Help develop the National Strategic Rural R&D Investment Plan

The Rural R&D Council was established in February 2009 by the Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to provide him with independent advice on issues related to rural R&D. The Council's terms of reference require it to develop an investment plan that will 'improve the productivity, profitability, sustainability and global competitiveness of Australia's agricultural, fisheries, forestry and food industries, with benefits for individual rural businesses, the environment and the wider community'.

National strategy

Rural industries have made an enduring contribution to the Australian economy and quality of life, by providing a plentiful domestic food supply and operating successfully in competitive international markets. The sector has been innovative and continually adapted to changing economic, environmental and social conditions. Investment in research and development has been a major factor in this success. However, rural industries now face a confluence of significant challenges, including:

• a need to adapt to, and mitigate, the impact of climate change
• increasing pressure on global food security
• declining productivity growth in some industries
• a highly competitive international trade environment, and
• labour and skills shortages.

The Minister has issued clear direction that, in response to these challenges, Australia - in a global context - must now clearly act 'to increase productivity and to improve the capacity of food to move'

(Minister Burke's address to the National Press Club in December 2009).

Adequate, effective and efficient national investment in research, development and the adaptation and adoption of new knowledge and technology by the sector will be vital to achieving these goals. To this end, the Council would welcome your views regarding how greater investment can be encouraged and how we can best use our existing resources to meet the challenges outlined above.

Issues for consideration

To assist in this process, we have commissioned three reports that describe:

• the evolution of Australia's current rural R&D system,

* the relationship between R&D and productivity growth in primary industries, and

* the international context for Australia's plan.

These are available at

www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/innovation/council.

Receiving your input

The above website includes a response form and we request that you use this to provide your feedback regarding:

• the rural R&D system
• your perspective
• evaluation
• international developments
• education, and
• other matters.

This will enable us to ensure that all stakeholder comments are considered during our planning process.

An interim summary of stakeholder responses will be included in a Council presentation to the ABARE Outlook Conference on 3 March 2010 and therefore your response would be appreciated by 19 February 2010.

In closing and on behalf of my colleagues, I would like to thank you for the support that the Rural R&D Council has received during 2009.

Yours sincerely

Dr Kate Grenot

Rural R&D Council Chair
Warm regards