Open Call: 2026 AgriFutures Export Fodder Program

Overview AgriFutures Australia is seeking research proposals under the 2026 AgriFutures Export Fodder Program, addressing the investment priorities within the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program RD&E Plan 2021-2026. About AgriFutures Australia investments are driven by Strategic RD&E Plans that address the needs of industries and stakeholders and ensure priorities are industry and government driven. The aim is to deliver research and innovation that gives levy payers real returns and prepares them to thrive into the future. Purpose The goal of the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program is to support a thriving and collaborative Australian Export Fodder industry. To ensure this goal is achieved, AgriFutures Australia is seeking research proposals to address the investment priorities within the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program RD&E Plan 2021-2026. Potential service providers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the RD&E Plan prior to developing a proposal. Objectives The Export Fodder RD&E Plan is structured around four key priority areas: Production of high-quality export-grade fodder Continued access to export markets Supporting innovation across the supply chain Increased adoption of R&D outputs by industry Information Requested Proposals must address a priority, clearly justify the need and identify clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The project plan should clearly identify project outputs and the resulting outcome for the Export Fodder industry, presenting concisely what the project outputs are and how these will improve the profitability of the Australian Export Fodder industry. Researcher Submission Checklist The researcher must complete the checklist prior to the submission being accepted: Have you checked the FAQ section on the AgriFutures Export Fodder webpage? If the project requires statistical analysis, has a qualified statistician been engaged to undertake project design and data analyses? Does the proposal identify if the work will relate to a Program priority? Does the proposal clearly identify who will be undertaking the bulk of the work (might not necessarily be the Principal Investigator)? Does the proposal clearly articulate what the outcome for industry will be? Does the proposal clearly outline and identify extension opportunities? The Principal Investigator must comply with the application process within K2 Respondents Will Be Expected to Provide A detailed project plan, including timelines, KPIs and how the project will be conducted and how this will meet the requirements of the Open Call A detailed budget, with attachments included if applicable Examples of similar work the respondent has completed Capability and relevant experience There is the opportunity to include additional attachments if necessary with an application in K2. Contractor Requirements The following criteria will be used to assess applications, with equal weighting applied: How relevant is the project to the research priorities of the Export Fodder Program? How important do you think it is for AgriFutures Australia to invest in this research? How much value do the benefits of this research provide to industry? How important is this research to industry? How important is the expected outcome of this project to industry? How important are the outputs/deliverables from this project to the industry? The value for money for this project The project design, including how conceptually sound and technically feasible the project is The potential for adoption in industry The potential for commercial pathways The value of any potential IP resulting from this project The capability and experience of the Project Lead The capability and experience of the Research Organisation Proposals should focus on how they will improve the profitability of the Australian Export Fodder industry. It is expected that a contract will be awarded based on how well a respondent addresses the objectives of the Open Call, with selection based on the evaluation criteria above. Instructions to Tenderers Timeline Open Call – Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) Applications Open: Monday, 20 July 2026, 12:00 PM AEST End of Period for Questions or Requests for Information: Monday, 17 August 2026, 12:00 PM AEST Open Call – Applications Close: Monday, 31 August 2026, 12:00 PM AEST Intended Completion of Evaluation of Respondents' Submissions by the Panel for Progression to Full Research Proposal (FRP) Submissions: September 2026 Open Call – Full Research Proposal (FRP) Applications Open: Wednesday, 30 September 2026, 12:00 PM AEST End of Period for Questions or Requests for Information: Monday, 26 October 2026, 12:00 PM AEDT Open Call – Full Research Proposal (FRP) Applications Close: Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 12:00 PM AEDT Intended Completion of Evaluation of Respondents' Submissions: Early December 2026 Negotiations with Respondents (if applicable): December 2026 to February 2027 Expected Execution of Contract or Issuance of Agreement: February 2027 to June 2027 Submitting a Response Applications for this Open Call for Research must be submitted online using the PRP application in K2: https://agrifutures.onk2.com/Runtime/Runtime/Form/Researcher.Dashboard/ If you had a previous account in Clarity, you can log in using your Clarity user name or email address and the initial password K2pass! You will be prompted to reset this initial password when you log in. If at any time you forget your password, you can also reset it via a forgotten password link on the login page. New users need to register for access to the K2 platform. Please note the provision of login details may take up to two business days. Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal, using the new user or new company request forms on the account creation page. Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicable round is open. K2 User Guide: Submitting a Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) K2 User Guide: Admin approval for Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) For questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email helpdesk@agrifutures.com.au Contract Terms and Conditions AgriFutures Australia uses standard form contracts and agreements for projects and research it procures, available at: https://www.agrifutures.com.au/contracts-and-agreements/. These contracts and agreements set out the terms on which AgriFutures Australia will engage successful applicants to carry out the project. Applicants must be familiar with the Research Agreement before lodging Preliminary Research Proposals (PRPs) and are advised to seek legal advice on it before lodging a PRP. The Research Agreement has been developed to reflect AgriFutures Australia's statutory and other responsibilities in funding projects. AgriFutures Australia will generally not negotiate substantive amendments to any clauses of the Agreement unless it is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist that require amendment to the standard form, and the applicant completes a statement of non-compliance for each of those clauses. Applicants will be taken to have agreed to all clauses in the Research Agreement that are not referred to in a statement of non-compliance. The extent of any non-compliance will be a factor in AgriFutures Australia's evaluation of the application. If you require further information regarding these contracts and agreements, please contact Stephanie-Kate Bratton, General Counsel, email: stephanie-kate.bratton@agrifutures.com.au Enquiries Should you have any questions about the Open Call, please direct all enquiries to the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program prior to 12:00 PM AEST on Monday, 17 August 2026. Individual responses to questions relating to the Open Call will not be provided by AgriFutures; a response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section. James Holding, Manager, AgriFutures Export Fodder Program Email: james.holding@agrifutures.com.au