GRDC’S study tours now available on a continuous basis

Chanelle Mansour

Australian grain growers will be able to apply for Grains Research and Development Corporation's ( GRDC) Grower and Adviser Study Tours, that are now being offered and assessed on a continuous basis.

The tours, previously offered twice a year, focus on generating leadership, innovation and education in the grains sector.

"The GRDC has moved to a continuous investment cycle for all research, development and extension investments. Study tour opportunities will now also be offered on a continuous basis, aligning with the investment process,” GRDC senior manager Luke Gaynor says.

The study tours and related travel opportunities aim to align with either GRDC’s Key Investment Targets (KITs) or the Capacity and Ability Framework with the RD&E Plan.

Australian grain growers or advisers can now apply for financial support for the study tours that can help to generate new knowledge, learn new skills, build relationships and leverage GRDC's research investments.

According to a recent statement from the GRDC, the success of the Australian grains industry is dependent on growers’ uptake of research outcomes, and growers’ understanding of issues and opportunities. GRDC’s support for growers and advisers to undertake study tours will also favour groups pursuing a clear learning objective that will lead to improved farming practise.

Support may occasionally be considered for individual growers who hold leadership positions in the Australian grains industry, the GRDC statement says.

“The criteria does not include providing support for groups to attend conferences or attend training, although conference attendance may be considered as part of a study tour application,” says Mr Gaynor.

It is a requirement that 75 per cent of group participants are growers, says Mr Gaynor, and that the activity supports outcomes proposed in the Capacity and Ability Framework and the benefit of GRDC support flows to the industry.

Based in Esperance, Western Australia, Agronomy Focus consultant Quenten Knight, was among a group of growers and agronomists who participated in a 2018 GRDC Grower and Adviser Study Tour to New Zealand’s high rainfall Canterbury Plains area.

“Study tours are invaluable and allow you to meet growers and researchers who are willing to share their experiences,” Mr Knight says. “This knowledge can help to fast track learnings that can be implemented or adopted in our farming systems to make them more productive, profitable and resilient.”


For more information about GRDC supported Grower and Adviser Study Tours, click here.

NEWS
By Craig Burkill September 8, 2026
High-precision GNSS has typically been too costly and complex for all but the most critical agricultural operations, but recent RTK GNSS innovations have made centimetre accuracy scalable to all applications in Ag-Tech. 
September 8, 2026
Every Aussie farmer knows that the difference between a “good” crop and a “record-breaking” one often come down to the smallest details. At BioFlora, we’ve spent years perfecting the balance of plant nutrition, and the result is IsoGreen – our powerhouse liquid formula designed to push your yields and crop taste to their absolute peak. 
August 28, 2026
Plant, spray and harvest with confidence using reliable centimetre level positioning. Hexagon SmartNet provides fast, accurate RTK corrections across Australia to reduce overlaps, lower input costs and maximise productivity. With no base station required, simply connect, get a fix and get to work.
August 27, 2026
Built for the demand of Aussie farmers. Designed for every day performance.
By Adelaide University August 5, 2026
They’re wriggly black grubs more commonly tossed to backyard hens than served at the dinner table, but black soldier fly larvae could soon play a key role in building a more sustainable food system, according to new research from Adelaide University.
July 15, 2026
After four years of customer research and 500,000 test kilometres, Ford says the Ranger Super Duty brings farmer-driven customisation into the factory, with more towing, payload, and durability built in. 
Show More