The Regional Australia Institute was engaged by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) to develop an understanding of the social impacts of GRDC and CRDC research in regional communities and subsequently develop a framework for assessing the socio-economic impacts of their agricultural research, development and extension projects in regional communities. 

The framework provides a standardised structure which can be adapted to cover multiple types of agricultural innovations, including new technologies, practices, policies and business models. The framework is designed for assessing the socio-economic impacts of agricultural innovations beyond the farm-gate. The assessment framework is designed to complement agricultural production and first order economic benefit analysis by assessing broader societal impacts such as community resilience, socio-economic equality, and workforce skills and availability.

As the GRDC and CRDC lead investment in grains and cotton research, development and extension (RD&E) in Australia, it is important to understand where the institute is driving positive change and delivering the greatest impacts for both growers and regional and rural communities. The GRDC’s Performance and Impact Framework identifies three broad areas of assessment: GRDC’s investment level impact, on-farm adoption and impact, and cumulative impacts aggregated at a grains sector level. Whilst this is necessary to monitor the economic impact of GRDC investment and RD&E activities, there are many social impacts (direct or spillover), that can be additionally considered to further evaluation the contributions of GRDC and CRDC. The socio-economic impacts can be incorporated into this framework or operate as a standalone framework.  

In the Strategic RD&E Plan 2023-28, CRDC states that their RD&E investments aim to boost environmental, social, and economic benefits for cotton growers, the cotton industry, regional communities and the broader Australian public. This underscores the importance to design a socio-economic impact assessment framework to monitor, evaluate and communicate the broad and diverse impact of agricultural RD&E investment. 

The framework detailed within this document has been constructed using a combination of sources:

• literature on Australian and international socio-economic assessment frameworks[1]
• information provided by the GRDC and CRDC, such as the GRDC Performance Impact Framework
• information gained from RAI-facilitated workshops in July 2023
• fieldwork in three case study regions to understand the socio-economic impacts of GRDC and CRDC research in each community.

The RAI conducted fieldwork in the three GRDC growing regions: Eyre Peninsula (Southern), Goondiwindi (Northern) and Dalwallinu (Western) to gain a deeper understanding of the socio-economic impacts of GRDC and CRDC research that is playing a significant role in supporting innovation in agriculture. Agricultural innovations clearly have extensive impacts on local communities, beyond the immediate effects on the agriculture industry and related sectors. These impacts were noted as being relatively consistent across all fieldwork regions, though the extent of impact was unique to each region. Notable observed impacts included: shifting from on-farm labour to off-farm technical expertise, an improved ability to mitigate environmental pressures (particularly water scarcity), high capital cost and barriers to entry, and decreasing use of local suppliers in favour of specialised distributors. More complex, multi-directional relationships were also observed with housing and labour markets.  See the appendix for further details of these findings. 

A socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) is a tool for evaluating the potential impacts of a set of proposed or existing changes and predicting stakeholder responses. Socio-economic impact assessments can be used to identify vulnerable groups and inequalities, incorporate local voices and assess impacts on local economies and communities. Various frameworks exist for SEIA, with a notable example in the agriculture sector being the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Toolkit developed by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Key to a successful SEIA is selecting appropriate indicators, with best practice centring on indicators that cover industry characteristics, community impacts, workforce impacts, and Indigenous impacts.

Well-designed and conducted SEIAs can provide significant benefits by informing and enhancing decision making and improving the long-term sustainability of research and development innovation through improved community outcomes.  

See, for example, Maughan C. 2012. Monitoring and evaluating social impacts in Australia. CRC-REP Working Paper

CW003. Ninti One Limited, Alice Springs. On international frameworks, see Vanclay, F., Esteves, A. M., Aucamp, I., & Franks, D. 2015. Social Impact Assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects.

As evaporation represents the primary source of water loss in dams and reservoirs in Australia, 
it is critical to improve the efficacy of evaporation mitigation technologies (EMT’s) (Craig I 2005; 
Baillie 2008). Chemical suppressants such as monolayers and multimolecular films have been a 
key focus of evaporation mitigation research, however their adoption has been limited largely 
due to their highly variable efficiency (Schmidt et al. 2020; Abdallah et al. 2021; Barnes 2008).
The primary aim of this research project was to investigate multimolecular film behaviour at 
variable doses, quantifying relationships between dose and spreading rate and an optimal dose
recommendation. The secondary aim was to explore the potential to detect multimolecular films 
using remote sensing techniques. 
The methodology utilised in this project was primarily drawn from existing research paper 
investigating the spreading and dispersive properties of monolayer. In these research papers the 
position of the leading edge was tracked and plotted against time to determine the spreading rate
(Brink et al. 2017; Wandel et al. 2017).
Findings indicate a significant relationship between applied dose and the film behaviour, 
emphasising the importance of understanding the applied dose when trying to maintain the 
integrity of the multimolecular film. Improvements in the effective use of multimolecular films in 
practical applications may be achievable by applying a recommended dose of 0.60ml/m2 every 8 
days. While the development of a film detection system was not successful, the study underscores 
the need for further research in this area.

An investigation of low volume ag sensor data transmission using low-power transmission direct to Low Earth Satellite was completed in an under-graduate Engineering Honours project.  This project had a focus on the Australian developed and owned Myriota technology that provides data capture, storage, and transmission on roughly four hourly basis for less than $500 per transmitter unit.  Transmission of signals from the soil surface through crop canopy was tested using an analogue to the ~400 MHz transmission capability of this satellite technology.

To hasten in-field testing, over 800 test transmissions in the 900 MHz transmission range were completed between two transceivers using 2dB gain antennae from ground-to-ground points, and from ground to UAV.  Down-row, cross-row, and down-skip line-of-sight transmissions were measured and the transmission metrics of Returned Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal -to-Noise-Ratio (SNR), and Transmission-Success-Rate (TSR%) were calculated using averages of 20 results gathered at various distances. RSSI reduction at 100 metres was roughly 100 dB in all three ground-to-ground test directions using these extremely low capability antennae. SNR dropped to poor negative values between 50 and 100 metres. TSR% values dropped below 25% for the down-skip measurements and averaged 12% across crop rows, for the 100 metre test distance. For ground-point to UAV transmission simulating direct to satellite transmissions, ground angle increases from 0° to 20° improved RSSI by 35 dB, and no significant further increase occurred with higher simulated satellite positions. 

Two published empirical models for attenuation of Line-of-Sight radio signals were tested using this data, and an improved predictive model of signal loss through vegetation was developed.  Root-Mean-Squared-Error measures of the predictive capability of the new model averaged 6 dB for through vegetation, and were less than 10 dB for low ground angles to satellite

Project Objectives:-

• review existing literature and expertise on revegetation on vertosols; 
• develop a database of germination requirements for native plant species commonly found on cotton farms;  
• determine the potential to use drones for revegetation on cotton farms;  
• determine methods to increase germination and establishment success of revegetation on cotton farms;  
• develop a cost–benefit analysis of different revegetation methods on cotton farms 

Background:-

Establishing native vegetation on vertosol soils in semi-arid climates presents a challenge. While natural regeneration is the most cost-effective form of revegetation, there may be a need for human intervention to speed up the process. Tubestock planting is expensive and labour intensive, and while broadcasting seed or direct drill seeding may be viable alternatives, few examples of successful tree seeding projects exist on cotton farms. However, the principals of crop production can be applied to tree planting and there is scope to develop successful revegetation strategies for cotton farms that don’t rely on planting tubestock. 

Floodplain species commonly occurring on cotton farms, including river red gums, coolibah, black box and river cooba require floods to recruit, but site preparation and planting on vertosols is impossible when soil moisture is high, and soils can be left vulnerable to erosion if prepared prior to a heavy rainfall. 

Revegetation is traditionally carried out either by hand or using tractors. Using drones is a novel approach to revegetation with the benefit of having no footprint on the ground, allowing growers to take advantage of ideal conditions for planting, such as when soil moisture is high following flooding or heavy rainfall that would normally exclude ground-based methods. 

The purpose of this project was to purchase a refurbished precision planter for the University of Sydney's "Nowley" property, to allow for the planting of dryland cotton and sorghum, in particular. This precision planter adds significant capacity for varying seeding rates, depth of seed placement and planting timing, facilitating trial work in commercial crops.

The precision planter was delivered in September 2024 and was successfully used to plant the 2024/25 dryland cotton and sorghum crops at Nowley. A time-of-planting trial was carried out on a portion of the Box Paddock cotton crop due to the availability of the precision planter; in past seasons this has been difficult due to the limited availability of contractors.

The immediate benefit of this project is for the University of Sydney's farming operations at Nowley, where the availability of the precision planter will allow for more timely planting and a greater capacity for trial work.

In time, this benefit will flow through to the industry via the University carrying out trials, in commercial crops, of different planting timings, densities and depths. Part of the University's long-term plan is to disseminate findings of such trial work through field days and articles in grower publications (e.g. Australian Cottongrower).

The APVMA published the draft Paraquat Review Technical Report on 30 July 2024. That review proposed regulatory acceptable levels (RALs) for birds and mammals with the assessment focussing on acute risks to these organisms. Rate restrictions were established for different uses based on the acute risk assessment to birds and mammals. This review considers a number of aspects around the toxicity endpoints applied by the APVMA for birds and mammals and makes recommendations based on refined avian acute toxicity endpoints and using more appropriate Australian specific mammalian model species.

1. Pesticide targets – we used our expertise in IPM and information on environmental impacts of chemical use to understand potential drivers and examined alternative approaches that considered the future risks (availability, resistance, export markets) of control options. The analysis scrutinised chemicals that are the prime contributors to high insecticide levels in the environment. We worked with NSW DPIRD and the CCA to understand the national context across farming systems and considered spatial/geographical patterns. The highest risk pest-chemical use cases (Fipronil, Sulfoxaflor, Phorate) informed a review of alternative control options that included in its scope digital tools to improve, for example, pest detection and monitoring. The landscape analysis can be used to inform regional/AWM approaches.

2. Mirid management – we reviewed past mirid research in cotton and other crops and considered current mirid management practices in the systems context. We carried out damage and compensation experiments to look for evidence of crop tolerance to mirids. Modelling approaches using historical data or data from other crops were used to see if they could assist with predicting influxes and informing management decisions. We identified research gaps and areas that required core science research.

3. Impact of insecticides and miticides on predators, parasitoids and bees in cotton – we assessed the value of work to date using impact analysis and considered its potential application across commodities. We considered potential research partners and contributors who may have an interest in and benefit from this work. We reviewed the methodology with respect to efficiencies and impact including assessing its potential translation into other crops.

4. We investigated mirid damage research gaps – we carried out three field experiments to better understand the mirid number: crop damage relationship as well as the interaction that mirids have with lucerne and how that could affect damage levels in cotton. This work assisted in validating mirid spray thresholds. We also carried out mirid population experiments and assessed boll and lint damage and yield and maturity. This experiment answered the question about the effect of early or below threshold sprays on mirid population buildup.

5. Shield bugs are of concern to the industry and we improved our understanding of shield bug ecology and management in preparation for shield bug incursions. A Hemiptera identification workshop trained staff to identify BSMS more reliably. Heimoana attended the Annual Plant Surveillance Workshop to gain new knowledge on BMSB surveying techniques. We attempted twice to work with consultants to monitoring shield bugs in Gwydir cotton fields. Regretfully both attempts failed as objectives and time commitments differed.

6. Future work towards the Cotton Pest Management Guide Impacts on beneficials guide focused on novel compounds for sucking and lepidoptera pest control. Pesticides tested for one season were tentatively placed into Table 6 of the CPMG.

The Autumn 2025 edition of Spotlight introduces a new era for CottonInfo, which remains a joint partnership of CRDC, Cotton Australia and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), but under a new structure, with CRDC leading and managing the program, Cotton Australia supporting through myBMP, and CSD as a key program investor. In this edition, we outline the changes to CottonInfo, and in the next edition, we'll be introducing you to CRDC and CottonInfo's new crop of Regional Extension Officers (REOs). 

We're also pleased to bring you an update on the cotton industry data platform, led by CRDC. Throughout the stories in this edition, you will see how the data platform will link to every aspect of our industry, from marketing to emissions reporting. 

Soil health and low emissions farming are also featured in this edition, with articles on the new Low Emissions Intensity Farming Systems project, long-term studies into soil health and carbon, sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions reporting. And we feature two great innovative grower stories: Jamie and Susie Grant, who've developed a unique dryland farming system, and Richie Quigley, who has implemented a strip and disc system to improve soil health and water retention.

Each year, Crop Consultants Australia - with support from CRDC - conduct a qualitative survey of cotton consultants regarding their practices and attitudes, as well as those of their cotton grower clients. The resulting report provides valuable information to the Australian cotton industry regarding on-farm practices , helping to benchmark the industry's performance in a range of key areas over time. This report, published in March 2025, looks at the 2023-24 cotton growing season.