The Australian agricultural innovation landscape has never been more dynamic. With climate change, sustainability pressures, and evolving consumer demands reshaping how we produce food and fibre, the need for targeted, industry-relevant research and development has never been greater.

That's why we have partnered with AgriFutures growᴬᴳ to launch comprehensive Research and Development Corporation (RDC) pages hosted on the growᴬᴳ platform. ‘Explore RDCs’ is a dedicated section of the growᴬᴳ platform that explains Australia's RDC landscape and provides clear pathways for startups and scaleups, businesses, and international stakeholders to engage meaningfully with rural industries.

Understanding the RDC system

Australia's 15 RDCs operate at the unique intersection of industry, government, and research. We aren’t just funding bodies; we are strategic partners that enable government and primary producers to co-invest in innovation which drives real industry impact and benefits regional communities.

The numbers tell a compelling story: for every dollar invested in agricultural R&D, farmers see almost an eight-dollar return over ten years. But beyond the impressive ROI, RDCs provide something invaluable - insight, market connection, and pathways that can transform promising innovations into practical solutions for their industry.

What you will find in ‘Explore RDCs'

‘Explore RDCs’ provides comprehensive information about RDCs in one easy-to-use place:

• Complete RDC directory: Detailed profiles of all 15 RDCs, from Commonwealth statutory bodies like AgriFutures Australia and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, to industry-owned companies like Dairy Australia and Meat & Livestock Australia.
• Funding landscapes: Clear explanations of how RDCs are funded through industry levies and government matching, plus specific information about each corporation's funding opportunities and cycles.
• Strategic priorities: Up-to-date information on each RDC's current strategic focus areas, helping you assess alignment between your innovation and industry needs.
• Opportunities for engagement: Programs, VC funds and innovation challenges run by individual RDCs designed to build capacity and source solutions to real industry challenges.
• Connections: Access to growᴬᴳ’s concierge service where the team can assist in connecting you with the right person within an RDC and understand your objectives.

Making connections that matter

Whether you're developing precision agriculture technology that could enhance grain production, sustainable packaging solutions for horticulture, or animal welfare innovations for livestock or aquaculture industries, this resource helps you identify the RDC most aligned with your work and understand their specific priorities and funding mechanisms.

Each RDC page is designed to be actionable, meaning that these resources are downloadable with links to access growᴬᴳ’s concierge service where they can understand your objectives and assist in connecting you to the right people.

Getting Started

Ready to explore how your innovation could contribute to Australia’s agricultural future?

Explore RDCs and start identifying which agricultural sectors align with your work. Dive into the specific RDCs, understand their priorities, and reach out to growᴬᴳ concierge service to explore tailored engagement pathways.

Start exploring: Explore Research and Development Corporations - growAG