New opportunity for mixed farmers to adopt research innovations through Producer Demonstration Sites

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) are again joining forces to support mixed farming businesses across Australia through a new round of Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) projects.

Preliminary applications for the 2025 Partnership PDS call open on Monday, 25 August and close on Friday, 3 October.

Building on the success of the 2024 pilot, which supported five projects set to establish 32 new demonstration sites and engage 49 core producers and over 600 observer producers, this renewed initiative continues to target producers operating livestock and grain enterprises across Australia’s mixed farming regions.

The program aims to help producers demonstrate, adapt and validate innovative management practices and research outcomes within commercial mixed farming systems. The goal is to drive productivity and profitability gains across both livestock and grain enterprises. 

In 2025, four partnership projects commenced, with a fifth due to begin later this year. These five projects will establish 32 demonstration sites, engaging 49 core producers and more than 620 observer producers across the three GRDC growing regions.

Mixed farming producers stand to gain hands-on access to cutting-edge research and practical innovations that can boost productivity and profitability across both livestock and grain enterprises. 

By participating in the joint MLA/GRDC PDS Program, producers can trial new practices tailored to their unique farming systems, learn directly from peers, and contribute to shaping climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture.

Projects may explore opportunities to optimise pasture and grain crop productivity through improved soil health, targeted plant nutrition, and integrated pest, weed, and disease management. They may look at conducting trials on nutrition or handling practices that improve carcass traits and market premiums.

A focus on climate-resilient systems using crop/pasture rotations and adaptive grazing strategies can also be conducted as part of the collaboration.

Additional opportunities include value-adding in mixed farming systems and whole-of-landscape planning that integrates water, biodiversity, and land use to support sustainable production.

MLA’s Project Manager for Producer Demonstration Sites, Alana McEwan, said the partnership with GRDC is a strategic collaboration designed to deliver locally relevant, on-farm projects.

“This program empowers producer groups to explore and implement new practices that are grounded in research and tailored to their unique farming systems,” Ms McEwan said. “We know that many farmers produce multiple commodities, and their businesses are highly integrated. 

“These PDS projects are targeted at mixed-commodity producers and on outcomes that have crossover between livestock and grain production. The two are often highly complementary, so it makes sense to have this focus on targeted adoption that looks at the whole farm system.” 

GRDC’s Senior Regional Manager South (Acting), Courtney Ramsey, highlighted the importance of peer-to-peer learning and practical application of R&D.

“By establishing PDS sites, we’re enabling producers to engage directly with research in a way that’s meaningful and impactful for their operations,” Ms Ramsey said. “It allows them to see that research in action and better understand how they can make it work for them.” 

The MLA/GRDC Partnership PDS Program will see six new sites established, with producer groups aligned and active by June 2026.

Mixed farming operators interested in participating or hosting a PDS are encouraged to:

• Visit the MLA/GRDC Partnership PDS webpage for updated guidelines, Terms of Reference, and the preliminary application form.
• Submit applications via email to PDS@mla.com.au by Friday, 3 October 2025.
• Sign up for MLA’s quarterly PDS update to stay informed on project progress.
• Use MLA’s PDS search tool to explore active and completed PDS projects by topic or region.