The National Program for Sustainable Irrigation (NPSl) and Irrigation Australia Limited

(IAL) engaged GHD Hassallto develop a framework for future irrigation research,

development and extension (RD&E)in Australia, consisting of a vision, priorities,

implementation options and immediate actions.

The framework will aid the forward planning of RD&E delivery for the Industry and

assist the industry to contribute to several Australian Government Reviews considering

research and development and extension/knowledge management in 2010. This

initiative is particularly important given that there is no proposal for a national irrigation

RD&E organisation following the cessation of the CRC for Irrigation Futures (June

2010) and NPSl(June 2011).

Our Industry Vision

Australia's irrigation industry will contribute to supplying the increasing domestic and

global demand for food and fibre driven by growing population. At the same time, the

following pressures will continue to drive structural change in the configuration and

distribution of the industry:

* Securing access to increasingly scarce water resources;

* A maturing water market;

* Managing increasing costs of energy and the trade-offs at the interface between

energy, water and carbon;

* The need to sustain natural resources, including increased allocation of water for

the environment;

* Labour scarcity; and

* Competitive marketpressures.

The Australian irrigation industry has been at the forefront of improved water efficiency

by virtue of the inherent unreliability of the country's climate and the necessity of

adapting to prolonged droughts. Innovation and adaptation will ensure that the

industry responds rapidly and contributes to meeting demand for food and fibre and

addresses these challenges by increasing its productivity and sustaining and

harnessing its human and natural capital. By 2020 we will be the recognised global leader in profitable, competitive and sustainable irrigation, contributing to regional, national and global well-being.

Our RD&E Vision

RD&E will substantially contribute to Australia becoming the global leader in profitable,

competitive and sustainable irrigation, particularly in the integration of on-farm water

use efficiency and off-farm irrigation system modernisation. By 2020, Australia will

have achieved recognition as the global leader in irrigation knowledge and its

application. This will allow the industry to contribute to, and access, international

developments and innovations in irrigation RD&E. The industry will be recognised for

2/1/93221,59593 Future v1.10n and options for Irrigation RD&E

its past achievements and innovations and its unique body of knowledge grounded in

providing integrative and cross disciplinary solutions.

Industry, government and the research community will work collaborativeIy, resourced

by sufficiently sustainable investment, to focus on key priorities to deliver RD&E that

improves productivity and water use efficiency to address food security needs and

deliver environmental sustainability. Irrigation RD&E will also manage climate change

adaptation through irrigation modernisation and structural change to minimise negative

impacts on communities.

R&D will adapt and build on past achievements, achieving broad adoption across the

industry and rapid transfer of benefits to users, Australia's system of tradeable

perpetual water access entitlements provides a positive environment for future

investment in RD&E and improved infrastructure.