During the second quarter of 2010, QualDATA undertook a survey of Rural Research and Development Corporations and Agricultural Industry based CRCs. This survey was looking at the Extension, Adoption, Practice Change and Education status of these organisations in collaboration with the Council of RDCs and the CRC Association.

The survey is looking to create a baseline understanding of the extent to which national RD&E organisations are addressing these functions as part of their funded programs.  The anticipation is that this benchmarking process will lead to an opportunity to foster change in the activities of RD&E organisations.

While the final report will be complete  late July 2010, information is emerging in the areas of:

• How RD&E organisations rate their responsibility in terms of ensuring adoption of R&D findings including where they see themselves on the ‘researcher to user’ continuum.
• What emphasis is placed on productivity, economic, environmental and social benefits.
• Linkages between RD&E organisations and government agencies, NRM bodies and agribusiness.
• Details of specific capacity building, extension/adoption and evaluation activities.
• Budgetary allocations for areas including marketing, promotion and PR; communication and engagement; extension, advisory and adoption; education and training; monitoring and evaluation.
• Requirements RD&E organisations have in place to ensure adoption and what is needed to be addressed in the future.
• Ideas for maximising collaboration between RD&E organisations and minimising duplications.

Contact QualDATA during August 2010 if you are interested in finding out more about this report.