b'A look at seed industry developments around the globe.Australia experiencesSTATUS AUSTRALIA investor in genetics, the high- STATUS CANADAhighest growth in wheatOver the past 30 years,est in crop protection andResults Driven Agriculture production, CanadianAustralia has experiencedthe third in crop nutrition.Research (RDAR) has the highest growth in wheatAustralia and Canada bothinvested $2.4 million in three funding targets climateproductivity globally. Wheninvest more than the U.S. inAccelerating Agriculture smart agriculture andcompared to Argentina, theautomation, and AustraliaInnovation genomics pro-U.S., France and Canada,ranks second to Canada forjects which target Climate food systems initiatives,Australias total factor produc- investment in market access.SMART Agriculture and Food and a landmark victory fortivity (TFP) growth for wheatThe report shows thatSystems initiatives. Genomics was 2.75%. This comparesAustralia invests approxi- development accelerates Kenyan farmers. to Argentina at 0.98%, themately 1.5% of the gross valuethe understanding of and U.S. and France at 0.89%,of grain production (GVP)directs the use of molecular and Canada at 0.61%. Ratherin RD&E each year, includ- biology tools to help produc-than measuring simple yielding government contribu- ers reduce environmental tonnage or value, TFP com- tions. Funding from researchimpacts, increase resilience, pares the total gross outputpartners increases RD&Eand improve disease preven-with total land, labor, capitalinvestment to about 2.5%tion in livestock and crops.and material inputs. A grow- of GVP. This investment isRDAR is committed to ing TFP indicates total outputfunded through commodityadvancing agriculture through is growing faster than totallevies and matching Australiangenomics, and we foresee the inputs. Government R&D contribu- projects announced today These number-crunchingtions. State governments,accelerating the adaptation results come from a bench- public research bodies, univer- of crops to climate change marking study by ACIL Allen,sities and other private entitiesand the drive to sustainable an independent advisory firmalso contribute to researchlivestock production, Mark commissioned to undertakeoutcomes. Redmond, RDAR CEO, said the study by Grains ResearchThe next most significantin the release. This work and Development CorporationRD&E investment theme isis essential as Alberta agri-(GRDC). ACIL Allen found thatcrop protection. The studyculture responds to climate Australias growth in wheatidentified that Australia rankschange, builds a more resilient productivity comes fromfirst among top grain-pro- industry, serves new, environ-both area expansion (at 1.97%ducing countries, with 24% ofmentally conscious high-value a year) and yield growth (atits funding allocated towardsmarkets, and returns greater 1.5%). crop protection. The thirdprofits to producers.The report states that thismajor category is agronomicOutcomes from these yield growth has occurredand farming systems research,genomic research projects within the context of sig- where Australia ranks thewill help producers access nificant droughts and anlowest. Twelve percent ofand adopt new solutions for unprecedented rate offunding is allocated to this.improving grazing manage-technology-driven grain pro- Australias RD&E spendingment, soil carbon sequestra-duction. The latter has sup- on automation is comparabletion, and climate resiliency.ported yield increases underwith Canadas, while the U.S.Source: Alberta Seed water-limited circumstances.reported the lowest spend- GuideAustralias level of publicing share among these three investment is relatively similarcountries. RD&E expenditure to most of the other countries,on market access is lower forSTATUS KENYAwith the U.S. being the largestAustralia than for Canada butOn Oct. 12, 2023, the investor. higher than in the U.S. Environment Court in Kenya When Australia is com- Source: Grains Researchdismissed the case chal-pared to just Canada and theand Development Corporation lenging the importation and U.S., it is the second-largestcultivation of genetically 118/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023'