Australia - Supporting the development of standardised On Farm Experimentation approaches in the Northern region

Description

Description:  Paddock scale experimentation leverages precision agriculture farm-scale machinery and software to capture experimental data at a commercial scale accounting for natural spatial variability enabling data-driven decisions to enhance grower profitability. Although small-plot trials offer rigorous approach to research, they fail to address variability across paddocks, farms, and landscapes. Historically, on-farm experimentation has been limited by statistical rigour, but advancements in statistical methods, next-generation analytics, and artificial intelligence now provide the tools needed to revolutionise this approach. This investment forms part of a larger initiative to establish standardised OFE methodologies accounting for paddock and seasonal variabilities, geo-spatial readiness, and AI-driven data systems for researchers, advisors and growers. It will leverage GRDC’s AAGI partnership and determine the economic benefit of optimising OFE comparative to small plot trials to articulate the value that could be realised by growers, industry and GRDC. It will develop a set of standardised OFE methods tailored for researchers, advisers, and growers to apply at farm scale, ensuring more accurate data-driven decisions. By integrating advanced statistical techniques, geo-spatial technology, and artificial intelligence, this approach will account for spatial and seasonal variability, making it practical for real-world farming conditions. The investment will have two components of work which will be contracted separately but operate within a single framework to facilitate practice change. The first component of the larger initiative will capitalise on GRDC’s Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI) investment with a workstream that will develop a set of standardised OFE methods and protocols tailored for researchers, advisers, and growers to apply at farm scale. This will be integrated with a training program delivered across the investment and critical for addressing the ability of industry in using OFE standard methodology. The second component will be the design of OFE’s that are user led and co-developed with industry pilot groups to shape standardised approaches and validate these at paddock scale and account for the hardware and software variabilities across growers and future upgrades. This first component will be responsible for:  Output A - Standardised Approaches and Protocols for On-Farm Experimentation Produce a user guide standardising procedures to establish On-Farm Experimentation (OFE) that integrates geo spatial statistical approaches to address paddock/sub-paddock differences and seasonal variabilities. Details include: ·           Standards and methodology development plan integrated with outputs B and C and approved by GRDC ·            Produce standardised approaches and protocols for growers and RD&E partners to implement OFEs that enable data-led decision-making on-farm ·           Define minimum data sets and formats that are “AI Ready” - OFE approaches will be developed in consultation with a pilot group of researchers, trial providers and growers ·            Pre-and mid-season meetings with pilot group to support OFE implementation ·           De-brief meetings with the same to discuss quality of data and how this affected the results. Output B - Build Industry Capacity and Capability in On Farm Experimentation and supporting Precision Ag Technologies Improve industry knowledge and expertise by conducting training workshops and mentoring of industry participants to conduct On-Farm Experimentation. Details include: ·           Capacity building and training plan integrated with outputs A and C and approved by GRDC ·           Provide training and support to project pilot group including research trial providers and host growers in 2025, then opened to opt-in participants from 2026 onwards (e.g. NGN, RiskWi$e) ·            Conduct training, via a series of intensive workshops, in best-practice/fit-for-purpose OFEs, collection of different data layers (linked to value for data-led decision-making) and the use of Precision Ag enabling technologies ·            Develop workshop training materials and content that is provided in person as well as in an online e-learning format. Training materials include subject matter to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate an OFE The second component of work (and this investment) is to “Pilot Standardised Approaches and Protocols to Validate On-Farm Experimentation” with growers in GRDC’s Northern region (Output C). Specifically, localised trials will be undertaken to validate and refine standardised methodology, minimum data requirements and assess geo-spatial analytical approaches for OFEs. The focus of this component is to transition Development & Extension based activities to a commercial scale. This will be done through three separate service providers to coordinate field activities as industry pilots in GRDC’s Northern region with the aim to also build capacity of trial providers to utilise precision ag technologies. The aim for each pilot group will be to secure growers at least 10 growers in each pilot group for the life of the contract term. The preference for each pilot group is a tiered approach representing a diversity of technology maturity and adoption (low to high). This is to inform a development roadmap supporting growers move from a low level of technology adoption to a high degree of maturity in this space. This will be incorporated into the standardised methods and protocols. Each service provider must also be highly coordinated and integrated with partners delivering Outputs A and B to ensure effective delivery of Outputs A, B and C. In responding to this opportunity, please note that the tendered price for any single entity cannot exceed $300,000 pa for the term of the contract. Outcome:  By June 2027, there are 3 industry advisors and or trial providers upskilled with the capacity and capability to support growers use of farm experimentation to test and scale approaches on farm that account for natural variabilities. At least 30 grain growers have utilised on-farm experimentation to test and validate standardised practices, such as chemical and fertiliser applications or variety selection. This has given them the confidence to assess results and determine what practices to scale up on their farms. Outputs  Output 3. Title: Pilot Standardised Approaches and Protocols to Vaildate On-farm Experimentation. Description: Starting in 2025, localised trials will be undertaken to validate and refine standardised methodology, minimum data requirements and assess geo-spatial analytical approaches for OFEs.  Details include: ·            Pilot validation delivery plan integrated with outputs A and B and approved by GRDC ·            Identify priority issues, select sites and coordinate activities leading to the engagement of participating farmers and the establishment of OFEs. ·            Conduct OFEs to provide a testbed of information for refining and assessing the suitability of OFE design, analysis, reporting and fit for purpose. ·           Utilise field activities to build capacity amongst service provers and the pilot group via a “Learn by doing” approach that will also feed into and inform training workshops ·           Undertake an annual review of trial information and data to inform improvements and refinements to standards, protocols, minimum data sets and OFE guidelines. ·           Undertake financial analysis to determine the economic benefit of OFE comparative to small plot trials for each grower site to realise the potential value for growers, industry and GRDC.

Opportunity closing date

24 January 2025

Value of contract

to be confirmed