The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme was established in 1990 to improve the effectiveness of Australia's research and development effort. It links researchers with industry to focus R&D efforts on progress towards utilisation and commercialisation. It involves collaboration and cooperation across a wide range of organisations, focusing their researchers and extension people towards key strategic outcomes for the industry. The cotton industry has been one of two agricultural industries to have enjoyed the benefits of the CRC program almost since its inception and currently we are around mid-term in our third cotton related CRC. The current funding for the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC ("Cotton CRC") ends in June 2012.