Both parties will contribute A$2 million per annum for research, with CSD also co-funding the cotton breeding work previously co-funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC).
The first stage of Cotton Breeding Australia has already commenced with CSD funding the addition of a new breeder to CSIRO’s Narrabri breeding team.
“Cotton Breeding Australia will see an increase in investment in cotton breeding and research, of approximately A$40 million over the 10-year period,” says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief, Dr Jeremy Burdon.
“It’s a great example of the RDC model developing research to a point where it can be more directly funded by industry without an additional grower levy or government funding.”
CSD is a grower-based company and has worked with CSIRO Plant Industry since the 1980s to develop and deliver high quality cotton varieties for the industry.
“Cotton Breeding Australia will see an increase in investment in cotton breeding and research, of approximately A$40 million over the 10-year period,” says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief, Dr Jeremy Burdon.
“The company has reached a point where it’s able to reinvest into cotton specific projects and research,” says CSD Managing Director, Peter Graham.
“Cotton Breeding Australia will strengthen the long and effective partnership between CSD and CSIRO.
CSIRO-bred cotton varieties are world-leading, and the increased research spend this initiative will introduce, will keep them there,” Mr Graham says.
CSIRO and CSD recognise the very important contribution that CRDC and the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association (ACGRA) have made to the Australian cotton breeding program to date, and look forward to the continuation of this contribution.
CSIRO-bred cotton varieties currently represent over 90 per cent of the Australian market and are well represented around the world.
Key areas for the breeding and research program include yield/quality improvements, drought and climate change tolerance, water use efficiency and disease tolerance.
CSD will also be funding additional capital expenditure to ensure that the increased breeding and research work has adequate resources to effectively bring the outcomes to the market.
