Pastures Australia Management Agreement

Summary

​Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Dairy Australia (DA) and Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) worked together to develop an investment model (Pastures Australia) that will meet the needs of their various industry stakeholders and capture maximum value for R&D investment. This project was to support MLA's contribution to Pastures Australia. Carefully placed and co-ordinated investments should lead to better outcomes, greater impact, and less duplication of research efforts.
Pastures Australia aimed to provide the common pasture investment model for the five RDCs named in this agreement. It provided a forum to facilitate an integrated approach to pasture improvement and pasture management. It should be seen as a co-ordinating entity to improve information flows and facilitate improvement in pasture genetics and management relevant to the needs of different regions. The goals and objectives were focussed on the essential elements of R&D and not attempt to undertake activities best done by commercial entities and other stakeholders.
Pastures Australia was successful in assisting bringing together discrete sections of RD&E the supply chain, commercialising of varieties , developing associated management information, proposing new processes (breeding methods and partnerships). Progress was made addressing the fragmented nature of the pasture supply chain (as identified in an external review of Pastures Australia) demonstrated by the formation of the basis for a pasture variety trailing network. However, a revised business model for Pastures Australia was required if it was to achieve the sought after aspirations of a coordinated supply chain.