Rural Research and Development Council
Current Topics
The Rural Research and Development (R&D) Council is the government’s key advisory body on rural R&D. The principal goal of the council is to provide high level advice and coordination to better target and improve the effectiveness of the government’s investment in rural R&D.
This enhanced focus on R&D will improve the productivity, profitability, sustainability and global competitiveness of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food industries, with benefits for individual rural businesses, the environment and the wider community.
Terms of Reference
The council is to:
- develop a National Strategic Rural R&D Investment Plan based on an agreed list of national priorities for profitable, globally competitive, sustainable, innovative and adaptable primary industries
- establish a performance measurement and reporting framework against an agreed list of national priorities and key performance indicators
- provide advice on enhancing cross-sectoral, cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional and international cooperation and collaboration
- provide advice on improving communication and uptake of new knowledge and technology across all rural industries and at all scales of enterprises
- foster innovation as integral to the culture of rural communities and industries
- foster the building of capacity of the rural R&D sector to ensure that Australia is prepared for challenges to global competitiveness, productivity, adaptability and sustainable development into the future, including the challenges associated with climate change, and
- provide advice on any other matters relating to rural R&D referred to it by the minister.
The council will have a central role in facilitating more effective use of public resources to address priority issues of importance to Australia’s primary industries and associated value-chains; to enhance the speed of delivery of research outputs to Australia’s primary producers and uptake of R&D by them; and to enhance domestic and international cooperation and collaboration.
The council will work closely with the rural R&D corporations and companies, industry sectors, research providers, state and territory jurisdictions and relevant Australian Government agencies to strengthen rural R&D through improved collaboration, facilitation and prioritisation of investment and performance measurement and reporting.
Council Membership
- Dr Kate Fairley-Grenot (Chair)
- Professor Rob Clark AM
- Ms Cathy McGowan AO
- Mr Mark McHenry
- Professor Jim Pratley
- Dr Robert Rose
- Dr Frances Shapter
- Mrs Anne Stünzner
- Professor Beth Woods OAM
- Professor Penny D. Sackett (ex-officio)
Council communiqués
- Rural R&D Council communiqué - November 2009
- Rural R&D Council communiqué - 25 May 2009
- Rural R&D Council communiqué - 24 March 2009
- Rural R&D Council communiqué - 21 September 2009
Further information
For more information please phone 02 6272 4905 or email the Rural Research and Development Secretariat.