GrainGrowers to Prepare Levy and GRDC Reform Proposal After National Consultation

Following a national consultation with growers, GrainGrowers is preparing a proposal on the future of the grain levy system and the performance of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). The consultation, held between September and mid-October, sought feedback on research priorities, levy settings and governance.

GrainGrowers chief executive Shona Gawel said the process captured valuable feedback from across the country.

“We have grower insights from across the country and stakeholder perspectives from state farming organisations and Grain Producers Australia,” Ms Gawel said.

“This will help us determine where to from here and what position we will be taking.”

Ms Gawel said many growers raised questions about levy transparency and the structure of the GRDC. Some participants suggested the GRDC could become an “industry-owned company,” similar to Meat and Livestock Australia, to increase accountability and grower influence. However, she said any such change “requires careful consideration and assessment of the longer-term value to industry.”

GrainGrowers is also developing clearer performance measures for GRDC, focusing on grower engagement, investment transparency and governance. Ms Gawel added that understanding the levy system remains a challenge for many producers.

“Growers rightly look at us and say: ‘I’m busy on my farm – what does this all mean?’” she said. “It’s also clear that we need to focus on attracting and retaining skilled workers to build future capacity in the grains industry.”