SAGIT funding announced

A total of $2.6m will be invested in 21 new grains research projects this year. In total, 64 applications were received.

A wide range of projects have been funded across many disciplines including plant breeding, crop protection, market development such as the development of novel food products from pulses and oats, capacity development and agronomy.

SAGIT chair Andrew Barr said the challenge in reviewing the 64 applications was determining how to best allocate limited resources, but collaboration with co-funding partners helped.

Of the 21 projects, three will receive co-investment funds from GRDC, one from the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and another from the Sheep Industry Fund.

"This co-investment model enables SAGIT to broaden its research efforts and enhance the knowledge we deliver on-farm," Dr Barr said.

"It is important that research organisations continue to work constructively together to leverage funding which supports a wider range of projects than we would be able to fund on our own.

SAGIT also received legacy funding this year from the South Australian No-Till Farming Association, which is in the process of being dissolved, to be used for field crop research to benefit SA growers.

"In light of this, the trustees chose a project that would have matched with SANTFA's goals," Dr Barr said.

"That project will see researchers from SARDI design a multi-purpose no-till seeder for plot research."

Dr Barr said one particularly novel project with SARDI and NuSeed aims to test genetically modified canola lines with high levels of omega 3 fatty acids on the Eyre Peninsula.

"These lines have the potential to be a sustainable raw material for aquaculture feeds, thus diversifying the market for canola," he said.

SAGIT is currently funded by a voluntary grower levy of 30 cents a harvested tonne.

The full list of successful funding applicants can be found on SAGIT's website.