The grains industry in Western Australia’s commitment to innovation will be celebrated on February 16, 2026, during the thirtieth anniversary of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Grains Research Updates conference in Perth, held in partnership with the Grains Industry Association of Western Australia.

The grains industry has delivered a record 27.352 million metric ton harvest, the largest on record, according to a government announcement released February 13. The announcement notes that grains are the largest contributor to the state’s agriculture sector and a major export earner. It said the achievement reflects favorable seasonal conditions and decades of research, technology, and innovation in the sector.

This year, the Perth update will be hosted at Optus Stadium, a first for the event, reflecting its growing importance and scale in Western Australia’s grains industry. The department said the conference brings together growers, researchers, and industry representatives to share knowledge and discuss emerging opportunities, including new approaches to sustainability and market development.

The GRDC is a corporate Commonwealth entity that invests in research, development, and extension to enhance the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of Australian grain growers. Funded primarily through grower levies and matched government contributions, the GRDC supports innovation across 27 grain crops, including wheat, barley, pulses, and oilseeds.

The 2026 GRDC updates in Perth will include a free New Frontiers Grainstorming breakfast for growers and advisers, aimed at generating innovative ideas for research that can make a difference on-farm, GRDC said. The series of events will continue across regional WA, providing growers with opportunities to explore new practices and technologies while celebrating the state’s record grains harvest.

Peter Bird, GRDC Senior Regional Manager, West, said the updates celebrate innovation and partnership across the grains sector. “The GRDC updates represent 30 years of working together and pushing boundaries. Western Australians should be proud of what we’ve achieved as an industry,” he said.

Kaara Klepper, DPIRD Broadacre Systems executive director, highlighted the department’s long-term involvement. “The department is proud of the Crop Updates legacy and how it has grown into a key platform for sharing innovation, ensuring WA’s grains industry remains adaptable and internationally competitive,” she said.

The announcement also highlighted the role of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in the record harvest. It said DPIRD worked with growers and industry partners to support productivity and maintain grain quality in a drying climate. It noted that DPIRD’s research collaborations in soils, agronomy, crop genetics, and farming systems have helped the sector adopt new approaches and technologies, contributing to improved efficiency and resilience across grain production.

State Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the record harvest reflected sustained innovation and collaboration. “The grains industry’s achievement is remarkable, demonstrating how sustained innovation, technology, and productivity-focused research has equipped growers to improve crop performance and capitalize on favorable seasons at scale,” she said.

Over the past three decades, crop production systems have undergone significant transformation, according to the statement. It said the adoption of minimum tillage practices and soil amelioration techniques have improved soil fertility, and that crop diversification and variable-rate technology have enhanced water and nutrient use efficiency across farming regions.

“The enduring collaboration between DPIRD, growers, and industry has lifted yields to levels that could not have been imagined 30 years ago,” Jarvis said, highlighting the impact of long-term research partnerships.

Jarvis added that government support would continue to focus on research and development to maintain global competitiveness. “The Cook Government continues to build on this legacy, supporting next-generation R&D that keeps WA’s grains industry internationally competitive,” she said.

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