A new micro-credentialled cotton education program is set to strengthen skills and fast-track the uptake of innovation across the Australian cotton industry.
The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), in collaboration with the University of Sydney (USYD) and industry partners CottonInfo and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), has launched a university-level qualification in cotton production designed to be flexible and accessible.
The CRDC Cotton Course comprises three microcredential courses to be delivered during 2026, removing many of the traditional barriers associated with university study.
The program requires no prior educational qualifications and does not involve exams, assignments or extended classroom attendance.
Targeted at growers, consultants, researchers and service professionals, the courses will cover both technical and business aspects of cotton production, including agronomy best practice, stewardship, sustainability, data, technology, and farm management.
Emerald-based CRDC acting general manager of Innovation Susan Maas said the new course built on more than a decade of support for the University of New England Cotton Production Course.
“There is a huge amount of information available to the cotton industry already through CRDC, CottonInfo and CSD, but we recognise that a course provides a framework for people to build their knowledge and have it acknowledged as part of their career pathway,” Susan said.
“We’ve had feedback from the industry that formal university courses can be difficult to access for those who are working full time or have different educational backgrounds, so we chose to prioritise flexible learning and target different areas of knowledge in the three microcredential courses.”
The first component, Microcredential 1, will commence in March and will be delivered by USYD course coordinator Ian Simpson at the IA Watson Grains Research Centre in Narrabri.
Designed as an entry point for new participants, the course will cover foundational cotton production principles using the continually updated CottonInfo-CRDC Australian Cotton Production Manual.
Participants will take part in a three-day intensive featuring presentations, field walks and facilitated group activities at cotton sites around Narrabri, with learning focused on peer interaction and direct engagement with industry experts and academics.
The CRDC Cotton Course will be complemented by a separate post-farmgate program developed by the Australian Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA), which will provide insight into the supply chain from production through to processing and fabric.
The ACSA Cotton Fundamentals course combines classroom learning with site and field visits and CRDC will offer two scholarships for participants who can demonstrate how they will apply the knowledge gained for the broader benefit of the sector.
Applications are now open for Microcredential 1, which will run from 10 to 12 March 2026 in Narrabri, NSW.
Course fees are $950, with a 10 per cent early-bird discount available for registrations made before 1 February.
Enrolments can be made via the University of Sydney short courses portal.
