Corporate publications

This document is AgriFutures Australia’s Annual Report to government and industry stakeholders, covering the organisation’s operations for 2023-2024. It is aligned with AgriFutures Australia’s Strategic Research and Innovation Plan 2022-2027 and Annual Operational Plan 2023-2024, and the Australian Government’s research priorities.

This AgriFutures Australia Annual Operational Plan presents the organisation’s planned research and development (R&D) investments and corporate expenditure in 2024-2024.

The Annual Report for AgriFutures Australia 2022-2023.

This AgriFutures Australia Annual Operational Plan presents the organisation’s planned research and development (R&D) investments and corporate expenditure in 2023-2024.

The Annual Report of AgriFutures Australia for the year ended 30 June 2022

There is no better time than now. Australian agriculture is primed and ready to take on the next five years with a strong sense of purpose, determination, and excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead.

The past five years, mixed with the weather extremes of drought, flood and fire, and the novel challenges of a global pandemic, have been a true test of our rural industries’ resilience, stamina, and willingness to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Future-proofing is a way of life and our rural industries have blossomed thanks to their foresight, and openness to trial new technologies and innovations, backed by the collaborative nature of the agricultural community, which inherently fosters creativity and development.

This AgriFutures Research and Innovation Strategic Plan embodies this positive mindset and, with our levy payers and industry partners, we’ve developed the AgriFutures 16:5:5 Roadmap.

We are confident that together we will achieve the priorities outlined in this Plan. We acknowledge that this won’t come without setbacks, but these lessons will only make us stronger and more vibrant. The true measure of success lies with our people – the lifeblood of our industries – and their capacity to grow, innovate and drive the productivity and sustainability of Australian agriculture, which we’re so proud to serve.

As we embark on our next five-year journey, we do so with a renewed vigour, excitement, and anticipation of what lies ahead. We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering against our vision to grow the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries and communities. In doing so, we’ll be guided by the AgriFutures Australia 16:5:5 Roadmap set out in our new Research and Innovation Strategic Plan 2022-2027. It features a set of priorities centred around our three important audiences – our levied industries, emerging industries and other stakeholders. The delivery of this Annual Operational Plan 2022-2023 will mark the first step in an exciting trajectory for our stakeholders as we collectively embark on a new phase in Australian agriculture. There are many examples from across our key audiences that showcase the appetite for driving value through RD&E programs. Our rice industry is world leading. Their vision and commitment to research and development has enabled us to establish Rice Breeding Australia Ltd, an incorporated entity between Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia, SunRice and AgriFutures Australia. This new entity will embed a commercial focus and introduce state-of-the-art breeding technologies to accelerate the development of new varieties with increased water productivity and cold tolerance. In another example, AgriFutures Australia together with Lucerne Australia has invested in preliminary research to investigate potential evolutionary resistance of bluegreen aphid populations to commonly used insecticides within the pasture seeds industry. This research was developed as a direct result of grower concerns. Meanwhile the Australian honey bee industry has marked a significant milestone in 2022, with six decades of contribution by Australia’s commercial beekeepers to their industry’s RD&E through the honey bee levy. To mark this occasion, AgriFutures Australia developed and released 'Bee Informed', a celebration of 60 years of honey bee research in Australia, documenting the journey this vibrant industry has been on. Emerging into the future, industrial hemp is experiencing strong growth, with new technologies improving production and a range of value-added products being developed. The development of the Australian Industrial Hemp Strategic RD&E Plan 2022-2027 is a critical step on the path to ensuring the establishment of this high-potential emerging industry. AgriFutures evokeAG. continues to connect the agrifood innovation community across the Asia Pacific to the world. The formation of the AgriFutures evokeAG. Startup Network, which runs parallel to our annual event, offers a digital platform where farmers share their experiences, startups pitch their potential, scientists showcase their discoveries, global business leaders share their insights and industry experts debate their opinions. One year on from the launch of AgriFutures growAG., a first-of-its-kind innovation gateway, the program has delivered on what it set out to achieve. Agrifood tech communities from Australia and around the globe have embraced the digital platform with more than 58,000 plus users from across 170 countries visiting growag.com since its launch. Over the coming years we’re eager to consolidate growth, not only with the 15 Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) but with other partners to see the information being shared and the connections being made leading to on-farm benefits. Our successful national Producer Technology Uptake Program (PTUP) will continue to be delivered. It supports the adoption of technology on farms, targeting producers to overcome any barriers to adoption. The program sees AgriFutures Australia partner with successful groups to support the roll-out of activities spanning a 12-month period and leverages learnings across groups and ensures there’s peer-to-peer learning. Addressing the requirements of a changing agricultural industry, attracting and retaining a future ready workforce and building the capacity of the people leading Australia’s rural industries will be critical. This activity will require whole of industry engagement and energy to ensure that we are setting our people and industries up for long-term prosperity. We have established the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant which will run separately but complementary to the renowned AgriFutures Rural Women’s Awards. Seven Australian women each year will be granted a learning and development bursary of up to $7,000 for professional development to enable them to bring their idea, cause or vision to life. There’s so much to look forward to. We acknowledge that the road ahead will not be free from setbacks, but we look forward to working side-by-side with our levied industries, emerging industries, and other stakeholders, to deliver against our collaboratively designed Plan. - John Harvey, Managing Director, AgriFutures Australia

The Annual Report of AgriFutures Australia for the year ended 30 June 2021.

This AgriFutures Australia Annual Operational Plan presents the organisation’s planned research and development (R&D) investments and corporate expenditure in 2021-2022.

The Annual Report of AgriFutures Australia for the year ended 30 June 2020.

This AgriFutures Australia Annual Operational Plan presents the organisation’s planned research and development (R&D) investments and corporate expenditure in 2020-2021.

The Annual Report of AgriFutures Australia for the year ended 30 June 2019.

The AgriFutures Australia vision is to grow the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries. The Annual Operational Plan 2019-2020 sets out AgriFutures Australia's annual research and investment as part of its Strategic R&D Plan 2017-2022. The plan provides profiles each arena including the desired outcomes, strategic priorities and programs for delivery.

The Annual Report of AgriFutures Australia for the year ended 30 June 2018.

This AgriFutures Australia Annual Operational Plan presents the organisation’s planned research and development (R&D) investments and corporate expenditure in 2018-19.

The AgriFutures Australia vision is to grow the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries.

The Annual Operational Plan 2017-2018 sets out the AgriFutures Australia’s research and investment plan for the first year of its Strategic R&D Plan 2017-2022. 

The Annual Operational Plan 2017-2018 profiles each arena including the desired outcomes, strategic priorities and programs for delivery.

Right now, AgriFutures Australia sits on the brink of possibility, with an opportunity to capitalise on changes within our organisation to set new, ambitious goals that will benefit rural industries across Australia.

With a new location, a new Chair, a new Managing Director and a new team, we are surrounded by new possibilities for established and emerging industries. This Strategic Research and Development (R&D) Plan sets out our roadmap for the future – a future where we build on strong foundations to realise the many opportunities on the horizon.

The next five years will centre on four arenas: people and leadership; national challenges and opportunities; growing profitability; and emerging industries. Our success in each of these arenas will be measured by the real outcomes of real people and it is with a sense of renewed energy and commitment that we embark on this work.

This Annual Operational Plan sets out RIRDC’s planned investments for 2016-17. This Plan has been drawn up with due reference to the RIRDC R&D Plan 2016–2021 (pending the Minister’s approval).

RIRDC contributes to the productivity and sustainability of Australia through investing in rural innovation, working with industry and government. We generate the knowledge to help rural industries and communities capture opportunity and manage change. Growing the productivity and sustainability of rural industries through innovation is a key driver of productivity and resilience in rural Australia.