Grains research

Our role

• Research, develop, integrate, and deliver grain production technologies.
• Facilitate and enable grains industry growth and adaptation.

Our purpose

Create adoptable knowledge, practices, and tools to sustain and improve the profitability of the WA grains industry.

Much of the department's grains research and development activities are carried out in partnership with the support of co-investment by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and in collaboration with other research institutions. For example, SoilsWest and the Western Crop Genetics Alliances, with Murdoch University, deliver translational science and development of expertise in barley, oats, and lupin pre-breeding, as well as more integrated soil research in WA.

Similarly, the National Grains Diagnostic and Surveillance Initiative is a strategic partnership with co-investment from GRDC, with 5 Western Australian Government departments, including the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The initiative will improve Australia's ability to rapidly detect and accurately diagnose exotic and endemic pests and plant diseases using state-of-the-art technology.

These research and development collaborations and partnerships underpin the department’s capacity to tackle grain industry issues of national and regional agricultural importance and deliver profitable management solutions to the state’s 4000 grain producers.

• Providing industry with effective, rapid, and efficient on-farm management strategies to minimise losses from pests, weeds, and diseases, and generating new technologies for the early identification of pests, weeds, and diseases while reducing chemical input.
• Identifying new soil management techniques to improve the efficiency of water and nutrient use by crops through better physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil.
• Providing industry with the information and tools to optimise management of major crop types and varieties for yield and quality in the context of seasonal and farm business conditions.
• Evaluating and developing new breeding lines and genetic traits under harsh WA environmental conditions and providing this to crop breeding companies including InterGrain, for the development of better crop varieties.
• Helping identify and assess the scientific, technical, and social innovations that will underpin the continued productivity and sustainability of WA farm businesses in the face of climate change, changing consumer preferences, and more competitive markets.
• Delivering timely and efficient technical services, infrastructure, and equipment to allow client research programs to fulfil their research goals in the Western Australian grainbelt.