Strategic framework to sharpen WAARC’s future research investment
Western Australia’s agricultural sector is facing complex, interconnected challenges which cannot be solved through isolated projects or fragmented research effort.
Climate variability, rising input pressures, changing market expectations and new technology all cut across commodities, disciplines and institutions.
The WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC) was established to help bring organisations together around these challenges and, over the past two years, has focused on building the foundations of a stronger and more connected agricultural research system for WA.
This first phase has focused on establishing governance, building partnerships and investing in collaborative projects which address critical challenges facing the State’s food and agribusiness industries.
WAARC Director Dr Kelly Pearce said the early work had shown what becomes possible when collaboration is treated as a core part of research investment.
“The first phase was about building the platform and demonstrating what can be achieved when researchers, industry and government work together around shared priorities,” Dr Pearce said.
“We have supported a growing portfolio of collaborative projects, strengthened connections across the sector and helped create opportunities for outstanding researchers, including many mid-career researchers who will play an important role in WA’s future innovation capability.”
WAARC is now moving into its next phase, building on the foundations established over the past two years to help shape the future direction of agricultural research in WA.
With support from agdots and Spiegare, WAARC is developing its Investment Priorities 2026 to bring greater focus, structure and transparency to how collaborative research and development opportunities are identified, assessed and progressed.
“The next stage is about identifying the major challenges and opportunities facing WA agriculture and focusing our collective capability on those priorities,” Dr Pearce said.