Annual Report - AWB Limited

The FFI CRC is a unique co-investment and integration ofactivities between Landmark, Meat & Livestock Australia,Grains R&D Corporation, Australian Wool Innovation and thecombined research effort of six state agencies, CSIRO and fouruniversities. Landmark plays a strategic role as the FFI CRC’s onlyagribusiness participant, supporting the FFI CRC’s adoption andcommercialisation activities. Landmark’s investment in the FFI CRCis central to its Farm Services strategy, building the capacity of itsteam of professional service providers and establishing a point ofdifference from its competitors.In its first year of operation, the FFI CRC achieved a number ofmilestones. It established and delivered EverTrainTM, an industrytraining program focusing on current issues, which also providesa formal accreditation path for Landmark agronomists. The FFICRC held a series of regional harvest and delivery workshops,focusing on headline technologies and products, including newlydeveloped varieties. Thirty-five new research and developmentprojects were also approved for commencement in 2008-2009,including a perennial wheat research project that will involvefuture research collaboration with Landmark.Industry groups and educationAWB and its business units sponsored a range of local grainsindustry groups and associations including Birchip CroppingGroup, Yorke Peninsula Alkaline Soils Group, Hart Field Site Group,Southern Farming Systems, Partners in Grain, South East PremiumWheat and Barley Growers Association, Western Australian No TillFarming Association, Liebe Group and Facey Group.CommunityThe business continued to play an active role in supporting therural and regional communities in which it operates through avariety of local sponsorship programs and community grants.AWB donated the proceeds from the dividend rounding programtowards the valuable work undertaken by beyondblue in rural andregional Australia to raise community awareness of depression andsupport prevention and early intervention.Landmark continued its sponsorship of the Nuffield AgriculturalScholarship Program, with the 2008 Landmark Nuffield scholarstudying the use of livestock in improving the diversity, healthand regeneration of semi-arid rangelands during a tour ofSouth Africa, the US and New Zealand.Landmark marked its thirty-fifth year as the major sponsorof the Western Australian Country Football Championships,and this year extended the sponsorship of country football toinclude sponsorship of the Landmark Australian Country FootballChampionships.SustainabilityThe Landmark Rural Services business continued its participation inthe Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FFI CRC).The FFI CRC develops new farming systems and plant varieties forAustralia to make agriculture more productive, better adapted todrought and more sustainable in natural resource use.www.awb.com.au 21