The challenge
Transforming the cotton industry for competitive results
The cotton industry is one of Australia’s most significant contributors to the agricultural sector, with exports in 2012–13 worth $2.7 billion. Australia is one of the world’s top four cotton exporters, competing in a heavily subsidised international market. Cotton crops are regularly threatened by weather extremes, disease, and can be devastated by insect pests. To remain competitive and thrive, Australian cotton farmers need higher yields and lower production costs.
Our response
Optimising yield and quality
CSIRO’s research has been vital to a profitable cotton industry. Our expertise in plant breeding, biotechnology, farming systems, assessments for disease resistance, and post-harvest processing aims to optimise yield and quality. For example, we introduced insect resistant traits, develop by Monsanto, into our cotton varieties bred especially for Australian conditions; revolutionising disease and pest resistance, yield and fibre quality. The result was top quality cotton that is highly sought after in the global market.
The results
Improving environmental sustainability and profitability
Today, all Australian cotton, half the dryland cotton in the United States and about one-third of the cotton in Brazil, Turkey and Greece, benefits from CSIRO-bred varieties.
Australia’s cotton growing productivity, measured by kilograms of lint yield per hectare, is now the world’s highest. Economic assessments1 of CSIRO’s cotton breeding program show an estimated 80:1 return on investment and more than $A5 billion2 net present value from increased yield and regional adaptation in Australia. Benefits of over $A379.5 million over the next decade are expected, through further increases in yield productivity.
CSIRO’s cotton varieties improve environmental sustainability and profitability, through increased water efficiency and reduced use of insecticidal sprays.
Australian cotton farming is the most water efficient in the world.
Widespread adoption of CSIRO varieties in Australian reduced insecticide use by 85 per cent and cut herbicide use by 52 per cent, improving soil health and
reducing waterway contamination.