Funding
Apply for funding
Key Dates
Reporting
Research Projects
Applications for the 2026 round of funding are now open!
Applications must be submitted by 5pm, Friday 30 January 2026.
Applicants for SAGIT funding must read the funding guidelines before preparing their application.
SAGIT has always had a transparent and objective process of calling for projects and selection. The trustees appreciate it is grower money they are handling and therefore treat the selection process with the openness and transparency it deserves.
The trust is required to use the funds for research, development and extension into the growing, harvesting, storage, processing and marketing of grain in SA in order to increase profitability and sustainability of the grains industry. Preference is given to projects which provide benefit to South Australian growers, but is not limited to the state.
Funding Guidelines
SAGIT has an open call for projects to benefit SA grain growers and the wider SA grains industry. SAGIT encourages innovative ideas from the research community, grower groups and grains industry participants.
As a guide, applicants are encouraged to review current SAGIT projects and the Grains Industry Blueprint. SAGIT has identified the following issues as being of particular significance:
» SUMMER FALLOW
Improve the management of the summer fallow period through the targeted use of residual herbicides to reduce the number of passes required to achieve control and improve the efficacy of optical sprayers for the control of important summer weeds.
» SUSTAINABILITY
Innovations which improve the sustainability of grains production in South Australia.
» CARBON
Demonstration trials which show SA farmers how to reduce their carbon footprint, especially with respect to the use of nitrogenous fertilisers.
» CROP PROTECTION STRATEGIES
Develop alternative management strategies for plant protection challenges where currently used pesticides have been banned in overseas jurisdictions and are under review in Australia by the APVMA. In particular, two project areas under this grouping are:
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» BARLEY NET FORM OF NET BLOTCH
Compare current and potential new fungicides for their activity on net blotch isolates with mutations for reduced sensitivity to Group 3, 7 and 11 modes of action; strategies which combine judicious use of fungicides, varietal resistance and cultural control to achieve more sustainable control.
» MONITORING FOR FUNGICIDE RESISTANCE IN SA
Support for a more intensive monitoring program than is currently undertaken, allowing SA isolates to be prioritised, with a more timely and intensive surveillance than currently occurs.
» PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN FERTILISER
A critical evaluation of products claimed to improve the efficacy of phosphorus and Nitrogen fertilisers.
» CARRYOVER OF HERBICIDE RESIDUES
Technologies which allow testing of plant active herbicide residues prior to new crop seeding; strategies which mitigate the risk of herbicide carryover
» SOWING GUIDE 2026-2028
Produce an improved and expanded SA Sowing Guide which includes a wider range of agronomic, disease and quality traits as well as continuing to include the variety descriptions, yield results and management information that were included in the 2023-2025 version. A plan for providing the information required should include sourcing data from NVT, breeding companies, Government agencies in SA and interstate and research agronomists. A related project area is:
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» GENERATION OF DATA FOR SA SOWING GUIDE
In particular for disease resistance (and/or other traits). A project focusing on SA isolates of important pathogens and cultivars would provide information on changing disease resistance to go into the sowing guide.
» INTERNATIONAL TRAINING FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCH SCIENTISTS
As an alternative to our current interns program, it is proposed to offer funding to cover travel, accommodation and tuition (but not salary) for early career graduates to undertake short courses in their chosen field in the best international institutes/universities for 3-6 months (estimated funding up to $40k)
» EXTENSION PROGRAM ON THE RISKS OF INTENSIVE ROTATIONS
An extension program to demonstrate the risks in intensive crop rotations using past experiences such as rapid changes in pathogen populations, loss of fungicides and herbicides, increased disease severity such as crown rot. Acceptable solutions would need to be presented e.g. rotating varieties with different resistances, rotating fungicides and herbicides with different actives, avoiding the same crop in consecutive years, only use on-row sowing where appropriate, include break crops in the rotation to reduce disease carryover and use different weed control options. The aim of such a program is increase the effective life of plant disease resistance genes in all of our major crops species, and increase the longevity of crop chemicals.
» LEAD AGRICULTURE TEACHER
A project to continue the work of the lead agriculture teacher to foster high standards of curriculum development and delivery to as many secondary students as possible with funding shared between the cropping, livestock, horticulture and viticulture sectors if feasible.
» GRAINS INDUSTRY BLUEPRINT #2
Please consult the new Grains Industry Blueprint for further research ideas
In addition, SAGIT identified co-funding opportunities with SARDI and the SA Drought Hub:
SAGIT / SARDI PRIORITIES
SAGIT and SARDI are seeking to jointly fund projects on
» PATHOGEN AND PEST SURVEILLIANCE
» CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE
» TRAINEESHIPS / INTERNSHIPS
SAGIT / SA Drought Hub priorities
SAGIT and the SA Drought Hub are seeking to jointly fund projects which improve the drought resilience of farms, farmers and rural communities.
» GRAIN INDUSTRY INTERNS
Support of capacity building in the grains industry especially in regions where no intern programs have been conducted.
» MIXED FARMING INTERNS
Support of capacity building in the grains-livestock industry especially in regions where mixed farming systems are important.
» DROUGHT RESILIENCE
Economic and environmental resilience to drought.
For project proposals that are drought resilience focused, or have aspects focused on drought resilience, please indicate your approval to share the application with the SA Drought Hub given potential for co-funding.
SAGIT also looks for projects that will provide more immediate outcomes for growers through development and adaptation of research. Project applications are assessed according to the following criteria:
Significance to the grain industry
Issues that are relevant to SA growers, marketers and processors and will provide environmental, social and overall benefits to the state gain precedence.
Value for money
SAGIT considers previous and current spending in the area, other work underway and the likely technical and economic benefits. Consideration is given to the total funds requested and the cost:benefit analysis of research outcomes.
Validation and adoption
Will the data produced be in a form suitable for farmers? SAGIT also considers if and how broadly the research outcomes will be adopted.
Path to market
SAGIT considers the market and how results will be delivered, including possible extension and how the project might encourage practice change.
Scientific merit
Consideration is given to the scientific merit of the project.
Probability of success
Consideration is given to the performance history of the researcher or organisation, any barriers to success as well as the probability of achieving project goals.
Innovation
SAGIT considers the new, novel or creative aspect of a project and whether it will add value to existing projects and knowledge or potentially lead to further innovation.
Other benefits
Other considerations include any potential royalty or intellectual property revenue, partnerships and leverage of funds and projects that will provide training opportunities with longer term benefits.
Sharon Nielsen (A. Stat.)
Sharon Nielsen Statistical Consulting and Training
m: 0411 017 865
e: [email protected]
Dr Simon Diffey
Director – Apex Biometry
m: 0481 816 872
e: [email protected]
w: www.apexbiometry.com
Gavin Kearney
Hamilton
m: 0409 725 874
e: [email protected]
Funding guidelines
Grower group Funding guidelines
Example funding agreement
Application forms
Funding applications for research projects are now open. Applications must be submitted by 5pm Friday 30 January 2026.
Applicants must prepare their application on the SAGIT form which corresponds to the funding type being sought.
Please download the relevant Word document and complete your application offline.
When you return to the SAGIT site, please upload your completed Word document and submit the online application form.
Application for research funding
Application for capital funding
Application for Travel funding
Application for grower groups
Out-of-session Application
Deed of variation
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN
OUT-OF-SESSION FUNDING APPLICATION
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION
Key Dates
NOV
2025
Call for applications announced.
1 Jan
2026
Current project invoices to be submitted 14 days prior to the payment date.
30 JAN
2026
Project applications due.
13 Feb
2026
Progress reports (ALL projects) due.
Mar
2026
Applications assessed. Applicants notified of results by the end of March.
1 JUL
2026
First payment*. Successful applicants must submit invoice 14 days prior to payment date.
30 AUG
2026
Final reports and financial statements (Form A) due.
AUG / SEPT
2026
Trustee visits to projects. Final reports reviewed.
1 Jan
2027
Second payment. Successful applicants must submit invoice 14 days prior to payment date.
*Contract and payment can be earlier than 1 July. Please contact SAGIT management if this is required.
Reports
Progress Statements
SAGIT requires successful funding applicants to provide reports on their research to inform growers how their levy money is being spent.
Progress Reports are due on 13 February, including for projects that finish on June 30 of the same year.
PROGRESS Report TEMPLATE
Final Reports
Final reports and financial statements (Form A) are due 30 August for projects finishing on or before June 30.
FINAL REPORT TEMPLATE
GROWER GROUP FINAL REPORT TEMPLATE
Financial forms (Form A and B)
Our research partners
Our funding partners
Co-investment enables SAGIT to broaden its research efforts and enhance the knowledge delivered on farm. SAGIT partners with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SA Drought Hub) and the SA Sheep Industry Fund.
