The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Queensland Government have embarked upon a $5.3 million partnership to drive the growth and expansion of profitable broadacre cropping systems in north Queensland.
The initiative, Unlocking Farming Systems for North Queensland, has the ambitious target of enabling the production of 100,000 bales of cotton and growing grain and pulse production to $100 million per year by 2035.
The project will initially focus on the upper and lower Flinders catchment, where broadacre cropping currently contributes around $13.2 million in gross value of production.
Experts believe there is significant growth potential here.
This work will be followed by a focus on the Gilbert catchment, where similar opportunities exist.
DPI will be working with growers in the region to develop agronomy tactics that optimise productivity in a pioneering production environment.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the initiative would accelerate cotton and grain production opportunities.
“If we can expand our cropping opportunities through better techniques, optimised production methods, and more efficient use of resources, we will open up a whole new region for farming," Mr Pettett said.
“We’re looking at place-based co-designed research, development and extension (RD&E) that will generate practical, data-driven insights and will enable producer learning.
“This is a science-led approach to identifying new opportunities and growing our agricultural sector in a really smart, research-based way.”
The project will focus on six targeted investment areas:
- Technical review and industry co-design (within the first 12 months)
- Advancing cotton dominant farming systems
- Advancing grain dominant farming systems
- Developing new farming frontiers
- System modelling, economic and risk analysis
- Emerging production issues.
Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) Executive Director Allan Williams said supporting sustainable development in northern Australia was a key priority for CRDC.
“Research is critical to helping growers unlock new opportunities and ensuring development is productive, resilient and sustainable," Mr Williams said.
“This partnership is an important collaboration, investing in the people, knowledge and regional capability needed to support the long-term success of cotton and grain industries in North Queensland."
Grain Research Development Corporation (GRDC) Managing Director Nigel Hart said with the right systems in place, Northern Queensland presented a significant opportunity to grow Australia’s grains and cotton industries.
“This partnership will focus on real-world solutions - helping growers manage risk, make better decisions, and build productive, resilient farming for the future," Mr Hart said.
“Our role is to ensure research is grounded in grower needs and delivers real on-farm impact in the north.”
