An announcement from the State Government committing $24 million to the WA grains industry has been warmly welcomed by WAFarmers.
In partnership with the Federal Government and other funding sources, the investment will see $10 million per year provided to develop a long-term model for the sustainable delivery of grains research and development. A further $4 million in 2018-19 will provide a boost towards the continuation of critical R&D programs.
WAFarmers Grains Section President Duncan Young said the investment would further the industry’s contribution to the state economy, which currently stands at approximately $6 billion per annum.
“We export more than 85 per cent of the grains grown here, so this investment towards research and development will go a long way towards helping WA grain growers’ bottom line in the future,” Mr Young said.
“This announcement, in conjunction with the opening of the $11.5 million state-of-the-art Grains Research Facilities in Northam, has given the WA grains industry a real boost as we head into seeding.
“Confidence in WA grains is clearly at an all-time high, and we applaud the State Government for standing strong behind the industry to ensure we continue to be competitive.”
Mr Young said WAFarmers looked forward to consulting with the State Government on how best to apply this investment to the industry.
