Section 2 - Sugar Research and Development Corporation

Section 2
INTRODUCING SRDC
The SRDC takes a targeted and disciplined approach to R&D investment to
underpin the achievement of its vision to provide economic, environmental
and social benefi ts for the sugarcane industry and the people of Australia.
This involves managing research investment
funds from levies and government funding;
coordinating research activities; monitoring,
evaluating and reporting on their impact; and
facilitating the dissemination, adoption and
commercialisation of their results.
It enters into cooperative partnerships with
sugarcane industry participants across its sectors,
R&D agencies, universities, other Rural Research
and Development Corporations (RDCs), and the
general community in the quest for a profi table,
internationally competitive and sustainable
Australian sugarcane industry.
The SRDC strives to deliver high rates of return
on its R&D investment by managing technical
and market risk and applying signifi cant
resources to translate research outputs into
practical outcomes.
Corporate outcome
To support a profi table and internationally
competitive and sustainable Australian sugarcane
industry providing economic, environmental and
social benefi ts for rural and regional communities
through targeted investment in research and
development.
Mission
To foster an innovative and sustainable Australian
sugarcane industry through targeted investment
in research and development
Vision
The SRDC is committed to setting the right
targets for R&D investments; to making sound
investment decisions that address those targets
using rigorous transparent processes; to
managing investments so that they succeed;
and to ensure that R&D delivers outcomes for
its stakeholders and builds capacity for change,
learning and innovation across the industry.
Accountability to stakeholders
The SRDC is accountable to both the Australian
Government and industry representative
organisations. The Primary Industries and Energy
Research and Development Act 1989 (PIERD Act)
defi nes these representative organisations as:
��Australian Cane Growers Council Limited
(ACGC) represented by Queensland Cane
Growers Organisation Limited
��Australian Cane Farmers Association Limited
(ACFA).
��Australian Sugar Milling Council Proprietary
Limited (ASMC).
As required by the PIERD Act, the Executive
Director and the Chairman, representing the
SRDC, held formal consultations with the
representative organisations on three occasions
in 2010–2011. No payments were made to the
representative organisations for these or any
other consultations in 2010–2011.
The major issues discussed at the meetings with
the representative organisations included the
Corporation’s strategic direction and research
priorities and investments, the AOP and the
National Sugar Industry Research, Development
and Extension Strategy. Directors interacted
frequently with the industry representative
organisations at events in 2010–2011.
Responsible minister
The SRDC is accountable to the Federal Parliament
through the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry, Senator the Honourable Joe Ludwig.
The Minister:
��approves the fi ve-year R&D Plan
��approves the Annual Operational Plan
��appoints Directors, other than the Chair and
Executive Director, on the recommendation
of the SRDC Selection Committee
��appoints the Chair of SRDC.
SRDC Annual Report 2010–2011 17