Building growers capacity to adopt and adapt innovation ensures the outputs of research have the greatest impact. Interest and motivation from growers to engage more actively in industry extension can be greatly enhanced when it is driven by growers and at the regional scale. This project aims to help growers respond to current and future challenges through a wide range of targeted innovation forums and other extension activities promoted and facilitated through the local St George Cotton Growers Association Inc. The project supports a more direct influence by growers on determining both the nature and type of research and extension that they consider best meets their current and future needs. To that extent, it will encourage the interest and increase the capacity of the local grower association and individual growers to help industry determine future needs and the translation of research outputs to improve farming practices and profitability of farming enterprises.

This project seeks to achieve increased capacity for each of the St George CGA members by equipping them with the 'go to' on the latest research knowledge. Through Risk Management workshops, the members will be better equipped to respond to the ever changing and challenging climatic and economic conditions and better control the impact of these on farming practices. Marketing workshops will increase understanding of marketing and strategies that can be employed on farm to increase profitability in the market place.

It is hoped that increased awareness of Industry will also lead to more Industry involvement and industry representation at a higher level from CGA members.

Improved perception of the cotton industry will be achieved through increasing awareness of the local school children and hence the wider community will be better informed of careers and opportunities available in the cotton industry.