Since 1971 CSIRO has been partnering with CSD in plant breeding and agronomy to put globally competitive cotton varieties that are pest and disease tolerant into the hands of Australian farmers.

Recently the two organisations marked a combined investment of more than $150 million in research to ensure the long-term profitability and viability of Australian cotton.

CSIRO executive director of Future Industries, Kirsten Rose, said CSD was one of CSIRO's most important partners and their shared investment in innovation for the long term was the cornerstone of the Australian cotton industry's success.

"The CSD-CSIRO collaboration demonstrates what can be achieved when an R&D partnership is flexible and fully integrated across the value chain to solve unmet industry needs," Rose said.

"CSIRO's world-class research combined with CSD's seed production, extension services and delivery to farmers ensures the industry has access to short-term and long-term solutions to the challenges they face."

The CSD-CSIRO partnership has resulted in 116 cotton varieties delivered to growers, which have returned more than $5 billion to the cotton industry and through the delivery of third-party Genetically Modified traits reduced insecticide use by 85 per cent and cut herbicide use by 52 per cent. Australian cotton farming is also the most water efficient in the world.

CSD is the only company in Australia that supplies farmers with cotton planting seed and is one of only a few independently owned and controlled cotton seed companies in the world today.

CSD managing director, Peter Graham credited much of CSD's success to the strong relationship with CSIRO, built on trust and a shared long-term vision. 

"For 50 years, our partnership has helped Australian cotton growers achieve world leading yield and quality outcomes, and provided them with variety choice tailored to their production system," Graham said.

Plant breeding is a long-game, and the time from initial crossing to the commercial release of a new variety can take up to 14 years. For this reason, in 2007, CSIRO and CSD formalised its relationship through the joint venture, Cotton Breeding Australia.