Landmark agreement for grains research in WA

Terry Redman
Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Corrective Services

A National Centre of Excellence for grains research will be built in Perth following a landmark agreement between the State Government and the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC). Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman and GRDC chairman Keith Perrett signed a Letter of Intent to fund the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) on August 24th.

AEGIC will be built adjacent to the new department headquarters in South Perth, with research and development projects due to start next year. It will include state-of-the-art laboratories, automated and air-conditioned glasshouses, controlled environment plant growth rooms and irrigated field plots. The centre will also act as a research and business ‘think-tank’, with programs in economic analysis, strategic market intelligence, grain quality, biosecurity and grain processing technology.

“AEGIC will be a vibrant hub of science, technology and innovation focused on increasing the competitiveness of the Australian grains industry,” the Minister said. “Scientists, economists and industry experts from around the world will come to Perth to share their knowledge and expertise with the aim of developing new varieties, new technologies and new ideas for Australian farmers.”

In May last year, the State Government announced it would contribute $30million to build a world-class export grains facility, and set about finding partners to invest in the project. Through this agreement the Department of Agriculture and Food and GRDC will each contribute $20million over five years to research and development programs at the centre. Other research organisations, including the CSIRO, have agreed in principle to contribute an additional $15million over five years, taking total investment in the project to $85million to date.