Rural Research and Development Council

The Rural Research and Development (R&D) Council was established in January 2009 to provide high level advice and coordination to better target and improve the effectiveness of the government’s investment in rural R&D.

The council’s term ended in December 2011 following completion of its terms of reference.

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.

The council's central role was to facilitate 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.

National Strategic Rural R&D Investment Plan

Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, released the National Strategic Rural R&D Investment Plan (the plan) on 15 June 2011.  The plan was developed by the Rural Research and Development Council following extensive consultation with interested stakeholders, which included the opportunity to respond to a draft of the plan in early 2011.

• National Strategic Rural R&D Investment Plan  PDF [1.3mb]
  

View the minister’s media release announcing the release of the plan. The minister also made a statement in Parliament on rural R&D on 15 June 2011.

Further information

Should you or your organisation wish to discuss the work of the Rural Research and Development Council, please contact the Rural R&D Council Secretariat on (02) 6272 4839 or email the Rural Research and Development Secretariat in the first instance.

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 Ian Chubb AC (ex-officio)

Commissioned reports

The Council commissioned three reports that describe:

• the evolution of Australia’s current rural R&D system  PDF [786kb]
• the evolution of Australia’s current rural R&D system  Word [807kb]
• the relationship between R&D and productivity growth in primary industries  PDF [1.2mb]
• the relationship between R&D and productivity growth in primary industries  Word [1.8mb] and
• the international context for Australia’s plan  PDF [554kb]
• the international context for Australia’s plan  Word [973kb].

Please contact the Secretariat if you would prefer a CD or hard copy version.

Further information

Please email the Rural Research and Development Secretariat.