The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) is an Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n statutory Corporation formed in July 1990 under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development (PIERD) Act 1989. RIRDC was set up by the Australian Government to work closely with Australian rural industries on the organisation and funding of their research and development (R&D) needs, in particular for new and emerging industries and for cross-sectoral national rural issues.

RIRDC's mission is for a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector. It is one of 15 Rural Research and Development corporations (RDCs) in Australia.
RIRDC has three portfolio areas: New Rural Industries, Established Rural Industries and National Rural Issues.

RIRDC’s research provides options for producers and communities to increase their profitability and to diversify, by identifying opportunities and helping to manage change. RIRDC was involved in early work on developing canola

Canola

Canola refers to a cultivar of either Rapeseed or Field Mustard . Its seeds are used to produce edible oil suitable for consumption by humans and livestock. The oil is also suitable for use as biodiesel.Originally, Canola was bred naturally from rapeseed in Canada by Keith Downey and Baldur R...

in Australia, which has gone on to become a crop of up to 2.4 million tonnes a year. Research for the tropical fruit industry has seen it expand to more than 400 Australian commercial growers.



RIRDC also provides research and development for established industries. RIRDC R&D has helped improve rice yields by 87% per megalitre while reducing water use by 45%. RIRDC’s chicken meat research led to a new live MG vaccine which holds 40% of that global market and has significantly reduced losses in the industry. RIRDC research has developed three new oaten hay varieties – Wintaroo, Brusher and Kangaroo – which are contributing to an export hay market that has grown by 200% over ten years. RIRDC research and development helps keep these industries at the leading edge of competitiveness and profitability.