FAQs
We have launched SRA’s Strategic Plan for 2026 – 2031. It sets a clear direction for how we’ll support Australia’s sugar industry over the next five years. We have one clear goal: to help the industry lift productivity by 10% by 2031. We’ll focus our investment where it can make the biggest difference.
We’re here to partner with industry and government to lift productivity through being the science leader in the Australian sugar industry.
To support the Australian sugar industry to lift productivity by 10% by 2031.
SRA will strive to lift the productivity of the Australian sugar industry by 10% by 2031 by focusing on high-impact variety development, research, adoption and partnerships – accelerating the shift from proven knowledge to real gains in yield, profitability and resilience.
Historical productivity growth has been slow to deliver the step-change the industry needs, increasing by approximately 0.2% per year since 1975. Over the past decade, average cane yield has been approximately 89 t/ha1. Reaching 98 t/ha by 2031 would represent a 10% uplift from this baseline.
The 10% uplift to 98 t/ha will be pursued across three pathways:
1. Near-term gains from adoption of proven practices and better use of existing varieties
2. Mid-term avoided losses from crop protection solutions
3. Longer-term genetic gain from a modernised
variety development pipeline.
Each of the Priorities contained within the Strategic Plan has an Action Plan outlining the delivery roadmap to achieve its outcomes.
If you would like a copy of the Action Plan for a specific Priority, please email us at sra@sugarresearch.com.au stating the words ‘ACTION PLAN’ and the ‘Priority #’ you would like to see in the subject line.
We will provide annual updates on each Priority, reporting on these Actions to all stakeholders.
SRA will align investment to the priorities most likely to improve productivity and deliver value to growers, millers and government investors. Investment will focus on three strategic focus areas: developing better varieties, reducing losses from disease, pests and weeds, and accelerating adoption. These priorities will be supported by district delivery and partnerships, organisational enablers and core services.
SRA will apply a disciplined investment approach by:
• Prioritising work with a clear pathway to productivity uplift
• Using partnerships and co-investment to increase reach, capability and value for money, applying decision gates to major R&D and
deployment investments
• Balancing near-term impact with longer-term delivery.
The three key priorities are:
1.Varieties – developing higher-performing varieties and helping growers get the best from both existing and future varieties.
2. Crop Protection – finding practical solutions to pests, diseases and weeds, while preparing for future biosecurity threats.
3. Adoption – getting proven research into growers’ hands faster, so science can deliver on-farm results.
The aim is to increase TCH by 10% without CCS going down.
Tissue culture has potential to multiply priority varieties faster and support cleaner planting material. However, demand, cost and delivery risks must be resolved before major investment. As part of the work in the strategic plan, SRA will test whether tissue culture can provide a better pathway for approved disease-free planting material without disrupting existing clean seed systems. Scale-up will only proceed if pilot evidence demonstrates grower demand, cost-effective supply, plant quality, survival, logistics, disease-management value and sustainable delivery through trusted district partners. Any future model will be developed with productivity boards and nursery partners and will complement, not replace, existing district systems. This work will be complemented by initiatives to enhance our cold and hot water treatment capabilities.