Integrated management to ensure market access for Northern Australian grain

Reference # A.1.2021091
Research Programs 1. Sector and supply chain development

Project Timeframe 3 years (2021 to 2024)
CRCNA Funding $359,658
Total project value $1,389,072

Broadacre cropping
Agriculture

Project locations: Townsville, Atherton Tablelands, Kununurra, Katherine

Project partners: Qld Dept Agriculture and Fisheries ; Grains Research & Development Corporation ; P Brodie Holdings Pty Ltd ; Archer Daniels Midland Company Pty Ltd ; TriCal Australia Pty Ltd ; Douglas Products and Packaging Company

Project summary and impacts

As broadacre cropping continues to expand across northern Australia, safe and effective grain storage is becoming increasingly important for maintaining reliable access to domestic and export markets. The region’s warm and humid climate creates ideal conditions for insect pests and moisture build-up, increasing the risk of grain quality losses during storage.

CRCNA’s Situational analysis of broadacre cropping in Northern Australia identified significant knowledge gaps relating to stored grain pests, resistance profiles and effective management practices. These gaps represented a potential barrier to industry growth and investment.

This industry-led project addressed these challenges by establishing the first northern Australia-specific baseline data on stored grain insect pests, pest movement and resistance to commonly used fumigants. The research evaluated practical pest management strategies suited to tropical storage conditions and provided growers with evidence-based recommendations to improve grain storage outcomes.

The project also delivered extensive industry engagement through workshops, field activities and extension materials, helping growers and supply chain stakeholders adopt best-practice grain storage management. The findings have strengthened industry capability, improved understanding of storage risks and contributed to ongoing investment in grain storage research through CRCNA’s Cotton, Grains and Cattle Program.

By improving storage integrity and reducing postharvest losses, the project has helped support the long-term profitability, resilience and competitiveness of northern Australia’s growing grains industry.

Read more

Ground Cover: issue 176 May-June 2025 article ‘Storage the focus for Far North cropping‘

Northern Focus: March-April 2025 article ‘Grain storage challenges and solutions in northern Australia‘