WHAT IS THE AG INNOVATION COLLECTIVE?
The Ag Innovation Collective (AIC) is a collaborative framework that brings together 10 farmer-led groups across New South Wales to deliver coordinated, high-quality research, development and extension (RD&E) at scale.
Its purpose is to drive large-scale innovation, validate high-potential technologies and practices in real farm systems, and accelerate adoption to improve farm productivity, sustainability and resilience, building on more than a decade of organic collaboration between member, not-for-profit organisations.
Why this project is needed
Farmers, investors, and supply-chain stakeholders need confidence that new technologies and practices are validated in real-world farm systems to be adopted at scale. NSW farming systems groups already deliver locally relevant research, trials and extension, and represent the most established extension and adoption networks, operating for decades with thousands of farmer members.
However, when challenges span multiple regions, seasons and production systems, a purely local approach can unintentionally create:
- Duplication of similar trial designs, engagement processes and reporting across regions
- Variable consistency in research design, delivery quality and communications
- Stretched capacity for larger, multi-region initiatives (especially in project management and specialist technical inputs).
The AIC addresses this by providing a cohesive, farmer-centred framework that helps turn strong pilots into scalable, on-farm adoption and practical outcomes that deliver measurable benefits to producers and rural communities. It also creates clearer, streamlined pathways for investment by engaging those innovation practitioners employed by farmers, through a central project team, that can provide focus, delivery, and impact.
Project focus
Improving investment outcomes for farmers, industry, and other investors in agricultural innovation.
The AIC focuses on the challenges and opportunities that matter to farmers most. Designing programs, projects, and activities to address the critical challenges and opportunities that have the network, technical expertise, and remit to deliver impact.
This initiative focuses on:
Co-design and delivering large-scale, farmer-led projects along with statewide and national initiatives
The AIC meets regularly to understand the key challenges and opportunities facing farmers across the state – understanding alignment and differences across geographies, systems, and businesses.
Designing activities, projects, and programs in response to farmer priorities.
Validate emerging technologies, science and practices across diverse regions, systems and seasons
AIC strengthens adoption confidence by enabling high-quality, consistent RD&E at scale, validating emerging technologies, science and practices across different agroecological zones, farming systems and businesses and farmer demographics. This responds directly to the need for evidence that holds up across variability (seasonal, biophysical and business context), not just in a single locality.
Increase efficiency through shared capability and fit-for-purpose centralisation
AIC improves efficiency in project management and delivery by centralising core functions where this does not add farmer value locally and where there is capacity and skill within one or more member groups. Examples explicitly include:
This reduces duplication, improves consistency for funders and partners, and frees local teams to focus on what matters most on the ground: farmer engagement, trial execution, and locally relevant interpretation.
Build capacity across farmer-led extension and adoption networks
AIC builds capability by sharing resources, training and expertise across groups, growing technical skills and future-focused competencies needed to deliver high-quality RD&E outputs and increasing connectivity between teams.
Strengthen knowledge sharing and consistent communication across member groups and the wider farming systems network.
AIC formalises regular cross-group communication so members can share:
It also supports consistent external communication through shared identity and branding, helping ensure stakeholders receive clear, aligned messages about what’s being tested, what’s working, and what is ready for adoption.
Together, the Ag Innovation Collective turns strong local research, development and extension (RD&E) into coordinated statewide impact, validating what works in real farm systems and making proven innovations easier to adopt with confidence.
By connecting ten farmer-led groups, it reduces duplication, lifts consistency, and builds shared capability to deliver larger, farmer-ready outcomes across NSW. It’s farmers leading practical change; faster, further and at scale.
For further information, please contact Tasmin Rowe, Riverine Plains New Initiatives Manager, tasmin@riverineplains.org.au.
