Scientists help deliver global gains

"This shows why we need to work closely with international researchers," he said.

"That doesn't say we shouldn't have our own R&D capacity - we obviously need an R&D capacity as well because we have a different system - we have an intense amount of climate variability that doesn't affect other parts of the world, we have different soils and pest problems.

"But we don't have to do everything, and we can learn a lot from what happens around the world."

He said Australian researchers were also helping drive productivity gains across the globe.

"If you talk to the National Farmers' Federation, they say every farmer feeds 600 people," he said. "About 450 of those are not in Australia, so through our research investment in getting better Australian production, we're actually delivering better product to hungry markets around the world, which is one way we give back.

"We also give back because we are globally connected and we do have researchers who are working internationally with investors all around the world.

"It's the nature of research that you pull it in, you apply it and test it and see what works and you send it back out into the community, and I think we're doing that through our product and through skills and knowledge."

In discussing the changing nature of research, he said Australia was responsible for 2 per cent of global grains research.

"Most of the work is being done by a small number of multinationals who are investing billions," he said. "The bulk of investment globally is through four or six multinational corporations."

Mr Lester also pointed to government research indicating that productivity gains from R&D resulted in a $12 return on every $1 invested over a 10-year term.