Summary

The CRCNA sought to develop a northern (north of the Tropic of Capricorn) broadacre cropping industry strategy to provide a framework for investment in broadacre cropping in northern Australia. The goal was to benefit growers, pastoralists and the broader grains and cotton industries in the region.

This project conducted a SWOT and gap analysis to examine the current constraints and opportunities in the following areas:

• Farming systems and post-farm integration
• Production systems
• Supply chains and logistics

The process and final report are intended to inform CRCNA’s strategic research investments, support coordinated investment across the northern Australian broadacre cropping sector, and improve strategic alignment across the research, policy, and service delivery components of the sector.

Expected outcomes

The projected developed a comprehensive strategic R&D paper outlining key objectives, management strategies and learning approaches.

It identified individual programs (rather than projects) and recommended outcomes in the following areas:

• Production systems
• Post-farm gate supply chains
• Market information and access