A new, flexible approach to cotton education will help shape the future of the Australian cotton industry by strengthening knowledge and accelerating the adoption of innovative practices.

The Cotton Research and Development Corporation has teamed up with the University of Sydney, in partnership with CottonInfo and Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD), to deliver a new micro-credentialled, university-level qualification in cotton production.

The CRDC Cotton Course is made up of three microcredential courses delivered throughout 2026 that, unlike traditional university courses, require no previous educational requirements, exams, assignments or long days in the classroom.

Aimed at growers, consultants, researchers and professionals supporting the cotton industry, the courses contain material on specific areas of cotton production, such as best practice agronomy, stewardship and sustainability, as well as broader topics like data, technology, business and farm management.

CRDC acting general manager of innovation Susan Maas said the new CRDC Cotton Course builds on more than a decade of CRDC support for the highly regarded 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 of the three courses starts with Microcredential 1 in March, run by University of Sydney course coordinator Ian Simpson at the Narrabri campus, the IA Watson Grains Research Centre.

It is a gateway course for new entrants to the industry and contains fundamental information about cotton growing, using the comprehensive and continually updated CottonInfo-CRDC Australian Cotton Production Manual as a guide.

The course will provide a unique opportunity for participants through an immersive three-day intensive with a combination of presentations, field walks and facilitated group activities and discussions at other cotton locations around Narrabri.

Learning activities will be group-based with informal networking opportunities, giving participants the opportunity to learn more from industry experts, academics and their peers.

The CRDC Cotton Course will also be complemented by a new course developed by the Australian Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA), offering a view of the industry from the farm gate through to fabric.

The ACSA Cotton Fundamentals course is a hands-on post farm gate program combining classroom learning with site and field visits, bridging theory with real-world practice.

CRDC is offering two scholarships to attend the ACSA Cotton Fundamentals course. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate their commitment to applying the knowledge gained from the course for the broader benefit of the sector.

The CRDC Cotton Course Microcredential 1 is now open for applications. Anyone seeking a foundational understanding of cotton and the Australian cotton industry is encouraged to apply. The course will run from March 10-12, 2026, in Narrabri, and costs $950.

Enrolments are now open via: https://short-courses.sydney.edu.au/course/CCACS

Cotton Course information

Microcredential 1: Australian Cotton Farming Systems

Focus: A foundational understanding of cotton and the Australian cotton industry.

Open to: new/early career growers, farm staff, agronomists, consultants,researchers, agribusiness professionals and others across the cotton industry valuechain.

Enrolments open: Now via https://short-courses.sydney.edu.au/course/CCACS

This first microcredential is limited to 22 people and costs $950, including tuition, catering and in-course transport during the three-day intensive.

The price has been kept to a minimum via CRDC support, and a 10 per cent early bird discount applies for registrations prior to February 1, 2026.

For those travelling vast distances to attend, CRDC travel support may also be available.

Course dates/location: 10-12 March 2026, Narrabri NSW

Cost: $950, with a 10 per cent early bird discount for registrations prior to February 1, 2026.

Microcredential 2: Digital and Data Solutions for Cotton Systems

Focus: Data in cotton systems: how to collect and use it, manage technology hardware and software.

Open to: growers, agronomists, consultants, others in the cotton industry.

Enrolments open: April 2026

Course dates/location: early July 2026, Narrabri NSW

Cost: $950

Microcredential 3: Optimising Cotton Growing

Focus: How do more experienced growers and consultants take their systems to the next level? Evaluating all aspects of the production system, including potential new approaches, adapting practices and management models that can be applied to individual operations.

Open to: experienced growers, agronomists, consultants, others in the cotton industry.

Enrolments open: September 2026

Course dates/location: November/December 2026, Narrabri NSW

Cost: $950

ACSA Cotton Fundamentals

Date: March 17–19, 2026

Location: Narrabri NSW

Cost: $2700 ex.GST for ACSA members; $3000 ex.GST for non-members.

To apply for the ASCA course: email [email protected]

To apply for a CRDC scholarship: email [email protected]