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The announcement last week that the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC was unsuccessful in its bid for a further five years of funding brings to an end 19 years of collaborative research under the CRC program.

Over this time the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC has brought together government agencies, universities, farmers, catchment bodies, local government and private businesses to invest over $320 million in research and development since 1994.

This concerted effort has resulted in at least $2 billion worth of value for the cotton industry, its catchments and communities over the 19 years of the CRCs operation.

Phil Armytage, CEO of the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC, said there was great disappointment across the industry and associated partners and communities that the request for funds to extend the operations of the Cooperative Research Centre was unsuccessful.

"Regional Australia is experiencing rapid and significant social, economic and environmental change and a lot of this change is happening in cotton regions".

"These regions are struggling to keep pace with the challenges of declining population, the resources boom, drought recovery, new agricultural technologies and climate variability", said Mr Armytage.

The additional funding being sought in the extension bid was aimed at finding science based strategies to deal with these issues through its proposed Regional People, Water, Carbon and Energy, and Green

GM Farming programs. "These are important issues with our bid application gaining support from some 98 different partners who collectively committed over $87 million of cash and in-kind support to undertake this work over the next 5 years", said Mr Armytage.

Partners included research providers, farmers, industry groups, private businesses, catchment bodies, community groups, state agencies, regional development bodies and local government.

"While there has been significant disappointment that the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC was unsuccessful the industry does appreciate the funding it has received over 19 years and the significant difference it has made to our regions"

"The CRC program, founded on collaboration, is an excellent example of how science can solve problems".

"Yet we believe the whole CRC program needs higher priority in science investment strategies to ensure Australian research and development has a robust funding base", concluded Mr Armytage.

The Cotton Catchment Communities CRC was one of three agricultural based CRC's to miss out on a 5 year extension. It will formally close its doors on the 30th June 2012.

For an interview please contact Philip Armytage on 0488 263 585 / 02 6799 1505