The 2013–14 year also marked the first year of investment under the CRDC’s new Strategic R&D Plan 2013–18, which has a strong focus on improving the industry’s profitability, sustainability and competitiveness. During the 2013–14 year, CRDC invested a total of $21.9 million on behalf of cotton growers and the Australian Government in RD&E with more than 200 projects across five key program areas: farmers, industry, customers, people and performance.