New round of COGGO research funding

13 May 2022

The Council of Grain Grower Organisations Limited (COGGO) is seeking innovative ideas for start-up Research and Development projects commencing in 2023 to benefit Western Australian grain growers.

“COGGO is pleased to announce a new round of funding for innovative research and development projects aimed at improving the profitability and sustainability of the WA grains industry”, said Mr Rhys Turton, COGGO Chairman.

Projects can target any part of the WA grain supply chain that benefits WA grain growers. Funding for projects in the range of $20,000 to $75,000 per annum over a project life of one or two years, to a maximum of $150,000.

“We are set up for another stellar year but the shine is definitely tempered by the huge rise in input costs.  This reinforces the need for continuing research to help grain growers improve the productivity and sustainability of our farming systems.

COGGO has a long history of providing catalytic funding for new R&D ideas and have seen many past recipients make a significant impact on returns for Western Australian grain growers”, according to Rhys Turton.

Examples of COGGO funded projects already funded and underway include:

• Mingenew Irwin Group “Using biobeds for reducing environmental impact of pesticide contamination” – a project to build a biobed prototype and demonstrate the principles of biobeds for use on farm with the aim of containing waste contaminated spray liquid.
• Edstar Genetics “Developing higher protein wheat with superior processing characteristics” – a project aimed at delivery of ‘market ready’ varieties that are entered into the National Variety Trials (NVT) with the accompanying data on protein content, dough extensibility and dough strength.
• Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, “Using high throughput sequencing technology to transform disease surveillance”
• CSIRO, “Identifying opportunities to integrate a spring-sown summer crop into winter wheat-based cropping system in WA”
• Murdoch University, “Identify and combine the best alleles from two genes to achieve maximum pod shattering resistance in narrow-leafed lupins”

Further information and an “Expression of Interest” application form is available from the GIWA website at COGGO Research Fund or by phoning (08) 6262 2128.

The closing date for initial Expressions of Interest applications is Friday 1^st July.  Those applicants who have their Expression of Interest accepted will then be invited to submit a full Project proposal for projects ready to commence in 2023.

ENDS