impact assessment report series - Grains Research & Development ...

The strategic and risky nature of the projects in the cluster does increase the
uncertainty involved in an economic evaluation. Assessments of the likely economic
returns from strategic programs would clearly need to take that into account. A
traditional approach to risk is diversification. The potential contribution of a new
research focus could be demonstrated with less uncertainty if it included a greater
mix of projects. The cluster of projects that was the subject of this evaluation were
less diverse than the overall Soil Biology Program which included more applied
projects and a highly successful collaboration through the “Healthy Soils for
Sustainable Farms” collaboration.
Constraints on the availability of data on efficacy of the inoculants have contributed
to the degree of uncertainty on the potential applicability of the inoculants being
developed. Adoption of the inoculants by farmers will also be constrained until
experience accumulates on the situations where inoculants can be used with
confidence to generate a consistent economic response. However the potential is
there for the phosphate-solubilising inoculants in particular to contribute to a more
profitable and sustainable agriculture.
Acknowledgments
Project Leaders and Researchers of the 14 Projects in the Soil Biology Cluster
(As listed in Table 2).
Martin Blumenthal, Manager Agronomy Soils and Environment, GRDC.
Vince Fernandes, Impact and Business Analyst, GRDC.Sanford Gleddie, Novozymes
Biologicals Limited, Saskatoon, Canada.
Richard Heath, (GRDC Northern Panel), Milroy, NSW.
Zvi Hochman, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Brisbane.
Richard Konzag, (GRDC Southern Panel), Mallalla, South Australia.
Allan Mayfield (GRDC Southern Panel), Clare, South Australia.
Paul Meibusch, New Farm Products and Services, GRDC.
Kieran O’Keefe, NSW DPI, Griffith, NSW.
John Thorne, Commercialisation Connections Pty Ltd, Gundaroo, NSW.
Andrew Rice (GRDC Southern Panel),Parkes, NSW.
Rob Velthuis, Novozymes Biologicals Australia, Bendigo.
Julian White, Fertilefarm, Gunnedah.
References
ABARE (2009). “Australian Farm Survey Results 2006-07 to 2008-09”, Canberra
Agtrans Research and AGEC Consulting (2007). “Investment Analyses for the
Managing Climate Variability Program”. Final Report to Land and Water
Australia, Canberra
Bender, G. (2008) “GRDC Investment In Soil Biology -A Review”. GRDC, Canberra.
Blumenthal, M., Umbers, A. and Day, P. (2008). “A responsible lead: an
environmental plan for the Australian Grains Industry”. GRDC Canberra
_________________________________________________________________
Agtrans Research Page 35