The GGA has released a five year strategic plan (2009-13), New Horizons, based on delivering four grains industry priorities:

• establishing an informed and efficient marketplace;

• providing industry promotion and market development;

• generating innovation; and

• improving grains industry productivity.

The Grains Innovation Fund will leverage part of GGA's capital base to attract other investors to fund leading edge projects in the grains industry.

GGA says the fund will invest in projects that kick-start innovation in areas such as carbon farming, infrastructure and grains industry technology.

GGA says it is establishing the new services business stream to make sure that information and technical services the grains industry needs are readily available.

The services business stream will be built on strategic acquisitions and enhancements of existing industry service providers and the establishment of new services where required.

It says core information and member services currently provided by GGA will be enhanced and progressively re-badged under the banner of Intelligent Grains.

Intelligent Grains will include capacity building activities such as the Innovation Generation Conference and the Australian Future Grain Leaders Program, as well as information products such as the Grain and Hay Weekly Update, ACF Crop Updates and ad-hoc industry reports and policy research.

GGA chairman John Eastburn said the New Horizons strategy was aimed at building the global competitiveness of the Australian grains industry as well as strengthening the position of growers in the marketplace.

"We have entered a new era in the way the Australian grain industry operates and GGA cannot afford to stay the same," he said.

"Through this strategic plan we have re-assessed our role to fulfill our mandate to effect positive change across the grains industry.

"GGA is being proactive in ensuring the market is informed and we have a globally competitive supply chain.

"Our vision is to be indispensable to the Australian grains industry, and this new direction is set to benefit our members and the whole grains industry."