Grain Legume Production in
South Australia

To effectively deliver validation and demonstration trials across the state, a hub and spoke model has been adopted.

Three major validation sites (hubs) and ten on-farm demonstration (spoke) sites have now been established.

The hub sites will focus on a combination of sub-regional grower-driven development and extension priorities, and the extension of new research learnings from aligned projects. This will be achieved through a series of fully replicated trial designs.

On the other hand, the spoke sites will focus on-farm with one to two simple trials at each site. These may include full-scale strip trials and/or small demonstration plot trials. The priorities for these trials will be driven by local growers and will be consistent with the trial areas’ scopes.

Why the Hub and Spoke Model Matters

The hub and spoke model is designed to improve the effectiveness of validation and demonstration trials across South Australia. With the establishment of three major validation sites and ten demonstration sites, the focus is on meeting the unique needs of growers in different regions.

This means that instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, validation trials can be tailored to meet the unique needs of specific regions. The spoke sites, in particular, allow growers to test out new ideas and technologies and share their experiences with others in the community.