What Sugar Research Australia does

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is the statutory Research and Development Corporation (RDC) for the Australian sugarcane industry, established in 2013 and headquartered in Brisbane. SRA operates as one of Australia's 15 nationally-recognised RDCs and delivers research, development and extension across five programs: Varieties, Agronomy & Farming Systems, Milling, Biosecurity & Crop Protection, and Adoption. The organisation's core outputs include a sugarcane breeding pipeline producing proprietary varieties (most recently SRA9, SRA49 and SRA50), diagnostic services via the IRIS Laboratory (processing approximately 12,000 RSD samples per year), digital agronomic tools (Harvest Mate Auto harvester optimisation, handheld micro NIR maturity devices, FEAT Online farm economics tool), the Pl@ntNet weed identification app, and tissue culture services for clean seed. SRA maintains eight operational sites — Brisbane HQ plus stations and offices at Meringa/Gordonvale, Bundaberg, Mackay, Woodford, Burdekin, Ingham, and Tully — covering the six Australian cane-growing regions across Queensland and NSW. International biosecurity research extends to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Thailand.

SRA's revenue model is levy-and-grant funded rather than commercial: it operates under a Statutory Funding Agreement with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, receiving matched contributions from grower and miller levies plus competitive grant funding. Recent government inflows include a $4.38 million Queensland Government Sugarcane Practice Change Program grant and a five-year, $10 million ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity investment shared across 27 partner organisations. The organisation employs approximately 36 full-time staff plus 20+ casuals during the variety development peak season, with technical capabilities spanning photoperiod crossing facilities, genomic selection, qPCR diagnostics, NIR spectroscopy, drone monitoring, and hyperspectral imaging. SRA's strategic direction is governed by its Ten-Year R&D Plan 2024-2034 and an in-development 2026-2031 Strategic Plan, with the leadership transition to interim CEO Haydn Slattery following Mick Bartlett's 11 June 2026 departure signalling continuity rather than strategic reorientation.

Name

Sugar Research Australia

Legal name

Sugar Research Australia Limited

Website

https://sugarresearch.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sugar Research Australia is the statutory Research and Development Corporation for the Australian sugarcane industry, delivering new varieties, diagnostics, and digital tools to growers and millers across Queensland and NSW since 2013.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Statutory Funding Agreement: SRA is an industry-owned company and one of Australia's 15 Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), funded through statutory funding agreements with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with industry levy contributions from sugarcane growers and millers.
2. Grants and Contestable Funding: SRA receives additional funding through grants from various sources including Queensland Government ($4.38 million Sugarcane Practice Change Program), Department of Primary Industries, Australian Research Council ($10 million ARC Training Centre), and other government programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is an industry-owned Research and Development Corporation that manages research, development and extension projects for the Australian sugarcane industry. It delivers sugarcane variety breeding, agronomy, milling, biosecurity and crop protection research, along with diagnostic laboratory services (RSD qPCR testing, NIR spectroscopy), grower/miller extension programs, and digital tools such as Harvest Mate Auto, FEAT Online and the Pl@ntNet weed identification app.

Product overview

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is a research and development organization serving the Australian sugarcane industry. Its portfolio includes a core sugarcane breeding and varieties program delivering new varieties (SRA9, SRA49, SRA50), diagnostic services (RSD testing, NIR analytics), technology tools (Harvest Mate Auto, handheld NIR devices, FEAT Online), and the Pl@ntNet weed identification app. SRA also provides tissue culture services, online training, publications (Cane Matters magazine, Variety Guides, District Productivity Plans), and operates research programs in agronomy, milling, and biosecurity. The organization operates through five R&D programs and maintains field stations across Australian cane-growing regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sugarcane Varieties Development Program A core breeding program developing new sugarcane varieties for Australian growing regions. Includes crossing, seedling selection, Clone Assessment Trials (CATs), Final Assessment Trials (FATs), and Regional Variety Trials. Recent releases include SRA9, SRA49, and SRA50.
• RSD Diagnostics Service Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) testing service using qPCR and xylem/leaf sheath bioassay methods. SRA's IRIS Laboratory services at Acacia Ridge process approximately 12,000 samples annually with turnaround of about three days.
• Tissue Culture Services Provides disease-free sugarcane planting material through tissue culture, including ordering information, fact sheets, and deadlines for autumn and spring planting. Material undergoes Cold Soak Long Hot Water Treatment (CSLHWT) and quarantine processing.
• Research & Development Programs Five R&D programs covering Varieties, Agronomy & Farming Systems, Milling, Biosecurity & Crop Protection, and Adoption. Includes research projects, laboratory services, postgraduate opportunities, and eLibrary resources.
• Harvest Mate Auto A harvester optimization tool that collects data on operating parameters and harvest performance. Currently configured for green cane harvest with trials underway for burnt cane adaptation. Helps growers optimize harvester settings for improved economic outcomes.
• Pl@ntNet Weeds of Sugarcane in Australia Free weed identification app created in collaboration with Pl@ntNet. Uses automated recognition technology to identify weeds and invasive flora on-farm by analyzing uploaded photos against a library of known sugarcane weeds.
• FEAT Online (Farm Economic Analysis Tool) Free farm management tool for sugarcane growers. Makes data entry easy to help growers understand projected outcomes for different farming scenarios before implementing practice changes.
• Handheld Micro NIR Device and Calibration Service Portable Near-Infrared spectroscopy device and calibration service for cane stalk maturity assessment. Determines Brix, fibre and moisture content to predict optimal harvest timing. Used by mills and SRA district managers.
• NCS5 Fermentation Calibration Software New calibration software system for online NIR systems at sugar mills. Classifies fermentation levels (juice/beer/wine) and applies appropriate calibrations for accurate Pol prediction in fermented cane.
• Hyperspectral Imaging Sucrose Estimation Research Research project combining hyperspectral imaging with artificial intelligence to estimate sugarcane sucrose content. Uses advanced imaging technology and AI algorithms for non-destructive crop analysis.
• SIX EASY STEPS Nutrient Management Program Nutrient management program providing guidance and tools for balanced nutrition decisions. Helps growers understand soil and nutrient uptake processes and develop nutrient management plans.
• Publications and Variety Guides Cane Matters magazine (quarterly), Corporate Publications, Variety Guides for each region, District Productivity Plans, and Annual Reports. Variety guides available for Northern, Herbert, Burdekin, Central, Southern, and NSW regions.
• Online Training and Extension Workshops Training programs for sugarcane growers including webinars, workshops, and online modules covering topics such as RSD management, weed control, nutrient management, and new variety adoption.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARC Training Centre in Plant BiosecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2025Five-year, $10 million investment funded by Australian Research Council with SRA as one of 27 partner organizations. SRA staff have free access to biosecurity-related training courses.
• Pl@ntNetcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 February 2025SRA collaborated with Pl@ntNet developers to create 'Weeds of Sugarcane in Australia' micro-project, providing free weed identification tool for Australian cane growers.
• CANEGROWERScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRA works closely with CANEGROWERS and other industry bodies including Australian Sugar Manufacturers to support farmers, communicate impacts of operational pressures, and develop shared resources such as the FEAT tool.
• Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited (HCPSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative project between SRA and HCPSL targeting balanced nutrition and productivity constraints in the Herbert region, offering tailored one-on-one extension support to growers.
• Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRA operates under a Statutory Funding Agreement with DAFF as one of Australia's 15 Research and Development Corporations (RDCs).
• Australian National University (ANU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANU supervises PhD students working on SRA biosecurity projects including sugarcane rust pathogen research with Dr Seona Casonato.
• James Cook UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCU supervises Post Doctoral Researcher working with SRA on remote sensing of weeds and targeted automated spraying project.
• University of Queensland (UQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUQ researchers work with SRA on RSD management projects, nematode research, and organic amendments trials. Associate Professor Anthony Young leads extension effort at Rocky Point.
• University of New England (UNE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on canegrub management project investigating host plant volatiles for sustainable pest control.
• GHDminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional services company contracted to conduct Independent Performance Review as required under SRA's Statutory Funding Agreement.
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRA partners with QUT for Regional Sugar Milling Research Seminars, presenting current research to the sugar milling sector annually.
• Griffith UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Mehran Rezaei Rashti leading project on organic amendments for sugarcane yields in Burdekin. DPI-funded project managed by SRA.
• Burdekin Productivity ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on organic amendments trial at Inkerman site, with BPS Manager Rob Milla as close collaborator.
• Plant Biosecurity CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRA participates in molecular characterization project of sugarcane rust pathogens coordinated through the Plant Biosecurity Centre.
• Council of RDCsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRA works with Council of RDCs as part of industry collaboration to help communicate impacts and support farmers during operational pressures.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sugarresearch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/sugarresearchaustralia
• Facebookfacebook.com/sugarresearch.com.au
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sugar-research-australia
• Instagraminstagram.com/sugarresearchaus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sugar Research Australia