ARRIP is a national database of rural research in progress. It was developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Energy, and CSIRO, in response to a request in June 1982 by the Standing Committee on Priorities for Rural Research in Extension to develop an inventory of rural research. The major aim of this initiative was to publish a Compendium of rural research in order to better co-ordinate research activities throughout Australia. A pilot publication was printed in 1984 with subsequent issues in 1985 and 1986.