Research Funding

Dairy is a highly collaborative industry and especially so when it comes to investment in Research & Development (R&D).  Much of the $150 million spent on dairy R&D every year is made up of projects jointly funded by the Australian Government, state government departments, Dairy Australia, the dairy companies and independent investors such as the Geoffrey Gardiner Foundation.

Dairy Australia plays a leading role in funding and co-ordinating industry funding for essential R&D to meet key industry priorities.  Dairy Australia spends around $30-35 million a year in R&D projects for the benefit of Australian dairy farmers and manufacturers.  Our funds comes from the Dairy Service Levy and Australian Government matching funds.

Dairy Australia invests in and co-ordinates industry research in three areas:

• Farm - feed, animal genetics, resource management, farming systems and business practices.
• Manufacturing - pre-competitive research in biosciences, processing, bulk and functional ingredients, functional foods, cheese starters and fermented products, sustainable production processes, health and nutrition.
• Technical issues - quantitative risk analysis, control measures for contaminants, development of analytical methods, and animal health and welfare.

Dairy Australia does not conduct R&D itself.  We contract and oversee R&D organisations in Australia (such as state departments of agriculture or primary industries, universities and CSIRO) to carry out scientific developmental, educational and economic projects which will address these key issues.  We also fund industry-backed innovation centres, such as Dairy Innovation Australia, to develop and commercialise new knowledge, technology and processes on-farm and in manufacturing.