Sustainable Grains Production Course - building grains industry futures

Abstract

The Sustainable Grains Production course was established in 2003 by the University of New England (UNE) with funding from Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). The aim of the course was to improve the knowledge and skills base of people, particularly advisors, working in the northern grains region of Australia, and to increase the economic and environmental performance of the grains industry. Through a survey of past and current students, UNE and GRDC sought to review the impact of the Sustainable Grains Production course on graduates, and within the grains industry. The survey was conducted in October, 2011, with 70 responses being received from 150 valid email addresses. Fifty percent of respondents were agronomists, and an additional 20% were from farms, with most from NW NSW and SE Queensland. Grains (GRNS) study was valued for its specificity in grains production, and the opportunity it gave students to develop their knowledge and skills in grain production in areas which were directly relevant to their careers. As a result of their study, 75% of respondents had spoken to farmers about a broader range of issues, and 66% had made or suggested changes to farming systems, showing that the course is achieving its intended outcomes of increasing grains industry human capacity, and accelerating the adoption of research findings. Additionally, all respondents thought that the grains industry benefitted from the course, and 57% of students thought that GRNS study had helped them obtain a promotion or new job.