GRDC general manager applied RD&E Craig Baillie.

GROWERS and industry partners across Australia have a fresh opportunity to address local production challenges, with the Grains Research and Development Corporation opening a national call for proposals.

The National Grower Network (NGN) Open Call invites proposals for short-term, responsive development and extension projects that directly target issues identified by growers at a regional level.

The NGN connects growers with GRDC to identify local issues and practical research, development and extension investment opportunities that respond to region-specific challenges.

GRDC general manager applied research, development and extension Craig Baillie said the NGN Open Call was a key pathway for turning grower priorities into on-ground outcomes.

“The NGN Open Call is a collaborative approach where GRDC partners with grassroots organisations to deliver solutions to known issues for Australian grain growers,” Mr Baillie said.

“We recognise we’re not the only ones with strong grower networks, and it’s great to leverage the relationships of our partners to identify opportunities for investment and deliver real impact.

This round follows a successful pilot open call in 2025 which resulted in 35 new short-term responsive D&E projects as part of a diverse portfolio across Australia.

More than 30 projects were contracted nationally in the previous round, representing a combined investment of more than $8.6 million and strong demand from industry to partner with GRDC to solve locally relevant challenges.

These projects are addressing priority issues including:

• weed, disease and pest management;
• crop nutrition and agronomy;
• farming systems profitability and resilience;
• adoption of new technologies and practices; and,
• skills and capability development.

A current national project from the previous open call, being delivered by Connected Farms, is tackling a common constraint raised across multiple regions – limited and unreliable on-farm connectivity.

By trialling practical, ready-to-deploy solutions, the project aims to improve digital access and enable growers to better adopt connected technologies and data-driven decision-making tools.

A southern project, led by Southern Farming Systems, is validating the profitability of lupins in high rainfall zones – a grower-identified opportunity to diversify rotations, reduce risk and improve whole-farm returns in challenging seasonal conditions.

In the west, a project led by The Liebe Group is investigating early sown canola systems, focusing on nitrogen timing, plant establishment and yield trade-offs to help growers better manage risk and optimise performance in variable seasons.

In the north, a project led by NSW DPIRD is improving disease identification and fungicide use in soybean systems in north-east New South Wales, responding to increased disease pressure and the need for more timely, accurate management decisions.

“These projects highlight the impact of the NGN Open Call model – providing a faster, more direct pathway from grower-identified issues to targeted investment and practical, on-ground outcomes,” Mr Baillie said.

“All projects funded through the open call form part of the wider NGN program – ensuring a clear link from grower and industry consultation through to investment and delivery.”

GRDC is encouraging grower groups, consultants, researchers and other service providers to submit proposals that demonstrate strong local engagement and a clear pathway to impact.

Projects funded through the NGN are typically short to medium term and designed to deliver practical, regionally relevant outcomes.

Applications close August 12, with evaluations to take place into October, when contracting will commence.

Source: GRDC