The Australian grains industry is set to benefit from a $24 million investment in the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) to continue its marketing development and research efforts to build long-term industry success.
The McGowan Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) have signed an agreement to contribute $3 million each per year from 2022-23 to 2025-26, enabling AEGIC to maintain and build new trade opportunities and industry value.
The McGowan Government has also allocated an additional $1 million in 2022-23 to pursue research that benefits local growers.
The State's extra funding will extend current research to position soft wheat to seize market opportunities, increase consumption of whole grain wheat and cultivate opportunities for locally grown oats.
AEGIC's work benefits stakeholders across the grains supply chain, through market analysis and intelligence, understanding customer requirements, and developing new products and value-adding opportunities.
AEGIC has a strong reputation in the competitive global grains marketplace, particularly in key South East Asian markets, where it works with processors, millers, brewers and maltsters to satisfy discerning grains specifications and cultivate customer relationships.
Established in 2012, the independent not-for-profit company works closely with Western Australian-based grains breeding company InterGrain, which is also co-owned by the State Government and the GRDC, to develop varieties suited to WA conditions that meet customer expectations.
This continued investment in AEGIC is timely, given the increasingly complex market forces and dynamic operating environment in the global grains sector.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"AEGIC is working for the Australian grains industry to forge pathways to new markets, and pursue new products and ways of using our grain.
"The grains market has become increasingly volatile and complex, highlighting the important work AEGIC does to ensure Australian grain export relationships are secure and industry is well placed to adapt to the trading environment.
"This funding commitment from our Government and the GRDC will ensure that AEGIC's work can continue and grow over the next four years.
"AEGIC is a great example of joint government investment in targeted initiatives which produce tangible results that translate to improved productivity, profitability and sustainability of our valuable primary industries."
