Cotton Research and Development Corporation is a partnership between the Australian cotton industry and the people through the Australian Government. Our vision is a globally competitive and responsible cotton industry.
The purpose of CRDC is to enhancing the performance of the Australian cotton industry and community through investing in research and development, and its application
The Corporation provides leadership and investment in research, innovation, knowledge creation and transfer. CRDC funds and coordinates the development of technical and non-technical documents, guides and other information tools and coordinates workshops, seminars and field days for a range of purposes including research review and progression, information sharing and technology transfer to industry. CRDC researchers are actively involved in the dissemination of research results, working through a range of mechanisms, including the CRDC-supported Development and Delivery Team.
Committed to Continual Improvement
The Corporation is committed to continuous improvement in the efficiency of its expenditure, whilst maintaining or improving the effectiveness of its R&D investments. In doing so, CRDC takes a holistic business approach that recognises not only the costs but also the risks and returns in delivering outcomes. Having skilled and experienced people who can scan, scope and manage portfolios of R&D investment proactively through to adoption for strategic outcomes is an important element of capacity, which supports the effectiveness of the rural R&D system as a whole.
One of the Corporation’s formal Principles of Operation is to strive to maximise return on industry and public funds invested through our Corporation. Collaboration with other RDCs at both strategic and conceptual levels is an important means by which CRDC leverages higher returns from its investments.
CRDC participated in activities that include joint national strategic R&D planning with the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC), particularly in relation to climate change and water, communication and impact evaluation. A great deal of collaboration and cooperation takes place through the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations’ Chairs: a forum for supporting the RDCs in collectively maximise their ongoing contribution to a sustainable and profitable Australian agricultural sector.
This collaboration extends well beyond coinvestment: cooperation, coordination and communication are equally important to avoiding duplication in research and maximising the impact of research outcomes. The scale of this collaboration extends from large national research programs to small local projects and administration, to bring a national focus in dealing with climate change, soil health, irrigation, crop protection, farm safety and human capacity. In 2010–11, CRDC and GRDC continued to work closely in areas of common interest in program management and communication.