NGN Weed control Ag tech demonstration for the Vic Mallee and North Central Subregions

⁠⁠⁠Growers at the Natya and Manangatang NGN Forums identified a desire to understand the options, fit and return on investment (ROI) of emerging ag tech weed control options that could benefit their operations. It was noted that growers are optimistically anticipating the role new weed control technology may be able to play in reducing herbicide input and weed management costs and maintaining grain market access by changing use patterns for herbicide chemistries. However, the high cost of the new technology adds significant risk and a potential barrier to adoption.

Hence growers are keen to understand the fit, efficacy and impact on ROI of different weed management options. Of the options available, attendees were most keen to see green-on-green spray technology, automated sprayers, drone technology and non-chemical tech options such as mechanical and laser weeders demonstrated. Consequently, this investment is designed to demonstrate these technology types in local Victorian Mallee and North Central subregions, including side by side comparisons of the efficacy of weed control to assist growers in understanding the best fit for their local environment and evaluate the ROI of each new technology.

Outcome: By December 2027 at least 100 growers in the Victorian Mallee and North Central regions have participated in weed control ag tech demonstrations which have informed their decisions through understanding potential benefits, costs and risks to determine the best fit emerging weed control technologies for local farming systems.

Outputs:

Output 1.

Title: Weed control ag technology demonstration days and weed control trials.

Description: By August 2025 and 2027 deliver six weed control ag tech demonstration trials, one at each of three locations in 2025 and again at similar locations in 2027. Locations will be in the Victorian Mallee and North Central sub regions.

Weed control ag tech demonstration days should include a range of technologies and manufacturer equipment with comparisons of technologies undertaken at the type of technology level and not product comparison. Approaches should be agnostic to manufacturer type.

Weed technologies which should be consider for inclusion but not limited to include green on green, automated/robotic and drone spray technology, mechanical. Whilst demonstration of electric and laser weeders is not proposed they may form part of discussions around viability and fire risks.

Demonstration days should include facilitated peer to peer discussion on the fit of technologies to local conditions and encourage sharing of experiences of attendees. Facilitated discussion should include costs, potential benefits, risks and discussion of ROI in local context such as technical risks and digital systems readiness.

Demonstrations should be undertaken in strips with assessments of efficacy of weed control undertaken as a comparison against technology types.

The provider will be responsible for the organisation, collaboration with manufactures, promotion, trial plan, methodology, implementation, observations, collation, statistical analysis and discussion and extension of results, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of event and reporting to GRDC.

M&E of this program must include grower survey approaches at two time points (2025 and 2027) designed in consultation with GRDC and considering how the events and extension have informed decision-making processes.

Co-investment approaches from manufacturers particularly by way of provision of and skilled demonstration of equipment is expected. An open approach must be used to engaged ag tech manufacturers... see website listing for full output detail.

Other Instructions:

Minimum Form and Content Requirements

The following are the mandatory content and format requirements that the Tenderer must complete and provide to participate in this procurement process:

1 Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal.

2 Write Tenders in English and express any measurements in Australian legal units of measurement.

3 Budget details must be submitted on the ‘GRDC Budget Template’ provided in the Grains Investment Portal.

Evaluation Criteria

In the table below are the Evaluation Criteria that the Tender Evaluation Team will use to assess the value for money of all Tenders.

Conditions for Participation:

Conditions for Participation

The following are mandatory conditions with which a Tenderer must comply to participate in this procurement process:

1 The Tenderer must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners

2 The Tenderer and any proposed subcontractor must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and any other applicable labour laws and standards in the jurisdiction in which they operate.

3 The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not have a judicial decision against it (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and who have not paid the claim.

4 The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not be named on the Consolidated List, being the list of persons and entities who are subject to targeted financial sanctions or travel bans under Australian sanction laws, as maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Timeframe for Delivery: It is expected this investment we be run over 2 years.

Estimated Value (AUD): From $180,000.00 to $180,000.00

Address for Lodgement: Submit your Tender through the Grains Investment Portal