment strategy,” Mr Woods said.
“The underlying theme of the plan is the recognition that GRDC needs to take greater risk and to deliver more transformational impact.
“More of the same will simply not cut it going forward.
“GRDC is committed to investing in RD&E to create enduring profitability for WA grain growers and deliver on its new five-year R&D plan.
“The priority for GRDC is delivering a return on investment for our grower levy payers.”
