Section 2 - Sugar Research and Development Corporation

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Section 2
SRDC COLLABORATION
The SRDC is part of a network of sugarcane industry agencies that support
research through partnerships between government and industry. Ongoing,
collaborative and cooperative communication with stakeholders ensures
the right research is targeted at the right time.
Some of the joint issues addressed in 2010–2011
include: reef management, irrigation, soil
management, farm health and safety, gene
technology, climate variability and people
development.
Research partnerships are also being fostered
with international and non-sugarcane industry
companies willing to contribute to projects
to enhance the Australian and international
knowledge base.
The SRDC works closely with other RDCs to
address cross-sectoral research needs to address
urgent issues and contribute to the health and
wellbeing of the Australian rural community.
In 2010–2011, collaborative research initiatives
included:
The Sugarcane Gene
Technology Group
A sub-committee of the Australian Sugarcane
Industry Alliance was established to discuss and
investigate some of the pre-commercial issues
and activities the industry faces as it approaches
the commercial launch of genetically modifi ed
(GM) sugarcane.
Managing Climate
Variability Program
The SRDC is a partner in the Managing Climate
Variability Program, which has been helping
Australian farmers to manage climate risk onfarm
for over a decade by providing practical
tools to incorporate climate information into
farm business decisions. Information about their
current projects and progress is available at
www.managingclimate.gov.au
SRDC Annual Report 2010–2011
National Program
for Sustainable Irrigation
The National Program for Sustainable Irrigation
(NPSI) is a collaborative project funded by
irrigation-dependent Rural RDCs (Horticulture
Australia, Cotton RDC, Grains RDC, and SRDC),
water companies/authorities, and government
agencies such as the South Australian Research
and Development Institute.
The NPSI collaborates with government and
primary producer organisations and has been
responsible for improved irrigation scheduling
and application techniques resulting in a
reduction of 40 per cent or more in water use
without loss of production. Updated NPSI project
information is available at www.npsi.gov.au
Climate Change Research
Strategy for Primary Industries
The Climate Change Research Strategy for
Primary Industries (CCRSPI) is a collaborative
response to the opportunities and challenges
posed by climate change for Australia’s primary
industries.
The CCRSPI operates under a mandate from
the Primary Industries Ministerial Council and
Primary Industry Standing Committee. Its
partners are the Australian, state and territory
governments, the rural RDCs and the CSIRO.