Addressing Priorities

Industry accountability

CRDC is accountable to the cotton industry through its representative organisation, Cotton Australia. As the industry peak body, Cotton Australia is responsible for providing advice on industry research priorities. CRDC engages with Cotton Australia in a formal process of consultation in the development and implementation of the Strategic R&D Plan including RD&E investments. This engagement ensures industry research priorities are regularly reviewed; emerging issues are actively considered and facilitates the uptake of research in the form of best practices and the overall performance of the Australian industry.

Cotton industry priorities for RD&E

• Invest in the skills, strengths and occupational health and safety of the human resources in the cotton industry and its communities
• Improve the sustainability of the cotton industry and its catchments
• Improve the profitability of the cotton industry
• Create and support a strong, focused and committed research program

Government accountability

CRDC is accountable to the Australian Government through the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Government communicates its expectations of CRDC through Ministerial direction, enunciation of policy, administration of the PIERD Act, National and Rural Research Priorities. CRDC responds to government expectations through regular communication, compliance with policy and legislated requirements, the development of Strategic R&D Plans and Annual Reports. In May 2012 the government provided Ministerial guidance on RD&E priorities including climate preparedness, water use and carbon. In July 2012 the government released the Rural Research and Development Policy Statement outlining its commitment to world-class rural RD&E in partnership with industry as well as outlining changes to improve the effectiveness of the system.

 Government priorities for RD&E

The objects of the PIERD Act make provision for funding and administration of primary industry research and development with a view to:

• increasing the economic, environmental and social benefits to members of primary industries and to the community in general by improving the production, processing, storage, transport or marketing of the products of primary industries; and
• achieving the sustainable use and sustainable management of natural resources; and
• making more effective use of the resources and skills of the community in general and the scientific community in particular; and
• improving accountability for expenditure upon research and development activities in relation to primary industries.

The Australian Government describes National Research Priorities and National Rural Research Priorities.

• The National priorities are:
  • An environmentally sustainable Australia
  • Promoting and maintaining good health
  • Frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries
  • Safeguarding Australia

The Government’s Rural Research Priorities are:

• Productivity and adding value
• Supply chain and markets
• Natural resource management
• Climate variability and climate change

Biosecurity

• Supporting Priorities
• Innovation Skills
• Technology