Coordinator Weed Management Initiative

The proposed Weed Management Initiative (WMI) will be a federated model with nodes in each GRDC region, ensuring the delivery of leading practice weed management to grain growers, nationally. A coordinator role will liaise with the GRDC Investment Manager to facilitate a range of WMI activities.

The WMI will have four nodes, one in each GRDC region, with two in the Northern region to cover the diverse winter and summer cropping systems. Across the nodes, five programs will be delivered that span the continuum of herbicide resistance from evolutionary dynamics to on the ground mitigation strategies, communications and extension along with capacity building and succession planning. The WMI will establish strategic partnerships with key institutions and deliver co-investment and commitment to weed science RD&E, ensuring the long-term ongoing delivery of weed management strategies to Australian grain growers.

This investment will deliver a comprehensive suite of weed management solutions and information for growers, nationally. The WMI will foster a collaborative, well-resourced, and interconnected research community, ensuring cohesion in national efforts across research, development, and extension. The federated structure, with nodes in each GRDC region (two in the Northern region) will facilitate both national strategies and responsive regional outputs. A Program Advisory Committee (PAC) will provide expert advice and guidance to the WMI.

The WMI will deliver five programs:

•Program 1. Evolutionary Dynamics of Weed Adaptation and Herbicide Resistance.

•Program 2. Biochemical, Molecular and Genetic Basis of Novel Herbicide Resistance.

•Program 3. Mitigation and Management of Weeds Using Novel and Integrated Approaches.

•Program 4A and B. Capacity, Expertise and Collaborative uplift.

•Program 5. Communication, Extension and Adoption of Weed Research Outputs.

Program 4A will co-invest with node institutions to increase the number of PhD and master's students, post-doctoral opportunities, and international collaborations through student internships. The WMI will establish a graduate student cohort program, featuring an annual research showcase where students present their progress. Additionally, Program 4B will facilitate student learning opportunities between nodes, allowing students to benefit from the unique expertise at different institutions.

The WMI will be underpinned by a strategic communication, extension and adoption program (Program 5) ensuring a strong focus on delivery of outputs and information generated being extended to growers with clear demonstration to adoption. The WMI's communications, extension, and adoption program will ensure the prompt delivery of outputs to growers and advisers. Emphasizing regional extension and practical demonstration of developed research will ensure that growers have timely access to cutting-edge information and best practices for addressing their weed management challenges.

Program 4B – this tender – is central to the WMI is coordination of its activities. This includes organizing the annual WMI research forum, PAC meetings, student cohort activities, and managing reporting and communication with nodes and the GRDC investment manager. The WMI research forum requires a budget for venue, catering, and audio/visual costs for about 40 attendees. The annual PAC meeting needs similar arrangements for around 18 participants. The WMI will require coordination support and quality assurance for reporting from nine research programs that will be delivered across all the nodes. There will be close collaboration with the lead of Program 5 to provide support where necessary.