Home > Cotton Industry boosted by $12 Million R&D program

Cotton Industry boosted by $12 Million R&D program for the coming season.
25th October 2007

The investment of a further $12 million by the Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre (Cotton CRC) to continue developing dynamic and innovative research was outlined today at its annual general meeting.

This investment will see the funding of over one hundred projects across cotton regions ranging from Emerald to Griffith, including Dalby, St George, Goondiwindi, Moree, Narrabri, Hillston, Warren and developing areas such as Western Australia and the Burdekin in North Queensland.

David Anthony, Chairman of the Cotton CRC Board said “the success of the first two years of the Cotton CRC lies in the joint collaboration between industry, catchment, communities, research and education organisations that make up the centre”.

“With cotton regions and most of rural Australia in the grip of a devastating and prolonged drought, this holistic approach enables individual participant’s expertise to be best utilised to meet the challenges the cotton industry faces. Now is the time to plan for the future and take action”

“The investment of a further $12 million allows us to expand our research and extension activities encompassing topical issues such as water, climate volatility, the effects of drought on cotton communities and natural resource management”

“Despite these challenges cotton yields have further increased and Australia remains the highest yielding cotton industry in the world, albeit on a significantly reduced area.

“One way we can ensure our future is to invest in it. We have therefore allocated significant resources to educational programs including 40 postgraduate students, summer scholarships, and our cotton training programs. For the next 3 years we will also be working to raise the interest of science and agriculture in primary and secondary schools to retain a pipeline of interested future school leavers in the agricultural industries” said Mr. Anthony.

“The availability of water this season will impact on the ability of some work to be done as originally planned and contingency plans have been established”.

Water remains high on the list of the major limiting factor for all agricultural enterprises, so returning best use for the investment of water is vital for the industry and Australia’s success.

Cotton CRC Chief Executive Officer, Guy Roth, said “new and current projects relating to water range from plant based research to the whole farm, storages, groundwater wetlands, and the river systems”.

“The coming season will witness increased investments into projects investigating water loss from storages. One project will monitor and improve the knowledge of water stored on cotton farms through the measurement of losses and testing of amelioration techniques. Another project is looking to develop an improved liquid lid made from a polymer to reduce evaporation” said Mr Roth.

“Farming systems agronomy research is being increased. Two new crop nutrition projects are commencing to help the industry optimise nutrient inputs, which are a major cost to cotton growers. Other projects are examining aspects of wheat, corn and other grain crops as rotation crops. A new farming systems scientist position has been created with CSIRO to examine the interactions of cotton varieties, water use, nutrition on yield and quality.”

Mr Roth highlighted that the cotton industry extends well beyond the farm gate and that success of all rural industries is based on the vibrant communities in which they operate.

Therefore, the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC will be ramping up its Community Program of research and development.

A socio economic study of cotton in regional communities will benchmark the economic contribution of cotton to regional communities. Another study will quantify the impact of the drought on these communities, while other projects will look at the effects of changing agricultural technologies on employment patterns in cotton communities.

Like water use and the social and economic effects of the drought on regional Australia, climate variation remains high on the list of research priorities for the Cotton CRC. A scoping study on climate change has recently been completed, which will enable the cotton industry’s needs to be incorporated in the national climate and greenhouse debate and planning.

Research will continue on Gwydir Wetlands and environmental water allocations. Groundwater research will also be stepped up to closely examine surface and groundwater connectivity.

“In addition to this our ground water research aims to produce a 3D model of groundwater systems, enabling managers to have a much better appreciation of groundwater movement and storage” said Mr Roth.

“Even though times are tough through this significant investment in research and development we are working to ensure prosperity through innovation and the sustainability of Australia’s cotton industry”.

“The 2006-2007 Cotton Catchment Communities Annual report highlights the year’s achievements, activities and highlights, and can be found on our website www.cotton.crc.org.au ” concluded Mr Roth.


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For more information or interview please contact Guy Roth on 02 6799 1509 or 0417 223 179