By Bret Ryan and Simon Kruger
As part of our upcoming Soil CRC Participants Conference, we are excited to be hosting a panel discussion titled “The farmer filter: How farming systems groups accelerate research impact.” This session will showcase how grower and farming systems groups have played a critical role in translating Soil CRC research into regionally relevant, practical outputs that farmers and advisors can understand, trust, and adopt.
The panel brings together representatives from across Australia to share how they have filtered, assessed, and prioritised the research findings from dozens of Soil CRC research projects. Each group tailored its own approach to fit local conditions and grower preferences — from workshop-style sessions to layered committee reviews — all with the goal of ensuring that research is not just high quality, but high impact.
“The idea behind the ‘farmer filter’ is simple: research has to pass through the lens of regional relevance and real-world practicality before it’s ready for farmers,” said Bret Ryan, project lead for the Soil CRC Accelerator Project and panel moderator.
“This panel is a chance to highlight the different ways grower groups are doing that — and how powerful it is when local people guide what gets extended.”
The panel ties directly into the Soil CRC Accelerator Project (1.4.007), which has worked with a national network of farming systems groups to categorise more than 50 research outputs based on their readiness for adoption. These categories — General Awareness, Ready for Extension, and Ready for Innovation Incubator — provide a structured way to identify which projects are ready for on-ground action.
“Through this process, we’ve seen that groups aren’t just delivery channels for research — they’re active partners in shaping how research is understood, prioritised, and adopted,” Bret said.
“Tools like process diaries, consensus reviews, and even word clouds of group reflections have revealed rich insights — like the critical role of trust, the preference for face-to-face engagement, and the challenges of digital overload.”
The panel will also explore the tensions and opportunities that come with assessing research relevance across diverse farming regions, as well as how groups resolve conflicts when there is disagreement about a project’s value or readiness.
Key takeaways so far from the Accelerator Project include:
- Extension works best when local facilitators frame research in familiar, trusted ways.
- Farmers are more likely to act on research that is co-delivered by people they know.
- Digital tools support awareness, but in-person conversations drive adoption.
- Process diaries have proven to be a powerful reflection tool — not just for reporting, but for learning.
Looking ahead, the panel will discuss how these insights are informing the next phase of work: co-designing practical, resource-efficient extension packages for the most promising Soil CRC outputs.
“We’re learning that research impact isn’t just about what we say, but who says it and how it’s framed,” said West Midlands Group’s Simon Kruger, a project participant and panel member.
“This panel will be a celebration of what’s possible when farmers and research organisations work together — not just at the end of the project, but from the very beginning of translation.”
Simon will be joined on the panel by Rob Milla (Burdekin Productivity Services), Diana Fear (Central West Farming Systems), Kelly Angel (Birchip Cropping Group), Dr Christine Storer (Charles Sturt University) and Stephen Rutter (The Scale Institute).
Find out more and register here: https://soilcrc.com.au/events/