Section 2 - Sugar Research and Development Corporation

Section 1
REPORT FROM CHAIRMAN & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Sugar Research
and Development Corporation (SRDC). Research and Development (R&D)
projects funded by SRDC over the past 20 years has been the cornerstone for
continuous improvement and innovation and the industry has reaped some
signifi cant rewards from this investment.
This annual report covers the penultimate year of
the fi ve-year SRDC Research and Development Plan
2007–2012. The plan outlines a vision for the future
of the industry: a vision that has proven perceptive
and intuitive. But few during the development of
the fi ve-year plan would have foreseen the scope
of change and the test of skill and endurance the
industry would face within those fi ve years.
2010–2011 is to be remembered as the ‘summer
of natural disasters’, the resilience of the sugarcane
industry was severely tested with widespread
fl ooding and the devastation left by Cyclone Yasi
in the heartland of cane production, the second
major cyclone in fi ve years.
The result has been a reduction in sugarcane
production and therefore the SRDC’s levy-based
income, and the conduct of many research
projects, which have been delayed by fl ooding,
cyclone damage, lack of crop replacement or
technical diffi culties.
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation
gave approval for the SRDC to draw down from
fi nancial reserves to address reduced levy income
and stimulate new research in areas targeted for
immediate attention by industry as a result of the
climatic extremes.
More research will be needed to provide solutions
to increase yield per hectare, which has already
been supported by SRDC’s increased investments
in farming systems research led by BSES Limited.
In 2007 we noted a likely reduction in the number
of mills in future and this has certainly eventuated,
but the investment by large international
commercial players in milling was not as closely
predicted. While signalling confi dence for the
future, from a research point of view, these
investments will be observed with interest as part
of an increased offshore focus and international
infl uence.
The past year saw two major reviews of the
R&D sector. The fi rst, led by the Australian
Government’s Productivity Commission, examined
and reported on the operations of the 15 R&D
Corporations. The second, and most signifi cant for
the future of this organisation, was conducted by
Port Jackson Partners on behalf of the Australian
Sugarcane Alliance and proposed an investigation
of an amalgamation of the SRDC, Sugar Research
Limited and the BSES Limited.
During these reviews SRDC continued to improve
its operating performance, it looked inward during
the external reviews and looked outward through
its interaction with stakeholders and industry
partners. Although the time involved in preparing
submissions and responding to reviews was time
consuming, it resulted in greater collaboration
with other R&D Corporations and industry groups.
As we enter the fi nal year of the SRDC Research
and Development Plan 2007–2012 we embark
on the fi rst year of the National Sugar Industry
Research, Development and Extension Strategy,
a comprehensive strategy to defi ne targeted
research priorities with full industry and
government cooperation and involvement.
Soon SRDC will start preparing the next Research,
Development and Extension Plan 2012–2017.
This plan will be a subset of the National Sugar
Industry Research, Development and Extension
Strategy and will involve extensive industry and
government consultation. In addition, we will
implement fi ndings of our evaluation review and
expand our research dissemination and industry
engagement activities.
Feedback from our 2010–2011 project investment
process has been adopted and included in the
process for selecting and managing research
projects in 2012. Changes includes inviting
industry experts to join peer review panels to
provide feedback on project applications prior
to short listing.
SRDC Annual Report 2010–2011 5