The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Promoting an innovation culture and economy
Rice – reaping the rewards of innovation: The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s
Rice Research and Development Programme has delivered consistently high benefits for the industry and the
broader community.
A recent evaluation of 157 rice projects showed that a total investment of $11 million had returned an
estimated triple bottom-line net benefit of $292 million. Of this return, 59% was estimated to be a direct
return to rice growers with the remaining 41% representing the estimated share of benefits flowing as
environmental and social benefits of rice production.
Examples of innovation for the rice industry brought about
through development corporation research include:
• greater water efficiency through improved varieties
and other technologies, giving 83% improvement in
yield per megalitre while reducing water use by 45%;
• adoption of electro-magnetic soil-mapping technology
to identify leaking soils to significantly reduce water
use;
Using the RiceCheck ‘ring of confidence’ to measure mid-season
nitrogen uptake. RiceCheck is a holistic crop management system
providing objective recommendations to improve yields, grain quality
and profitability. Photo credits: Rural Industries Research and
Development Corporation
• development of varieties suited to Australian
conditions for specific markets such as Japan and the
Middle East; and
• promotion of responsible environmental management
through research support of the Environmental
Champions Programme.
The Australian rice industry has an exceptional ability to prioritise its specific research requirements. Examples
include new varieties to meet consumer needs, cold-tolerant rice to boost yield and water-saving mechanisms
to meet environmental requirements.
Through the Rice Growers’ Association and other networks, rice growers are rapidly converting new research
outcomes into standard industry practice. Rice productivity has improved dramatically in the past 20 years.
Genetic tool proves valuable for producers: The world’s largest sheep genetics database, Sheep Genetics
Australia, is helping the Australian sheep industry get optimum returns from genetic information.
The database, which was launched in October 2005, is a national genetic information and evaluation service
for the meat and wool sectors. The frontier technology was developed jointly by Australian Wool Innovation
and Meat and Livestock Australia together with industry.
The project aims to provide a single national genetic evaluation for a comprehensive range of traits for each
of the three main sheep groups – terminal sires, dual-purpose breeds and Merinos. The project will continue
through a five-year implementation plan but the first major objective was to launch the new service including
the Australian sheep breeding values, which are nationally agreed standards.
The breeding values are designed to be used by ram breeders and commercial producers to compare the
genetic potential of sheep for a range of traits, across flocks, independent of the environment and location.
The number of animals being analysed now exceeds 2.5 million. Their breeders and producers receive updated
breeding values and other genetic information fortnightly.
As new information products are developed they are made available to the 800 breeder clients of Sheep
Genetics Australia. Data can be viewed by the industry online and searches can be carried out to help producers
select sheep with commercially relevant traits.
In 2006, Sheep Genetics Australia will test 250 000 sheep from the 2005 drop. Since the launch of Sheep Genetics
Australia, nine forums have been held across Australia as part of the awareness raising strategy, attracting more
than 650 producers.
110 Backing Australia’s Ability