Government bill to boost rural R&D THE federal government is proposing changes to the way rural research and development (R&D) is funded and managed. Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce told parliament on Wednesday that Australia's success in agriculture was built on R&D and its system was the envy of other countries. Australia now has 15 rural R&D corporations, five statutory and 10 industry-owned. Mr Joyce said the changes he was proposing would provide better services and ensure the model continued to work. The bill will allow all statutory bodies to undertake marketing if requested by industry. It will encourage private sector investment in rural R&D by enabling the government to match funding provided through voluntary contributions. It will also allow individual fisheries industry levies to be matched, subject to a cap based on the value of each industry's production. Mr Joyce said prospects for Australia's rural industries were very exciting. "R&D is providing advances in precision farming to minimise soil disturbance and compaction and cut chemical and fertiliser use to what plants actually need," he said. We are seeing the potential to use drones to manage weeds and pests. We are breeding plants and animals to develop taste attributes that markets require and to tackle specific health issues such as overcoming the increasing emergence of allergies. Debate on the Rural Research and Development Legislation Amendment Bill and two associated bills was adjourned.