GRAIN Growers Association has bought independent research and training company BRI Research Pty Limited.

BRI Research, formerly known as the Bread Research Institute, runs a laboratory complex on the same site as GGA in North Ryde, Sydney.

The research company, which employs 30 staff, has been headed by Graham McMaster for the past 22 years.

A statement by GGA announcing the takeover said Dr McMaster would retire to pursue other interests.

GGA chairman John Eastburn said the BRI acquisition was in line with the grain company's New Horizons strategic plan released recently.

"We need to make sure the information and technical services that support Australia's grains industry are strong and well capitalised,'' Mr Eastburn said.

"Over time, we will encourage the board of BRI to develop new value adding opportunities to make Australian grain more competitive here and around the globe.''

BRI has been instrumental in setting up the Grain Foods Co-operative Research Centre through the Puragrain intellectual property joint venture with Southern Cross University at Lismore in NSW.

The Grain Foods CRC also uses the North Ryde complex as its base.

BRI also recently won the right to run the wheat classification system previously administered by AWB (International) Limited.