Barley Net Blotch Initiative (BNBI) Program C – Coordination and capacity development

Overview The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking a suitably qualified consultant or coordinator to deliver Barley Net Blotch Initiative (BNBI) Program C, Coordination and capacity development. This procurement is specifically for the coordination and capacity development component of the BNBI, a five-year, nationally focused initiative comprising three interlinked research programs supported by a dedicated coordinator. The BNBI comprises the following programs: Program 1, Pathogen surveillance, monitoring, and screening Program 2, Host and pathogen genetics Program 3, Integrated disease management and extension Program C, Coordination and capacity development Tenderers may apply for the BNBI Coordinator role (Program C) and may also submit applications for one or more of BNBI Programs 1, 2 and 3. GRDC will assess each application on its merits and may fund the Coordinator role independently of, or in conjunction with, one or more program contracts. About Net blotches pose an escalating and urgent threat to Australian barley, costing the industry an estimated $122 million each year through disease-related yield losses, downgraded grain quality, and higher fungicide management costs. Widespread planting of susceptible varieties, the practice of growing barley on barley, and an over-reliance on fungicides with a singular mode of action are driving net blotch pathogens to evolve and spread faster than current surveillance, varietal resistance breeding, management and extension efforts can respond. Net form net blotch (NFNB), caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt), and spot form net blotch (SFNB), caused by Pyrenophora teres f. maculata (Ptm), are the most economically damaging foliar diseases of barley in Australia, accounting for an estimated 80% of total yield losses from barley foliar pathogens. The estimated average annual cost to growers can be greater than $46/ha for SFNB and $42/ha for NFNB. Barley growers are facing increasing pressure as net blotch pathogens evolve rapidly, overcome varietal resistance, and drive fungicide resistance. New, aggressive strains can spread more than 400 km in a few years and overcome varietal resistance within about five, far outpacing current surveillance and breeding cycles. Even with SFNB host genetic resistance, which is generally considered to be more stable than NFNB, it is uncommon to see resistances that remain effective for extended periods. More recently, resistance or reduced sensitivity has now been detected in strains against all three registered fungicide mode of action groups used for net blotch management. Growers are therefore relying on fewer chemical options and limited effective varietal resistance, while uptake of integrated management strategies is constrained by barriers to extension and adoption. Over the past decade, GRDC has invested in net blotch research through a combination of a bilateral partnership with the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), the Net Blotch Consortium (NBC), and a range of individual projects now nearing completion. These investments have built momentum and capability and generated valuable knowledge and data. Purpose This investment seeks to help Australian barley growers keep ahead of a threat that is moving faster than current tools can handle. There is opportunity to build on and capture value from outputs already in the pipeline by addressing identified gaps and barriers, strengthening coordination and co-design with relevant major GRDC disease investments (such as CCDM), focusing the next phase on breeder- and grower-ready outputs, and accelerating communication and extension of surveillance information and integrated disease management (IDM) strategies to industry. GRDC therefore seeks to establish a nationally coordinated, five-year Barley Net Blotch Initiative comprising three interlinked programs (surveillance, genetics and management) supported by a dedicated national coordinator. The initiative will consolidate, re-scope, and accelerate existing efforts to deliver net blotch control options to growers faster and at greater scale. BNBI will also tackle existing reduced cereal pathology capacity, with two PhDs embedded in each program (six across the initiative), developed further through cross-program exposure and an annual PhD forum coordinated by the National Coordinator. Objectives BNBI Program C objectives: Deliver national coordination and integration of BNBI Drive capacity development in cereal plant pathology Scope The scope includes: Driving collaboration, information sharing, and alignment across BNBI Programs 1, 2 and 3 Helping the programs align research priorities with breeder and industry needs from the outset Connecting BNBI with cross-crop initiatives, including the Centre for Crop and Disease Management (CCDM), the Australian Cereal Rust Control Program (ACRCP), the Disease Management Extension Network (DMEN), and existing net blotch investments Strengthening the capacity and collaborative networks required to sustain Australia's cereal pathology capability Aligning surveillance, sampling, data, analytics and integrated disease management (IDM) activities across the initiative Scoping and, where feasible, overseeing development of a centralised digital hub bringing together surveillance, genetic and management information for researchers, breeders, growers and advisers Convening annual BNBI meetings and PhD forums and facilitating broader professional development opportunities Supporting the programs to engage early and consistently with Australian barley breeders and advisers Consulting widely, building consensus and co-designing projects so that research priorities, methods and outputs are aligned with end-user needs Contractor Requirements Suitably qualified as a consultant or coordinator to deliver BNBI Program C Tenderers may also elect to submit a response to Requests for Tender for BNBI Programs 1 to 3. This application will be assessed independently of any Program 1 to 3 submissions, and GRDC reserves the right to fund Program C as a standalone activity or alongside one or more program contracts. Contract Terms and Conditions Offers will remain open for acceptance by GRDC for a period of 6 months after the Closing Time Instructions to Tenderers All requests for further information or clarification in relation to this procurement must be made in writing (email) prior to 26 February 2027. GRDC will publish all requests and responses to requests on the GRDC website under Questions and Answers at the bottom of the relevant webpage. Enquiries Attention: Justine Morgan Organisation: Grains Research and Development Corporation Email: tenders@grdc.com.au