The Australian rice industry is recognised globally for its leadership in water use efficiency and sustainable rice farming practices. Future growth in rice production will be driven by increasing crop yields, achieving a higher average price per tonne, and further reducing water usage. These ongoing improvements ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Australian rice farming in both domestic and international markets.
Rice An AgriFutures Australia levy-funded project is helping rice growers turn real-time data into better on-farm decisions, with practical insights that support productivity and profitability, confidence and targeted management.
3 min read
RICE / 03.03.26 Rice levy payers and industry stakeholders continue to play a vital role in shaping the future of Australian rice research, development and extension (RD&E) through the Levy Payer Feedback and Engagement Survey 2026.
2 min read
RICE / 28.11.25 As Rice Breeding Australia (RBA) wraps up its third season, the organisation is hitting its stride. With a clear focus on delivering impact and building resilience for the Australian rice industry, 2025 has been a year of scale, science and strategic partnerships.
5 min read
RICE / 08.09.25 Works have commenced this week on a new state-of-the-art multi-million dollar research and development facility for Rice Breeding Australia (RBA), the Australian rice industry’s national breeding organisation.
3 min read
You know you pay a rice levy, but did you know the AgriFutures Rice Program is responsible for managing and investing that levy in research, development and extension projects? Continued investment into rice research will ensure the industry can respond to increasing pressures on water resource availability and achieving the overarching Program goal of increasing the Australian rice industry’s water productivity to an average of 1.5 t/ML by 2026.
Report
Rice Extension is funded by rice growers and the Australian Government through AgriFutures Australia. Rice Extension supports the adoption of innovation and research and development outcomes in the Australian rice industry.
Article
The Rice Extension team connects rice growers with key R&D information for rice-based farming systems. They offer a wealth of resources to improve the adoption of new research findings and lead to improved grower productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Video
The purpose of the Focus Sites is to provide a commercial scale testing ground for new techniques, tools and management strategies. These real-world, on-farm demonstrations aim to inform the wider growing community to help improve productivity, sustainability and profitability of the rice-based farming system.
Article
Queensland University of Technology
August 2025 - January 2028
Deakin University (a body politic and corporate established pursuant to the Deakin University Act 2009 (Vic))
July 2025 - January 2028
Deakin University (a body politic and corporate established pursuant to the Deakin University Act 2009 (Vic))
February 2024 - June 2028
Southern Cross University
December 2023 - August 2025
The University of Queensland
December 2023 - December 2026
Charles Sturt University
December 2023 - August 2027
Adelaide University
December 2023 - August 2025
Adelaide University
November 2023 - August 2026
The University of Queensland
September 2023 - December 2025
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
January 2023 - December 2026
The University of Queensland
August 2022 - June 2026
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
June 2022 - May 2027
Deakin University (a body politic and corporate established pursuant to the Deakin University Act 2009 (Vic))
May 2022 - July 2025
University of New England
November 2021 - November 2026
Data Farming Pty Ltd
November 2021 - May 2024
(DPIRD NSW) The Crown in right of the State of New South Wales acting through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
October 2021 - June 2026
The University of Queensland
October 2021 - February 2027
Charles Sturt University
October 2018 - April 2019
Charles Sturt University
October 2018 - April 2019
Charles Sturt University
October 2018 - April 2019
Charles Sturt University
October 2018 - April 2019
Charles Sturt University
October 2018 - April 2019
(DPI) The Crown in right of the State of New South Wales acting through the Department of Primary Industries within Regional NSW
August 2018 - December 2021
The University of Queensland
June 2018 - June 2022
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
January 2018 - January 2022
Central Queensland University
January 2017 - December 2021
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
July 2016 - August 2016
(DPIE) The Crown in right of the State of NSW acting through the DPI within the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
July 2016 - September 2019
Deakin University (a body politic and corporate established pursuant to the Deakin University Act 2009 (Vic))
April 2016 - October 2016
The Crown in right of the State of NSW acting through the Department of Primary Industries
March 2016 - August 2017
(DPI) The Crown in right of the State of New South Wales acting through the Department of Primary Industries within Regional NSW
July 2015 - July 2021
The Crown in right of the State of NSW acting through the Department of Primary Industries
June 2015 - June 2018
Agtrans Research
June 2015 - February 2016
(DPI) The Crown in right of the State of New South Wales acting through the Department of Primary Industries within Regional NSW
June 2015 - July 2021
AgEconPlus Pty Ltd
May 2015 - March 2016
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
March 2015 - April 2015
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
November 2014 - June 2017
Charles Sturt University
September 2014 - September 2016
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
July 2014 - May 2015
Southern Cross University
July 2014 - September 2015
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
June 2014 - April 2017
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
June 2014 - June 2016
Agropraisals Pty Ltd
June 2014 - May 2016
Deakin University (a body politic and corporate established pursuant to the Deakin University Act 2009 (Vic))
June 2014 - September 2018
The University of Melbourne
February 2014 - April 2017
University of Western Australia
September 2013 - December 2016
Southern Cross University
September 2013 - May 2017
Polymers CRC Ltd
July 2013 - May 2016
The Crown in right of the State of NSW acting through the Department of Primary Industries
July 2013 - June 2016
The University of Queensland
July 2013 - July 2017
The Crown in right of the State of NSW acting through the Department of Primary Industries
July 2013 - May 2016
University of New South Wales
July 2013 - May 2016
Cotton Research and Development Corporation
June 2013 - June 2017
Ricegrowers' Association of Australia
June 2013 - October 2014
The AgriFutures Rice Program is dedicated to ensuring the Australian rice industry remains a global leader in water use efficiency and sustainable rice production. The program’s research and development efforts are focused on four key objectives:
Optimised genetic improvement to deliver higher-yielding, resilient rice varieties
The AgriFutures Rice Program RD&E Plan identifies and balances the critical research, development and extension (RD&E) priorities needed to drive industry productivity, profitability and sustainability.
At the heart of the Plan is an ambitious target: increasing the water productivity of Australian rice farming to an average of 1.5 t/ML. Achieving this goal will require whole-of-industry collaboration, innovation, and continued investment to secure the future of rice farming in Australia.
The Australian rice industry operates under a statutory levy of $6 per tonne of rice sold. Of this amount, $5.94 per tonne supports research, development and extension (RD&E) activities overseen by AgriFutures Australia, while $0.06 per tonne is dedicated to biosecurity and industry resilience.
Levies are collected under the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Acts and can fund biosecurity, residue testing and RD&E. For rice, AgriFutures Australia invests the RD&E levy in line with the industry’s Strategic Plan and receives Commonwealth funding (up to 50c per dollar of eligible expenditure), along with third-party contributions.
Read more about your levy
Learn more about how AgriFutures Australia is funded
View the Rice Annual Report Summary
We are committed to working closely with all those involved in Australian rice production, including industry associations to identify research priorities and make investments which will have the greatest impact on the Australian rice industry.
Visit Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia
Visit Rice Extension
The AgriFutures Rice Program invests in research, development and extension (RD&E) to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the Australian rice industry. The program focuses on innovation to maintain Australia’s global leadership in water use efficiency and to help growers adapt to changing climate and market conditions.
The Rice RD&E Plan 2021–2026 identifies four key priorities:
Read the full Rice RD&E Plan
See the Rice Industry Blueprint.
Water is the most critical input for rice production. The Australian rice industry is a global leader in water use efficiency, with a target to achieve 1.5 tonnes of rice per megalitre of water by 2026. This ensures the industry remains competitive and sustainable under variable water availability.
The program is funded through a statutory R&D levy of $6 per tonne of rice, matched by the Australian Government, and supplemented by third-party contributions.
Current projects include:
The industry produces:
If you’re passionate about rice research, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a producer, researcher, or interested in being involved in the industry, reach out to the AgriFutures Rice Program.
For project-related inquiries:
Tich Pfumayaramba
Manager, Levied & Emerging Industries – Rice Program
0437 900 515
Zoe Schipp
Coordinator, Levied & Emerging Industries – Rice Program
02 6923 6958
For industry and strategic issues and inquiries:
Peter Vaughan
Senior Manager, Levied & Emerging Industries – Rice Program
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