Levies are collected under Commonwealth legislation to fund research and development and plant health integrity for the grains, sugar, cotton, rice and pasture seeds industries. The Australian Government provides capped matching funds, on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
The Grains, Sugar and Cotton Research and Development Corporations are statutory authorities established under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 to administer research, development and extension to benefit the respective industries and the wider Australian community. Research programs for rice and pasture seeds are administered by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
More information on these agencies can be found at:
- Grains Research and Development Corporation
- Cotton Research and Development Corporation
- Agrifutures Australia - formerly Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)
Through the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC), the states and Northern Territory, rural R&D corporations, CSIRO, and universities developed the National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) Framework to encourage greater collaboration and promote continuous improvement in the investment of RD&E resources nationally.
The National Grains and Sugar RD&E strategies.