Joint media release with Minister for Industry, Science and Technology The Hon Karen Andrews MP

The Liberal Nationals Government is continuing the northern development agenda by supporting a major research collaboration which could help open up areas of the Northern Territory as a significant grower of broadacre crops.

The $1.4 million research program will trial high-value crops such as cotton and peanuts, with potential crop rotations with sorghum, maize, rice, pulses or pasture.

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said the project would investigate the feasibility of new farming systems which could help broadacre cropping in the Northern Territory.

“This study will be a valuable resource for our agricultural industries and will determine the potential for high-level large scale crops for both dryland farming and with irrigation systems,” Minister Pitt said.

“Each of the project participants will bring unique expertise to help develop crop management strategies which will identify and remove some of the risk of broadacre agriculture in the Top End.”

The two-year project is being co-funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), along with the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and 14 industry partners.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the research project would use a range of field trials and simulation techniques, with an initial focus on rain-fed and irrigated systems growing cotton and peanut crops.

“This research collaboration has the potential to expand Australia’s agricultural sector and drive further development, economic growth and jobs in Northern Australia,” Minister Andrews said.

“This is also a great example of how government, industry and researchers can work together to help open up Northern Australia and develop new industries.”

The study will be the largest CRCNA research collaboration to date.

The project partners are:

• Grains Research & Development Corporation
• Cotton Research & Development Corporation
• Northern Territory DPIR
• University of Southern Queensland
• Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
• NT Farmers
• Tipperary Station
• Ruby Downs Station
• Rockyhill Table Grapes
• Edith Springs Station
• Mainoru Station
• Oolloo Farms
• Glen Arden Cattle Company
• Cotton Seed Distributors Limited

The more information visit the CRCNA homepage: https://www.crcna.com.au/

Media contacts:

Minister Pitt's office 02 6277 7180

Minister Andrews' office 02 6277 7070