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Benchmarking globally


Industry position on Benchmarking

Who are the organisations globally that advocate for benchmarking in farming systems or grower groups:

Australia

  1. Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC): GRDC supports grower groups and farming systems groups in benchmarking their research, extension activities, and impact on member performance. This helps in evaluating the effectiveness of the groups themselves.
  2. Southern Farming Systems (SFS): SFS uses benchmarking to compare the performance and effectiveness of their various trial sites and projects, aiming to improve their impact and extension activities.
  3. Grower Group Alliance (GGA): GGA supports member grower groups in Western Australia to benchmark their governance, project management, and community engagement practices.

United Kingdom

  1. AHDB Monitor Farms: While primarily focused on farmer benchmarking, AHDB also benchmarks the performance of their Monitor Farm network to assess the effectiveness of the program and the grower groups involved.

United States

  1. Land O’Lakes Cooperative: This cooperative uses internal benchmarking tools to assess the performance of its member grower groups and cooperatives, focusing on efficiency, sustainability practices, and member engagement.

New Zealand

  1. DairyNZ: In addition to benchmarking dairy farms, DairyNZ benchmarks the performance of their regional groups and discussion groups to evaluate and improve the impact of their extension and advisory services.

Global

  1. International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN): Although IFCN focuses on dairy farms, it also benchmarks the performance of partner institutions and networks, which can include grower groups and cooperative organizations.

Tools and Platforms

  1. Farmbetter: This platform supports benchmarking for agricultural development projects, including those managed by grower groups. It helps in assessing the impact and effectiveness of these projects.
  2. AgriFutures Australia: They provide tools and frameworks for benchmarking the performance of grower groups involved in their funded projects, focusing on governance, project outcomes, and stakeholder engagement.

Approaches

Many grower groups and farming systems organizations develop custom benchmarking frameworks tailored to their specific goals and contexts. These can include:

  1. Governance and Management: Assessing the effectiveness of their governance structures, financial management, and project management practices.
  2. Extension and Outreach: Measuring the impact and reach of their extension activities, workshops, and field days.
  3. Member Engagement: Evaluating member satisfaction, participation rates, and the value provided to members.
  4. Project Impact: Assessing the outcomes and impacts of their research and development projects on the farming community.

Back to the GGA benchmarking information page.