Background
AgriFutures Australia investments are driven by Strategic RD&E Plans that address the needs of industries and stakeholders and ensure our priorities are industry and government driven. Our aim is to deliver research and innovation that aims to give our levy payers real returns, as well as prepare them to thrive into the future.
The goal of the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program is to support a thriving and collaborative Australian Export Fodder industry. To ensure that this goal is achieved, AgriFutures Australia is seeking research proposals to address the investment priorities within the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program RD&E Plan 2021-2026.
The Export Fodder RD&E Plan is structured around 4 key priority areas:
- Production of high-quality export-grade fodder
- Continued access to export markets
- Supporting innovation across the supply chain
- Increased adoption of R&D outputs by industry
It is suggested that potential service providers familiarise themselves with the RD&E Plan prior to developing a proposal.
Proposals must address a priority, clearly justify the need and identify clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
The project plan should clearly identify project outputs and the resulting outcome for the Export Fodder industry. Please present project outputs and the industry outcome concisely – what are the project outputs and how will these improve the profitability of the Australian Export Fodder industry?
Applications close at 12pm (AEST) on Monday, 31 August 2026.
Timeline
Activity |
Date |
Open Call – Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) applications open |
Monday, 20 July 2026, 12pm AEST |
End of period for questions or requests for information |
Monday, 17 August 2026, 12pm AEST |
Open Call – applications close |
Monday, 31 August 2026, 12pm AEST |
Intended completion date of evaluation of respondent’s responses by Panel to progress to FRP submissions |
September 2026 |
Open Call – Full Research Proposal (FRP) applications open |
Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 12pm AEST |
End of period for questions or requests for information |
Monday, 26 October 2026, 12pm AEDT |
Open Call – FRP applications close |
Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 12pm AEDT |
Intended completion date of evaluation of respondent’s responses |
Early December 2026 |
Negotiations with respondents (if applicable) |
December 2026 – February 2027 |
Expected execution of contract or issue of agreement |
February – June 2027 |
Evaluation criteria
The following criteria will be used to assess your application and will have equal weighting applied:
- How relevant is the project to the research priorities of the Export Fodder Program?
- How important do you think it is for AgriFutures Australia to invest in this research?
- How much value do the benefits of this research provide to industry?
- How important is this research to industry?
- How important is the expected outcome of this project to industry?
- How important are the outputs/deliverables from this project to the industry?
- The value for money for this project.
- The project design – how conceptually sound and technically feasible is the project?
- The potential for adoption in industry.
- The potential for commercial pathways.
- The value of any potential IP resulting from this project.
- The capability and experience of the Project Lead.
- The capability and experience of the Research Organisation.
We emphasise that we are requesting proposals that will improve the profitability of the Australian Export Fodder industry.
Researcher submission checklist
The researcher must complete the checklist prior to the submission being accepted:
- Have you checked the FAQ section on the AgriFutures Export Fodder webpage?
- If the project requires statistical analysis, has a qualified statistician been engaged to undertake project design and data analyses?
- Does the proposal identify if the work will relate to a Program priority?
- Does the proposal clearly identify who will be undertaking the bulk of the work (might not necessarily be the Principal Investigator)?
- Does the proposal clearly articulate what the outcome for industry will be?
- Does the proposal clearly outline and identify extension opportunities?
- The Principal Investigator must comply with the application process within K2
Submitting a response
Applications for this Open Call for Research must be submitted online using the PRP application in K2.
If you had a previous account in Clarity, you can login using your Clarity user name or email address and the initial password K2pass! You will be prompted to reset this initial password when you login. If at any time you forget your password, you can also reset it via a forgotten password link on the login page.
New users need to register for access to the K2 platform, please note the provision of login details may take up to two business days.
Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal. To set up a secure account before submitting a proposal, please visit the account creation page below to access our new user or new company request forms.
Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicable round is open.
- K2 User Guide: Submitting a Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP)
- K2 User Guide: Admin approval for Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP)
Respondent’s will be expected to provide:
- A detailed project plan – including timelines, KPI’s and how the project will be conducted and how this will meet the requirements of the Open Call.
- A detailed budget – attachments may be included.
- Examples of similar work the respondent has completed.
- Capability and relevant experience.
The resultant Contract negotiations is expected to occur from December 2026 onwards.
It is expected that a contract will be awarded based on how well a respondent addresses the objectives of the open tender. Selection will be based on the evaluation criteria. A detailed response will be beneficial. There is the opportunity to include additional attachments if necessary with your application in K2.
How to make a submission
Applications for this Open Call must be submitted online using the application in K2.
https://agrifutures.onk2.com/Runtime/Runtime/Form/Researcher.Dashboard/
Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal. To set up a secure account before submitting a proposal, please visit the login page below to access our new user or new company request forms.
Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicable round is open.
Terms of Reference
AgriFutures Australia uses standard form contracts and agreements for projects and research procured by AgriFutures Australia (please refer to https://www.agrifutures.com.au/contracts-and-agreements/). These contracts and agreements set out the terms on which AgriFutures Australia will engage successful applicants to carry out the project.
Applicants must be familiar with the Research Agreement before lodging Preliminary Research Proposals (PRPs) and are advised to seek legal advice on it before lodging a PRP.
The Research Agreement has been developed to reflect AgriFutures Australia’s statutory and other responsibilities in funding projects. AgriFutures Australia will generally not negotiate substantive amendments to any clauses of the Agreement unless:
It is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist that require amendment to the standard form; and
The applicant completes a statement of non-compliance for each of those clauses.
Applicants will be taken to have agreed to all clauses in the Research Agreement that are not referred to in a statement of non-compliance. The extent of any non-compliance will be a factor in AgriFutures Australia’s evaluation of the application.
If you require further information regarding these contracts and agreements please contact:
Contact
Should you have any questions about the Open Call, please direct all enquires to the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program (details below) prior to 12pm AEST on Monday, 17 August 2026. For questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email ).
Individual responses to questions relating to the Open Call will not be provided by AgriFutures. A response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Contact:
James Holding, Manager, AgriFutures Export Fodder Program
Email:
Frequently asked questions
There is no limit to the number of applications a Principal Investigator may submit, provided they can genuinely fulfil the obligations should more than one proposal be successful.
Applications involving more than one organisation to deliver the required research can be submitted, and they can be international organisations. It is the responsibility of the applicants to determine which organisation will be the lead research organisation. AgriFutures is unable to provide guidance on potential partner organisations.
Yes it is, as long as they can demonstrate that they can produce suitable recommendations for Australian levy payers.
Yes, you can submit a collaborative proposal. In fact, we encourage it because it can enhance research outcomes and commercialisation opportunities.
All submitted proposals will be considered. A proposal does not need a university institution to be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicants to determine which organisation/s will be involved in the proposal. Furthermore, AgriFutures is unable to provide guidance on potential partner organisations.
All submitted proposals will be considered. A proposal does not need an industry partner or contribution to be considered.
We encourage you to read the Program’s RD&E Plan and to contact someone from industry to ensure that your proposal aligns with the needs and priorities of industry and to contact someone from industry to ensure that your proposal aligns with the needs and priorities of industry.
Advisory Panel members cannot be contacted to discuss proposal ideas or provide advice on specific priorities identified in the open call. Applicants are encouraged to ensure the proposal meets the requirements of the RD&E plan and the open call documentation. If required, seek input from other industry stakeholders to help ensure proposals align with industry needs, and to outline these engagements within their submission. For proposals that progress to the Full Research Proposal (FRP) stage, there may be an opportunity to attend a Panel meeting to respond to any questions from the Advisory Panel.
Unfortunately, AgriFutures and the Advisory Panel are unable to answer questions directly related to your proposal prior to assessment. We suggest that you examine the strategic plan to provide direction on the needs and priorities for industry and consult with other industry stakeholders if required. The Advisory Panel will consider all research proposals that are submitted through the open call process.
The Panel will assess projects on a case-by-case basis. AgriFutures welcomes project proposals of all lengths.
The Program has an annual budget available for RD&E. This open call will consider and invest in multiple projects in line with the RD&E Plan to meet industry priorities.
The number of research projects contracted for this Open Call will depend on scope of the applications received and the budget.
No, this is not a requirement. If there is any in-kind or cash contributions that will be made to your project, these must also be outlined in the budget.
You do not need to provide a CV of all project members in the PRP. You are asked to provide the capability and experience of the research organisation in 250 words or less. Please name any additional people that will be involved in the project. If you are asked to submit a Full Research Proposal, the capabilities and experience of all project team members will be required.
There are no specific eligibility requirements for the Project Lead. The capability and experience of the Project Lead will form part of the assessment of your application.
Steering committees can provide useful guidance and feedback on projects. Not all projects require a Steer Co. If your project is successful, AgriFutures Australia will help to develop a steering committee if required.
We welcome any recommendations regarding who should be on the steering committee for the project.
AgriFutures does not typically accept overheads on projects. As an RDC, our research funds are entirely derived from grower levies and the Australian Government, and the research we fund is for the direct benefit of our rural industries. It is critical that these funds are managed responsibly to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of our industries.
For this reason, AgriFutures applies a strict approach to overheads. Any inclusion of overheads will only be considered through negotiation, with a maximum allowable rate of 15%. This must be transparently detailed within the project budget submitted for consideration. Overheads will also form part of AgriFutures’ overall assessment and will be considered alongside value for money, project impact, and alignment with industry priorities as part of the review of project proposals.
By carefully managing indirect costs, AgriFutures ensures that levy payers’ funds are directed toward delivering research with greater impact at a reasonable and sustainable cost.
Yes, it is, as long as they can demonstrate that they can produce suitable project outputs and outcomes for the industry.
There is no budget guidance provided. However, for reference, the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program budget can be found in the AgriFutures Annual Operating Report. The Program invests in multiple projects in line with the RD&E Plan to meet industry priorities. The Advisory Panel will assess the cost of a proposal against it’s value for money.
Investments are funded through exporter levies and matched by the Commonwealth, procurements must demonstrate value for money in-line with the project activities and the targeted outcome for industry. The Advisory Panel will assess the overall proposed budget, while considering the current Export Fodder Program budget and existing investments. At times, with successful applicants, the Advisory Panel may make additional commentary during contract negotiation.
The budget must be as comprehensive and accurate as the applicant can ensure at the time of submission. All relevant activities that are proposed to be conducted under the project must be budgeted for.