RIRDC Corporate Plan 2003-2008

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RIRDC COPORATE PLAN 2007-2012

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Our Vision, Mission and Values
RIRDC’s Corporate Plan
RIRDC’s Planning and Reporting Framework
Addressing the National and Rural Research Priorities
Our Investment Framework
Our Enabling Strategy Our Plan
Our Approach to Investment in Innovation
Our Challenges and Opportunities
Our Innovation Investments
Our Goals and Strategies

Our Vision
A more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector
Our Mission
To maximise the knowledge outcomes for industry and government from our R&D investments in:

New Rural Industries

Established Rural Industries

National Rural Issues

Our Values
In delivering on our mission we are:
Professional

Inclusive

Responsive

Innovative
Our Plan
This Corporate Plan 2007 – 2012 sets out the goals that RIRDC will work to achieve over the next five years, commencing in July 2007, and our strategies for achieving them. It also describes our business model, our investment framework and how we will measure our performance and progress.
RIRDC is in the knowledge business – we invest in research and development that will create the knowledge to support more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural industries and communities. Our special role is to maximise the knowledge outcomes from our R&D investments for:

new rural industries

specific established rural industries

national rural issues.

RIRDC focuses its R&D investments at the applied end of the innovation pipeline.
We aim to maximize knowledge outcomes—the benefits for rural industries and communities—by investing in and managing R&D that:

will be adopted

addresses an agreed priority

meets performance objectives

contributes to the outcomes we seek.

Our R&D investments are guided by strategic five-year plans for each sector. An ongoing program of evaluation of the returns on these investments feeds into a wider program of evaluation across all of the Rural Research and Development Corporations and companies.
Australia’s rural sector operates in a challenging environment that combines a highly variable and changing climate, declining terms of trade, distorted markets, natural resource management pressures and changing consumer preferences. In response, the sector has sustained high levels of productivity and growth in output. A key driver of continued profitability and sustainability is knowledge and innovation. RIRDC’s investments in research and development provide that knowledge – to capture opportunity and manage change.
Confronted with escalating competition in global commodity markets and with climate change, Australia needs to differentiate and diversify. RIRDC has a specific role in encouraging and enabling rural industry diversification that will contribute to vibrant rural regions.
Many issues are common across rural industries and regions, including trade and market access, energy, and human capacity. RIRDC has a special role in R&D on these national rural issues.
RIRDC recognises that research and development is a critical piece – but not the only piece – of the puzzle of rural industry success. We see industry capacity; leadership and institutional strength; government policy settings; access to markets; and capital as key drivers. To this end, we work with key stakeholders in rural industry and Government to ensure that our research and development is targeted for maximum impact and adoption.
RIRDC’s previous Corporate Plan for 2003-2008 was framed in the context of newly released Government national and rural research priorities. Key achievements under that Plan’s four goals include:

Develop new opportunities – RIRDC has supported research investments on all aspects of the supply chain and opened up new opportunities for a wide variety of new animal and plant products.

Adopt new technologies and systems for established rural industries – RIRDC research has produced new varieties of rice, fodder and pasture seeds, improved rice water use efficiency by 45 percent, reduced chicken meat feed costs, produced a new chicken vaccine and improved the quality of Australian honey production.

Improve competitiveness and sustainability of Australian agriculture – RIRDC research has identified options and strategies to remove impediments to the development of a globally competitive agricultural sector, including studies on trade policy reform that have provided considerable assistance to Australia’s international trade negotiators. Promoting sustainability has been central to RIRDC’s strategies and it has made a vital contribution to new knowledge on agroforestry, particularly in low rainfall areas, and to the trialling of wildlife based solutions in Australia’s rangelands.

Underpin innovation and change in Australian agriculture – RIRDC has supported and coordinated ground-breaking research on building human capacity in rural Australia and has been in the forefront of the development of rural leaders through its support for the Australian Rural Leadership Program and the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award. RIRDC R&D investments have also provided new insights into the change processes taking place on farms and in rural communities and its support for farm health and safety research has been central to the growing awareness of this important issue.

RIRDC’s new Corporate Plan will build on these achievements. It has been developed a year ahead of the conclusion of the previous Plan because RIRDC’s external operating environment has changed and the Corporation has changed its investment framework and structure. We have re-defined the Corporation’s goals and strategic directions to address this new environment.
We are confident that the goals and strategies outlined in this Plan will guide the Corporation to a new stage in its delivery of a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector for its industry and Government stakeholders.

Mary Boydell
Chairperson Peter O’Brien
Managing Director

Our Approach to Investment in Innovation
RIRDC is a statutory authority established by the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (PIERD Act). The Corporation was established by the Australian Government to work with industry to invest in research and development for a more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural sector.
Specifically, RIRDC’s mandate from Government is to achieve results from research and development investments in three areas:

New rural industries

Specific established rural industries

National rural issues.

The National and Rural Research Priorities of the Australian Government provide an over-arching framework for public investment in rural research and development. RIRDC’s investments are closely aligned with these priorities.
RIRDC’s priorities are those of our industry and Government stakeholders – our role is to generate the knowledge for industry and government to achieve a more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural sector.
The Corporation’s three investment portfolios are structured to reflect the Government’s mandate:

Portfolio One covers a wide range of new and emerging animal and plant industries

Portfolio Two deals with specific established rural industries

Portfolio Three addresses national rural issues.

RIRDC has particular advantages as a national knowledge creator and broker. Through its wide network and extensive advisory committee structure, RIRDC is able to identify the strategic knowledge needs of stakeholders and select and manage the best R&D investments to meet those needs.
Operationally, RIRDC achieves this through:

identifying priority research and development using the expertise of our management and R&D advisory committees

investing in R&D where opportunities and needs are identified

managing R&D portfolios for performance

delivering the results of R&D to industries, communities and governments through quality publications, products and services and through workshops, seminars, conferences and regional events

encouraging and facilitating the adoption of innovations by rural industries

monitoring RIRDC’s R&D impact by regularly evaluating our research

surveying stakeholders and responding to their needs.

Core principles in RIRDC’s approach to its mandate are:

Collaboration - RIRDC consults widely with our industry and Government stakeholders to determine investment strategies and priorities, and seeks strong collaborative arrangements with other funding partners and research providers where this can enhance outcomes,

Facilitation – RIRDC facilitates more effective use of community and scientific expertise in the creation of new knowledge and its adoption, and

Innovation – Fundamentally RIRDC invests in innovative solutions to the problems and constraints facing its key stakeholders.

RIRDC has as independent, expertise-based Board. This governance arrangement was recently affirmed by the Government’s response to the Uhrig report.
RIRDC is committed to governance systems that enhance performance and compliance. Each year the Corporation submits an Annual Operational Plan and an Annual Report for Ministerial approval. These documents include descriptions of how strategic directions,
policies and processes have been applied and reviewed. The Corporation’s management policies and procedures will also continue to be documented.
RIRDC also receives annually a Statement of Expectation from Government and responds with a Statement of Intent, and reports on implementation through the Annual Report. RIRDC also ensures that staff are provided with strong leadership, and that their qualifications, skills and experience are enhanced with formal and on-the-job training.
An Audit Committee also supports the Board. Sector R&D advisory committees of industry experts ensure that R&D plans tackle key priorities and that projects meet these priorities.
RIRDC’s Directors are responsible for ensuring that the Corporation’s affairs are properly managed and for setting strategic direction.
The day-to-day management of the Corporation is vested in the Managing Director and the executive team. RIRDC operates within policies and controls approved and overseen by the Board to ensure a transparent and accountable governance system that embodies performance and continuous improvement.

GOVERNMENT OBJECTIVES

The Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (PIERD Act) and Second Reading Speech National Research Priorities (NRP)
and Rural Research Priorities (RRP)

Small industry

Multi industry

National interest

Those industries not covered

Maximising triple bottom line outcomesSustainable resource use

Utilising human resources

Promoting and maintaining good health (NRP)

Improving productivity and adding value (RRP)

Developing supply chains and markets (RRP)

An environmentally sustainable Australia (NRP)

Effective natural resource management (RRP)

Resilience to climate variability and climate change (RRP)

Safeguarding Australia (NRP)

Protection from biosecurity threats (RRP)

Frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries (NRP)

Improving the skills to undertake research and apply its findings (RRP)

Promoting the development of new and existing technology (RRP)

RIRDC’S APPROACH

‘Where’ – Portfolios ‘What’ – Outcomes ‘How’ – Process

New rural industries

Specific established rural industries

National rural issues

Profitable, competitive and resilient rural industries

Rural industry diversification

Sustainable resource use

Social and scientific capacity to underpin rural industries and communities

Utilise rural resources and scientific expertise

Take a ‘whole of industry’ approach

Be innovative and support an innovative culture

RIRDC’s MISSION
To maximise the knowledge outcomes from our R&D investments for Australian industries and government in: new rural industries,established rural industries, and national rural issues.

Our Relationship with Industry,Clients and Stakeholders
RIRDC is a partnership between rural industry and Government to meet the knowledge needs for:

new rural industries

specific established rural industries

national rural issues.

RIRDC’s relationships with our stakeholders and clients are crucial to our effectiveness. Our key stakeholders are Australia’s rural industries and communities, prospective entrants to new rural industries and the Australian Government. The PIERD Act specifies that the Corporation formally reports to the:

Australian Government

National Farmers’ Federation

Australian Chicken Meat Federation.

Consultative meetings are held with various Australian Government agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and with the National Farmers’ Federation and other relevant peak
industry bodies.
RIRDC consults with, and is guided by, expert research and development advisory committees whose membership has strong industry representation, and covers a wide variety of other expertise, such as marketing, natural resource management, finance, business, research and policy. The Corporation holds regular forums with the Chairs of these advisory committees to improve communication between the Board, management and the committees and to facilitate interaction between the committees themselves.
RIRDC works closely with research providers in a wide range of specialised fields and holds an annual forum with its key research providers to ensure effective collaboration with them.
RIRDC is also active in seeking collaborative arrangements with other rural research and development corporations and companies to address national issues that have an impact across all rural industries such as capacity building, farm safety, trade policy, climate change and biosecurity.
RIRDC’s Planning and Reporting Framework

Our Challenges and Opportunities
RIRDC’s operating environment, and that of our rural industries, is complex and dynamic. Over the life of this Plan, RIRDC will help Australia’s rural industries and communities respond to a range of challenges and help them to capture opportunities.
In identifying these challenges and opportunities, RIRDC has been informed by:

our rural industries through RIRDC’s R&D advisory committees

the Government, through the Parliamentary Secretary

the National and Rural Research Priorities (see page 16)

research providers, through regular consultation.

Collectively, these are the issues that RIRDC will respond to through its R&D plans over the next five years.
These challenges and opportunities will be addressed according to our goals and strategies, discussed on pages 20–22, which focus on providing knowledge for:

new rural industries

established rural industries

national rural issues,

RIRDC will address these challenges and opportunities in such a way as to maximise knowledge outcomes and ensure adoption for the rural sector and Government, as described on page 23.

Issue RIRDC Challenge and Opportunity

Human
Capacity The future viability and prosperity of the Australian rural sector depends crucially on the capacity of people in rural and regional areas. RIRDC can contribute through a focus on human capacity building and initiatives to help develop leaders in the sector.

Research
Capacity Research capacity for rural industries is declining at a time when the need for rural R&D to underpin further productivity growth and diversification is more urgent than ever. RIRDC will respond to contribute to an effective R&D capacity to meet the needs of our new rural industries, established rural industries and cross-sectoral priorities.

Peri-urban Development and Rural Lifestyle Landholders Peri-urban areas (ie the interface between rural and urban zones) produce about 25 per cent of Australia’s gross value of agricultural production. Rural lifestyle landholders present both opportunities and challenges for RIRDC. They have the capacity to be innovative and may be more willing to take the risk of diversifying into new rural industries if backed by off-farm income. On the other hand, they can be constrained by their small scale and can present significant biosecurity risks.

Clients in
Regional
Australia Historically RIRDC has engaged with sectorally-based clients (eg rice, honey, olive industries) rather than spatially organised clients. However, Government programs are increasingly delivered through regional bodies such as Area Consultative Committees, Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare groups. These groups are increasingly active in extension and their demand for information is growing. A new challenge and opportunity is for RIRDC to interact efficiently with these potential clients and provide effective services to them.

Indigenous
Issues Aboriginal people own or hold title to 22 per cent of land in Australia. They have diverse aspirations in terms of land use and unmet needs in the R&D to support these aspirations. Given that Government policy is one of mainstreaming provision of services to aboriginal people, including R&D for rural industries and land management, it is appropriate to consider current arrangements and RIRDC’s role.

Issue RIRDC Challenge and Opportunity

Global
Competitiveness The Australian farm sector will continue to rely heavily on export markets. Globalised markets for agricultural and food products will present challenges and opportunities for Australia. Established rural industries will continue to depend on R&D driven productivity growth to maintain competitiveness. New rural industries will increasingly contribute to rural economic viability and resilience. RIRDC will actively service the knowledge needs of our established and new industries.

Consumer Needs
and Supply Chain Today’s world markets demand a market and consumer focus rather than a production focus. This is particularly important for Australian farmers who need to compete by meeting special consumer requirements that lower-cost producers do not target—for example, in organic foods. Farmers also face the need to provide more information to consumers, companies and regulators on production processes including environmental performance, animal welfare, organics, GMOs and energy efficiency. RIRDC investments can contribute through a focus on adding value, enhancing efficiency, responsiveness and product integrity in the supply chain.

Trade Barriers Import barriers and production subsidies continue to distort world markets for agricultural products. While Australia will continue to work at achieving a successful multilateral trade agreement, bilateral agreements will continue to be negotiated with countries and will have a major impact on sectors within Australian agriculture. RIRDC can contribute objective trade policy analysis and R&D to underpin these processes.

Declining Terms
of Trade The agricultural sector has faced steadily declining terms of trade over many decades. Agricultural output has been increasing through significant increases in productivity that have enabled producers to remain profitable by lowering per unit costs of production. Innovation by RIRDC’s established rural industries will be underpinned by targeted R&D.

Technological Issues and Farm Economic Performance New technology is one of Australian producers’ best avenues to increase productivity. Most R&D is sectorally-based. There are opportunities for convergence and integration at the farm level, which may not be adequately captured by sectoral Rural Research and Development Corporations and companies. These issues will be addressed on a cross-sectoral level through our National Rural Issues Portfolio.

Issue RIRDC Challenge and Opportunity

Climate Change
and Variability Australia’s rural sector faces severe climate variability compounded by risk of underlying climate change. RIRDC will contribute to collaborative R&D to enable our rural industries to adapt and to identify new rural industries that can prosper.

Water There is increasing competition for water as a scarce resource among rural, urban and environmental uses. Water reform will drive water to high value rural uses. There is an opportunity for RIRDC to work closely with stakeholders to seek new ways of achieving water efficiency in production and processing. RIRDC can also identify and develop new rural industry opportunities in northern Australia.

Energy Energy is a key input to agricultural production that is under increasing price pressure. Bio-fuels may have a substantial, but as yet uncertain, place in Australia’s energy mix and RIRDC is well-placed to contribute R&D to this issue.

Biosecurity Biosecurity status is a key comparative advantage and risk for Australia’s rural industries. New rural industries face particular knowledge and planning challenges, and RIRDC can assist these industries in meeting these challenges.

Sustainability The community and market place demand that rural industries are demonstrably sustainable. RIRDC has a key role in ensuring that knowledge is available to contribute to the productivity and sustainability of its established and emerging rural industries.

Addressing the National and Rural Research Priorities

National Research Priorities Rural Research Priorites RIRDC Strategies

Productivity and Adding Value To invest in R&D that improves productivity and adds value to new rural industries (see page 20), established rural industries and across all commodity sectors

Supply Chain and Markets To invest in R&D that improves supply chain relationships and market access for new rural industries , established rural industries and to improve the global competitiveness of the Australian rural sector as a whole .

Natural Resource Management To invest in R&D that addresses natural resource management and sustainability issues of national importance including investments in environmental farm management, agroforestry systems, organic farming systems, and farming systems that integrate rangelands and wildlife .

Climate Variability and Climate Change To invest in R&D that addresses issues of national importance affecting the rural sector, including changing energy supply and demand, water resource issues, and the impact of climate change and variability.

Safeguarding Australia Biosecurity To invest in R&D that addresses biosecurity issues of national importance
.

Supporting the rural research and development priorities

Improve the Skills to undertake Research and Apply its Findings To invest in R&D that addresses the human capacity, leadership and learning needs of rural Australia .
To ensure that R&D investments for new rural industries, established rural industries and national rural issues are designed to maximise adoption by industry .

Promote the Development of New and Existing Technology To invest in R&D that develops new and existing technology to improve the profitability, sustainability and resilience of new rural industries, established rural industries and the Australian rural sector as a whole.
To ensure that these R&D investments are designed to maximise adoption by industry.

Our Investment Framework
RIRDC’s new investment framework guides the allocation of resources for R&D to achieve its corporate and portfolio outcomes.
The main elements of the investment
framework are:

Each year the Board reviews performance against the Corporate Plan and sets strategic directions for the coming year;

Business cases for each portfolio are prepared to assess new investments and determine any changes in expenditure within and between portfolios against criteria. These business cases are considered by the Board each year;

R&D advisory committees provide input to the business cases through annual review of progress against their five-year R&D Plan;

Funding allocations in the Annual Operational Plan are based on the Board’s decisions on the business cases;

Five year plans direct program strategies within the portfolios, and have predetermined budgets that are funded subject to performance; and

Programs are implemented through a combination of open call and commissioned projects.

Our Innovation Investments
RIRDC receives its investment funds from the following sources:
an annual Australian Government appropriation;

industry levy funds with a matched Australian Government contribution; and

other sources such as voluntary industry contributions and contributions from other Rural Research and Development Corporations and companies participating in collaborative arrangements managed by RIRDC.
In 2006-2007, RIRDC invested in innovation across its portfolio areas as shown on page 19.
Each year, applying RIRDC’s investment framework, we review our operating environment and resource allocation to:

fund programs that are meeting their R&D plan objectives

invest in new areas of rural innovation.
RIRDC currently supports R&D in 22 program areas across its three portfolios. Some program areas will change over the life of this plan, as:
new programs are developed

new levy-paying industries are established

some areas become relatively less attractive for investment.
RIRDC’s Portfolios and Programs at July 2007
Portfolio 1: New Rural Industries

New Plant Products

New Animal Products

Asian Foods

Essential Oils and Plant Extracts

Rare Natural Animal Fibres

Wildflowers and Native Plants

Tea Tree Oil

Bioenergy, Bioproducts and Energy

Portfolio 2: Established Rural Industries
Chicken Meat

Honeybee

Rice

Horses

Fodder Crops

Pasture Seeds

Deer

Buffalo
Portfolio 3: National Rural Issues
Agroforestry and Farm Forestry

Environment and Farm Management

Rangeland and Wildlife Systems

Organic Systems

Global Competitiveness

Food Integrity and Biosecurity

Rural People and Learning Systems Leadership

Cooperative Venture for Capacity Building

Joint Venture for Farm Health and Safety

Climate Change
RIRDC Innovation Investments 2006–07

In 2006–07, RIRDC’s research investments of $17m were allocated across its portfolio areas as shown above.
Our Goals and Strategies
RIRDC has three goals which focus on providing knowledge for:

New rural industries

Established rural industries

National rural issues.
Across each of these goals, the Corporation works to maximise the knowledge outcomes generated by our R&D investments.
Measuring our success
We will know we are successful when:

Sector five year R&D plans provide strategic direction for RIRDC investments. These plans clearly lay out objectives, strategies, performance indicators and measures, and indicative budgets.

Regular stakeholder and client surveys are conducted and reported on in our annual reports.

A comprehensive evaluation, including ex-post benefit-cost analysis, is conducted in the fourth year of each plan to assess the program’s performance and levels of adoption, and to guide future R&D investment.
New Rural Industries – providing farmers with new ideas
Need
There are strong and growing pressures on Australian agriculture to diversify – declining terms of trade for commodities, new and increasing low-cost commodity competitors, structural change driven by water reform and climate change risk. New rural industries are a critically important part of Australian agriculture’s response to these drivers.
Value to Australia’s economy
New rural industries produce substantial benefits to Australia. The value of a subset of 27 of Australia’s emerging rural industries is conservatively estimated to be $673 million and to contribute 2.2% of the gross value of farm production.
Opportunity, diversity and resilience
New and emerging industries bring opportunity, diversity and resilience to rural Australia. They provide farmers with new markets to meet changing food and fibre fashions, new medicinal and nutraceutical products and new approaches to environmentally sustainable farming. Over 60% of farmers now have multiple enterprises, accounting for over 70% of the value of agricultural output.
New rural industries are important to agriculture
New rural industries are increasingly important in Australian agriculture. They have a significant role in propelling rural economies toward their potential. RIRDC invests in R&D to assist:

the development of new and emerging industries that are likely to have significant market opportunities

where Australia is likely to have a competitive advantage

industries that are attractive to producers for expansion

where R&D can make a significant contribution and the pathway to adoption is identified.

Goal
To provide the knowledge for diversification in Australia’s rural industries.

Strategies
Invest in R&D for new rural industries:

that have significant export or domestic market opportunities

where Australian industry has a competitive advantage, for example in production, seasonality, or market access

that will be attractive to producers to enter and expand the industry.

Measuring our success
We will know we are successful when:

sector five-year R&D plans are meeting their objectives to provide the knowledge for diversification in Australia’s rural industries

we generate knowledge that supports diversification in Australia’s rural industries, and that meets the needs of new rural industries

we can demonstrate a high level of support from industry and Government stakeholders through regular stakeholder surveys and continuing investment

RIRDC’s knowledge investments lead to adoption of new technologies and industries, demonstrated by client surveys and program evaluations.

Established Rural Industries – targeting research for results
Challenges
RIRDC’s established rural industries face challenging operating environments with innovation and responsiveness. Declining terms of trade, increasing international competition and distorted markets combined with climate variability and change and natural resource management to put pressure on these sectors. Continued productivity growth underpinned by innovation is a crucial part of the response.
Opportunities
There are opportunities to be captured too—
in emerging and growing markets, innovative production processes, value-added products and competitive supply chains. Innovation can also deliver better environmental performance and resource use.
Targeted R&D
These industries depend on targeted R&D to provide the innovation that underpins their productivity growth. R&D also provides innovative solutions to the challenges of sustainability.

Goal
To provide the knowledge to increase the profitability, resilience and sustainability of RIRDC’s established rural industries.

Strategies
To invest in R&D for RIRDC’s established rural industries:
in areas identified by industry and government as a high priority

that promote development and uptake of innovative technologies and solutions
Measuring our success
We will know we are successful when:
sector five-year R&D plans are meeting their objectives to provide the knowledge to increase the profitability, resilience and sustainability of RIRDC’s established rural industries.

we generate knowledge that meets the needs of established rural industries to increase their profitability, resilience and sustainability

we can demonstrate a high level of support from industry and Government stakeholders through regular stakeholder surveys and continuing investment

RIRDC investment leads to the adoption of knowledge to increase the profitability, resilience and sustainability of RIRDC’s established rural industries, demonstrated by client surveys and program evaluations.

National Rural Issues – Knowledge for rural Australia’s big issues
Cross-cutting issues
RIRDC has a specific mandate to invest in R&D into national rural issues –those issues that are multi-sector and national in scale and scope. These National Rural Issues are focussed on the profitability, resilience and sustainability of our rural sector and communities.
These investments in R&D support the rural policy priorities of Government and the priorities of rural industries and communities.
Our approach
RIRDC works with governments and industry to identify the national rural issues for investments in R&D. The Portfolio currently spans ten areas of R&D activity—agroforestry, capacity building, rural people and learning systems, environment and farm management, farm health and safety, food integrity and biosecurity, global competitiveness, leadership (including rural women) and scholarships, organic systems, rangelands and wildlife, and climate change and variability.
Funding
RIRDC’s mandate for multi-industry and
cross-sectoral R&D is pursued through strategic partnerships with co-investors across other research and development corporations, government and industry.

Goal
To provide the knowledge to address national rural issues.

Strategies
To invest in R&D to support:
rural policy priorities of Government

the priorities of rural industries and communities

topics that are cross-sectoral or multi-industry

where partners support co-investment
Measuring our success
We will know we are successful when:
sector five-year R&D plans are meeting their objectives to provide the knowledge to address national rural issues

we generate knowledge to meet the needs of industry, community and Government to address national rural issues

we can demonstrate a high level of support from partners through regular stakeholder surveys and continuing co-investment

RIRDC’s investments lead to the adoption of knowledge to address national rural issues, demonstrated by client surveys and program evaluations.

Our Enabling Strategy
Knowledge in action

maximising knowledge outcomes from our R&D investments for the rural sector and government

Maximising knowledge outcomes
RIRDC’s corporate objective is to maximise the knowledge outcomes from our R&D investments.
Priority R&D
Our sector R&D advisory committees and Investment Framework enable RIRDC to select R&D where there is an agreed need.
Adoption by design
The Corporation’s strategy is to build adoption into the design of its R&D plans. RIRDC also plans its intellectual property, development, commercialisation and communication strategies with knowledge outcomes as the goal.
Best practice
The Corporation aims for best practice through a focus on excellence in corporate services and research management and good governance.

Corporate objective
To maximise the knowledge outcomes from RIRDC’s research and development investments for the rural sector and Government.

Strategies
We will:
ensure priorities are industry and Government–driven

ensure adoption by design

deliver excellence in research management

deliver excellence in corporate services

ensure good governance

ensure effective provider capacity

build strategic partnerships.
Measuring our success
We will know we are successful when:

there is a high level of adoption of knowledge generated by RIRDC’s R&D investments

evaluation of individual projects, programs and portfolios show a strongly positive return on investment

RIRDC’s R&D investments address the Government’s National and Rural Research Priorities

RIRDC’s R&D investments address the priorities of industry partners

RIRDC has substantial and significant collaborative partnerships with other research investment agencies that optimise the use of resources and opportunities

RIRDC’s governance framework, policies and practices comply with all statutory and Government requirements

our research management processes and our corporate service performance exceed benchmarks and stakeholder expectations

quality research providers are available to address the range of RIRDC’s R&D priorities.

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RIRDC’S APPROACH
‘Where’ – Portfolios	‘What’ – Outcomes	‘How’ – Process
New rural industries Specific established rural industries National rural issues	Profitable, competitive and resilient rural industries Rural industry diversification Sustainable resource use Social and scientific capacity to underpin rural industries and communities	Utilise rural resources and scientific expertise Take a ‘whole of industry’ approach Be innovative and support an innovative culture

	Issue	RIRDC Challenge and Opportunity
Human Capacity	The future viability and prosperity of the Australian rural sector depends crucially on the capacity of people in rural and regional areas. RIRDC can contribute through a focus on human capacity building and initiatives to help develop leaders in the sector.
Research Capacity	Research capacity for rural industries is declining at a time when the need for rural R&D to underpin further productivity growth and diversification is more urgent than ever. RIRDC will respond to contribute to an effective R&D capacity to meet the needs of our new rural industries, established rural industries and cross-sectoral priorities.
Peri-urban Development and Rural Lifestyle Landholders	Peri-urban areas (ie the interface between rural and urban zones) produce about 25 per cent of Australia’s gross value of agricultural production. Rural lifestyle landholders present both opportunities and challenges for RIRDC. They have the capacity to be innovative and may be more willing to take the risk of diversifying into new rural industries if backed by off-farm income. On the other hand, they can be constrained by their small scale and can present significant biosecurity risks.
Clients in Regional Australia	Historically RIRDC has engaged with sectorally-based clients (eg rice, honey, olive industries) rather than spatially organised clients. However, Government programs are increasingly delivered through regional bodies such as Area Consultative Committees, Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare groups. These groups are increasingly active in extension and their demand for information is growing. A new challenge and opportunity is for RIRDC to interact efficiently with these potential clients and provide effective services to them.
Indigenous Issues	Aboriginal people own or hold title to 22 per cent of land in Australia. They have diverse aspirations in terms of land use and unmet needs in the R&D to support these aspirations. Given that Government policy is one of mainstreaming provision of services to aboriginal people, including R&D for rural industries and land management, it is appropriate to consider current arrangements and RIRDC’s role.
Issue	RIRDC Challenge and Opportunity
Global Competitiveness	The Australian farm sector will continue to rely heavily on export markets. Globalised markets for agricultural and food products will present challenges and opportunities for Australia. Established rural industries will continue to depend on R&D driven productivity growth to maintain competitiveness. New rural industries will increasingly contribute to rural economic viability and resilience. RIRDC will actively service the knowledge needs of our established and new industries.
Consumer Needs and Supply Chain	Today’s world markets demand a market and consumer focus rather than a production focus. This is particularly important for Australian farmers who need to compete by meeting special consumer requirements that lower-cost producers do not target—for example, in organic foods. Farmers also face the need to provide more information to consumers, companies and regulators on production processes including environmental performance, animal welfare, organics, GMOs and energy efficiency. RIRDC investments can contribute through a focus on adding value, enhancing efficiency, responsiveness and product integrity in the supply chain.
Trade Barriers	Import barriers and production subsidies continue to distort world markets for agricultural products. While Australia will continue to work at achieving a successful multilateral trade agreement, bilateral agreements will continue to be negotiated with countries and will have a major impact on sectors within Australian agriculture. RIRDC can contribute objective trade policy analysis and R&D to underpin these processes.
Declining Terms of Trade	The agricultural sector has faced steadily declining terms of trade over many decades. Agricultural output has been increasing through significant increases in productivity that have enabled producers to remain profitable by lowering per unit costs of production. Innovation by RIRDC’s established rural industries will be underpinned by targeted R&D.
Technological Issues and Farm Economic Performance	New technology is one of Australian producers’ best avenues to increase productivity. Most R&D is sectorally-based. There are opportunities for convergence and integration at the farm level, which may not be adequately captured by sectoral Rural Research and Development Corporations and companies. These issues will be addressed on a cross-sectoral level through our National Rural Issues Portfolio.
Issue	RIRDC Challenge and Opportunity
Climate Change and Variability	Australia’s rural sector faces severe climate variability compounded by risk of underlying climate change. RIRDC will contribute to collaborative R&D to enable our rural industries to adapt and to identify new rural industries that can prosper.
Water	There is increasing competition for water as a scarce resource among rural, urban and environmental uses. Water reform will drive water to high value rural uses. There is an opportunity for RIRDC to work closely with stakeholders to seek new ways of achieving water efficiency in production and processing. RIRDC can also identify and develop new rural industry opportunities in northern Australia.
Energy	Energy is a key input to agricultural production that is under increasing price pressure. Bio-fuels may have a substantial, but as yet uncertain, place in Australia’s energy mix and RIRDC is well-placed to contribute R&D to this issue.
Biosecurity	Biosecurity status is a key comparative advantage and risk for Australia’s rural industries. New rural industries face particular knowledge and planning challenges, and RIRDC can assist these industries in meeting these challenges.
Sustainability	The community and market place demand that rural industries are demonstrably sustainable. RIRDC has a key role in ensuring that knowledge is available to contribute to the productivity and sustainability of its established and emerging rural industries.

National Research Priorities	Rural Research Priorites	RIRDC Strategies
Productivity and Adding Value	To invest in R&D that improves productivity and adds value to new rural industries (see page 20), established rural industries and across all commodity sectors
Supply Chain and Markets	To invest in R&D that improves supply chain relationships and market access for new rural industries , established rural industries and to improve the global competitiveness of the Australian rural sector as a whole .
Natural Resource Management	To invest in R&D that addresses natural resource management and sustainability issues of national importance including investments in environmental farm management, agroforestry systems, organic farming systems, and farming systems that integrate rangelands and wildlife .
Climate Variability and Climate Change	To invest in R&D that addresses issues of national importance affecting the rural sector, including changing energy supply and demand, water resource issues, and the impact of climate change and variability.
Safeguarding Australia	Biosecurity	To invest in R&D that addresses biosecurity issues of national importance .
Supporting the rural research and development priorities
Improve the Skills to undertake Research and Apply its Findings	To invest in R&D that addresses the human capacity, leadership and learning needs of rural Australia . To ensure that R&D investments for new rural industries, established rural industries and national rural issues are designed to maximise adoption by industry .
Promote the Development of New and Existing Technology	To invest in R&D that develops new and existing technology to improve the profitability, sustainability and resilience of new rural industries, established rural industries and the Australian rural sector as a whole. To ensure that these R&D investments are designed to maximise adoption by industry.