Grain & Graze: an innovative triple bottom line approach to collaborative and multidisciplinary mixed-farming systems research, development and extension

• DOI: 10.1071/ea08306
• Publication Date: 2009-09-16T03:33:23Z
• Authors: R. J. Price; R. B. Hacker
• Keywords: Scope (computer science); Triple Bottom Line

The Grain & Graze program attempted to improve the ‘triple bottom line’ of mixed-farming systems in Australia through a major research, development and extension (RD&E) that operated across nine regions, with total budget A$31million provided by four R&D corporations over 60 regional partners. Regional activities were complemented series national projects management governance arrangements organised at both levels significant producer input. While two-tiered structure resulted tensions opportunities outputs substantial including 278 demonstration trial sites, 180 training courses, 200 publications, tools manuals, 100 research papers database data. Over 8000 producers participated events, 5000 actively trialled new around 3200 adopted recommended practices despite severely unfavourable seasonal conditions 5 years program. A return on investment 3.4 : 1 for core funders was comparable some other agricultural RD&E programs if lower than others. expanded scope farming explicit recognition triple line formal informal approaches integration these dimensions. It established inter-regional networks scientists can be expected have ongoing significance. follow this special issue reflect magnitude program’s achievements.