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Science & Innovation

collaboration of all the necessary parties in the Every day, agricultural scientists are working
innovation process was essential. on problems such as creating disease- and
insect-resistant varieties, understanding soils
The second example is the transformational and how to maintain and improve soil fertility,
innovation of minimum tillage and controlled traffic improving irrigation techniques, improving
farming in Australia. crop establishment, enhancing livestock
reproductive capacity, improving animal
Machinery guidance based on GPS technology nutrition, building systems for better food
has its origins in the military use of the technology. quality, and so on.
The United States government created the
system, maintains it, and makes it freely accessible Even though sometimes these incremental
to anyone with a GPS receiver. The use of GPS innovations do not get the recognition some of
technology specifically in tractor guidance had its the transformational technologies do, they are
origins in various US and Australian universities. This every bit as important. These “smaller” innovations
was then taken up by machinery manufacturers, provide bases upon which to build the pillars of
who now market their machinery with advanced progress. Transformational science makes the
GPS technologies. big steps, but agricultural scientists everywhere
make their contribution through their own work,
Problem-solving science no matter the scope.
Transformational science is not the science of
everyday agriculture. Most of the time, agricultural So, what have we learned about innovation?
scientists take incremental steps in solving Clearly, serendipity plays a role in innovation.
problems and improving agricultural productivity. Having said that, we also need scientists working
Access to Science, Technology,Innovation, Productivity and Profitability
Even this approach takes years of training, long- and focussed on the pressing problems in
term development of skills, careful design and agriculture. Most often these scientists have
implementation of experiments and skilful analysis been publicly funded, but not always. But almost
and interpretation of data - in some cases, large invariably, they have received training at university
amounts of data. or another public institution.

Every day, agricultural scientists are working Then we need the ideas developed by ag
on problems such as creating disease- and scientists to be tested and developed. Again the
insect-resistant varieties, understanding soils public sector plays a role, but increasingly so
and how to maintain and improve soil fertility, close engagement with agribusiness and farmers
improving irrigation techniques, improving crop or other end-users of the innovation has become
establishment, enhancing livestock reproductive necessary to ensure practical application.
capacity, improving animal nutrition, building
systems for better food quality, and so on. Private companies and independent consultants
play a key role in commercialisation. In the
Even though sometimes these incremental examples of transformational innovations above,
innovations do not get the recognition some of without farm corporations and the seed and
the transformational technologies do, they are chemical companies the innovations would have
every bit as important. These “smaller” innovations most likely not succeeded. These companies
provide bases upon which to build the pillars of thrive on a business proposition that generates
progress. Transformational science makes the wealth.
big steps, but agricultural scientists everywhere
make their contribution through their own work, The other thing we have learned is that this is
no matter the scope. not a quick process, nor is it entirely predictable.

The Australian Farmer • Issue 2017