Sorghum research alliance seeks step changes in crop performance
In Australia, Groundcover reported that sorghum research is being strengthened under a new 7-year alliance that combines practical farming systems work with longer-term genetics.
Announced in November 2025, the Sorghum Strategic Alliance is a partnership between GRDC and the University of Queensland (UQ). It represents GRDC’s largest collaborative commitment to sorghum research to date and is intended to lift productivity and profitability for northern growers, according to the report.
GRDC General Manager Applied Research, Development and Extension Craig Baillie said the alliance marks a step change in how sorghum research is to be delivered.
“GRDC has invested in sorghum research for quite some time, but the Sorghum Strategic Alliance is an opportunity to bring a number of threads into a larger program of work, with the idea of making that more impactful, he said.
The alliance will include research into 4 initial foundational areas, including boosting yield potential through advanced genetics and breeding; optimizing grain filling duration to deliver larger, more consistent sorghum grain in variable climates; developing larger grain with increased and more digestible protein and improving sorghum yields through targeted agronomic research.
“We have identified key areas where we know there is really good value for growers, which allows us to build on that foundation in a more collaborative way and co-design future work, rather than GRDC going to market to stand up individual investments,” Baillie said.
Category: Food & Agriculture
