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Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)

The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) delivers outcomes in cotton research, development and extension (RD&E) for the Australian cotton industry.

A partnership between the Commonwealth Government and cotton growers, CRDC invests in world-leading RD&E to benefit Australia’s dynamic cotton industry, and the wider community. We invest in innovation and transformative technologies to deliver impact, and as an organisation we are ambitious, agile, and adaptive.

Cotton is a major contributor to the economic, environmental and social fabric of rural Australia. The industry’s national exports generate an average of $1.9 billion in annual revenue, and the industry is a major employer in rural and regional communities. The industry continues to go through a period of geographic growth: in recent years, cotton has expanded from its predominate growing base in NSW and QLD to VIC, and commercial trials are also underway in the NT and WA.

Our aim is to create $2 billion in additional gross value of cotton production by 2023. To help achieve this, Australian cotton growers and the Commonwealth Government will co-invest $18.7 million through CRDC into cotton RD&E during 2020-21, across approximately 300 projects and in collaboration with around 100 research partners. Read more about our investments here.

We are based in Narrabri NSW (one of the major centres of cotton growing in Australia), and have satellite offices in Emerald, Toowoomba and Brisbane.

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AgTech applications could revolutionise the cotton farming industry

Researchers at Monash University are applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and game-design practices to reduce spray drift from agricultural pesticides, minimising the negative impact on neighbouring crops and wildlife.

  • Led by
    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)
  • In collaboration with
    Monash University
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Cotton Research and Development Corporation – powering innovation in 2021

Over the years, cotton has been a major presence in the Australian farming and export industries. Accounting for up to 60% of the agricultural output in regions in which it is grown, the Australian cotton industry exports around $2 billion worth of cotton each year to China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Turkey and Thailand. 

Simply put, cotton is big business. 

  • Led by
    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)
Cotton crops
Opportunity

Spray drift warning system a step closer to implementation

Minimising spray drift is a high priority for Australian agriculture, with the grains and cotton industries joining to develop a hazardous weather warning system to provide real-time weather data and alerts to growers and spray operators.

  • Led by
    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)
  • In collaboration with
    Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
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Agritech

New app to stop little cotton pests flying under the radar

Near impossible to identify and count with the naked eye, silverleaf whitefly has increased in prevalence in recent years.

 

To make identification easier, University of Southern Queensland researchers Dr Alison McCarthy and Dr Derek Long, in collaboration with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries researcher Dr Paul Grundy, are developing a new artificial intelligence smartphone app with funding from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.

  • Led by
    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)
  • In collaboration with
    Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland (DAFQ)

Research projects

Other research projects
Logo for Review of the Biosecurity Plan for the Cotton Industry
Cotton

Review of the Biosecurity Plan for the Cotton Industry

This project will review the plan in order to identify: cotton's highest risk exotic pests; established pests and weeds of biosecurity significance; risk mitigation activities to reduce potential biosecurity threats, including farm level activities; and current current surveillance and diagnostic activities.
  • Funded by

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)

  • Project date

    1 Jul 2021 - 30 Jun 2024

  • Research organisation

    Plant Health Australia (PHA)

Logo for Validation and implementation of new molecular tools for Bt Resistance monitoring
Cotton

Validation and implementation of new molecular tools for Bt Resistance monitoring

Resistance in the cotton pest Helicoverpa spp. is a great threat to the continued availability and efficacy of Bollgard 3 cotton. This project supports a partnership with Monsanto Australia and CSIRO to continue resistance research.
  • Funded by

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)

  • Project date

    1 Sep 2021 - 30 Aug 2024

  • Research organisation

    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Logo for Developing proactive approaches to IPM in cotton production systems
Cotton

Developing proactive approaches to IPM in cotton production systems

This project is reviewing the use of pesticides in the cotton production system, identifing research gaps and exploring alternative management techniques to manage key pests.
  • Funded by

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)

  • Project date

    1 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2024

  • Research organisation

    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Logo for Novel options and strategies for integrated pest management in Australian cotton
Cotton

Novel options and strategies for integrated pest management in Australian cotton

The ultimate aim of this project is to find holistic solutions for managing the entire pest complex in a way that minimises the economic losses from mirids, green vegetable bugs, whitefly, caterpillars, mealybugs, aphids and mites.
  • Funded by

    Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)

  • Project date

    1 Jul 2021 - 30 Jun 2024

  • Research organisation

    Crop Consultants Association

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