Agency overview and resources
1.1 Strategic Direction
The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) began operations on 1 October 1990 by way of a regulation made under section 8 of the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989 (PIERD Act). The CRDC is also subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC).
The CRDC invests in a coordinated research and development program that creates and promotes the adoption of innovation to increase productivity, competitiveness and environmental sustainability that benefits the Australian cotton industry and wider community. The CRDC is accountable to the Australian people through the Australian Government and also to the cotton industry through its legislated representative industry organisation, Cotton Australia Limited.
These stakeholders set broad research and development objectives, which the CRDC addresses through adherence to a five-year strategic Research and Development (R&D) Plan. This year marks the second year of the strategic R&D Plan that responds to achieving the outcome of increased competitiveness, productivity and environmental sustainability.
To address competitiveness, Australian cotton must find a market niche where its superior quality is recognised in the market place. So, the CRDC’s focus will be to actively seek new services and evolved products to create new and additional value in cotton lint and cotton seed for the benefit of Australian industry and the nation.
With respect to productivity, the emphasis is on increasing the efficiency and resilience of farming systems. The CRDC’s research and development programs actively seek ways to further improve water, fertiliser and energy use efficiency, which at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmental sustainability is being addressed by responding to climate change through new cross primary industry collaboration and targeted cotton industry investment. The connections between improved productivity, natural resource management and addressing climate change preparedness are recognised in this program.
The capacity of the Australian cotton industry to innovate, adopt and adapt its science to respond to cotton production in a changing climate will be critical to the impact of the CRDC’s investments. Hence, fostering people with the necessary knowledge and skills to maximise the impacts and benefits of research and development is a vital investment.
The CRDC continues to take a prudent approach to managing its financial resources to ensure the implementation of its strategic objectives. The CRDC has planned for the reduction of use of its financial reserves in forthcoming years following a period of significant drought impact on income and ongoing uncertainty around a return to historical average levels of cotton production in Australia.
1.2 Agency Resource Statement
Table 1.1 shows the total resources from all origins. The table summarises how resources will be applied by outcome and by administered and departmental classification.
Table 1.1: CAC Act Body Cotton Research and Development Corporation Resource Statement—Budget estimates for 2009–10 as at Budget May 2009
1.3 Budget Measures
The CRDC is not affected by any 2009–10 budget measures.
1.4 Transition from outcomes and outputs to oucomes and programs
From the 2009–10 Budget, all General Government Sector entities will be reporting on a program basis. The table below outlines the transition from the 2008–09 Budget year (as at Additional Estimates) which was presented in administered items, outputs and output groups to the program reporting framework used for the 2009–10 Budget.
Figure 2: Transition table
15 Sep 2009