May 15, 2002

Returns to the Australian grain industry from research by the CSIRO Stored Grain Research Laboratory
will exceed $2 billion by 2025, says John Kerin.

The Hon. John Kerin AM, Chairman of the Board of the CSIRO Stored Grain Research Laboratory, was
speaking at a function to celebrate over 30 years of successful collaboration between the CSIRO and the Australian grain industry in Canberra.

That is a return of $21.42 for every dollar invested in research and development, says Mr Kerin.

"The CSIRO Stored Grain Research Laboratory has been a key force in maintaining the Australian grain industry at the forefront of the market through its development of soundly based, cost-effective and safe technologies in handling and storage," says Mr Kerin.

Dr Jim Cullen, Head of CSIRO Entomology, says that Australia must maintain its ability to meet the 'nil
tolerance' of live insects requirement for export, and continue to deliver grain to the customer that is
highly acceptable in all facets of quality.

"The contribution that the Laboratory has made to the Australian grain industry has been significant, and the survival of the grain industry in Australia is still fundamentally linked to its relationship with the grain storage industry," says Dr Cullen.

Dr Jane Wright, head of SGRL, says that SGRL has emphasised the development of new and alternative fumigants, and non-chemical, rapid methods of insect disinfestation.

The need to develop alternative rapid methods of insect control has become urgent in view of the
pending phase out of methyl bromide in 2005 because of its ozone depleting properties.

The SGRL is developing an integrated solution to this problem, she says. The extensive use of methyl
bromide to disinfest soil and timber products also opens up new and interesting areas of research for the Laboratory.

The close working association between the SGRL and the Australian grain industry is unique in many
regards, says Dr Wright.

"Commercial scale trials undertaken in collaboration with the bulk handling companies in each state and AWB Limited has enabled the rapid development of new technologies in grain handling and storage," she says.

Benefits arising from the Laboratory's research have also flowed onto other industry sectors, especially
private and on-farm storers of grain, value-added processors of foodstuffs, and the Australian and
international scientific community.