The FINANCIAL — Queensland is well represented on the newly appointed northern panel of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), with five members.
The panel system is a key strength of the GRDC, with a cross-section of grain growers, scientists and people from industry to feed in regional priorities and assess funding proposals.
New members Professor Mark Sutherland (Toowoomba) and Vicki Green (Felton) will join existing Queensland members Aaron Sanderson (Ayr), John Sheppard (Toowoomba) and Rob Taylor (Macalister).
For the past 20 years Professor Sutherland’s work at the University of Southern Queensland has contributed to the use of molecular markers in cereal quality research and diseases of wheat and barley, particularly crown rot.
Vicki is a farmer and agronomist who runs a 350 hectare cropping and beef cattle farm with her husband Andrew and three young sons.
There are also five NSW based members of the northern panel: Panel Chair James Clark* (Anambah), Keith Harris (Port Macquarie), William Martel (Wellington) and Jodi McLean (Georgetown).
All panel members will serve two year terms providing a direct link for Queensland growers, helping to ensure they can provide input into the organisation and get to learn about the latest research results.
Chairman James Clark said he was pleased to again have such a strong and committed northern panel.
“The panel system is vital to the GRDC’s success and the organisation relies on panellists to contribute robust opinions based on professional and practical grains industry experience,” Mr Clark said.
“Our role is to gather grower priorities, break them down into the different elements, and take them back to the GRDC with recommendations on what proportion of funding should be spent on each one.”
The GRDC is a statutory authority established to plan and invest in R&D for the Australian grains industry. Its primary objective is to support effective competition by Australian grain growers in global grain markets, through enhanced profitability and sustainability.
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