Meeting the Governments Priorities Broader Community Benefits

Government’s Priorities and Community Benefits

In addition to the seven priority areas identified by the Minister, the question of broader community benefits from RIRDC-funded programs is also discussed. We note that there is significant overlap between the seven priority areas identified by the Minister and the wider community benefits which are drawn from RIRDC’s broad mandate and have been identified in our Corporate Five Year Plan. Both are addressed separately here so that our stakeholders can clearly see how we are addressing each.

Meeting the Government’s Priorities

• RIRDC is a contributor to the National Dryland Salinity Program and is supporting a project examining the productive uses of saline land, including salt water for aquaculture and trialling palatable salt tolerant plants.

• Development and publication of design guidelines for reduction and prevention of salinity through farm forestry.

• Development of guidelines to optimise the biodiversity values of agroforestry systems.

• Development of a range of improved rice production methods and varieties which result in significant reductions in water use, more effective fertiliser application, improved integrated weed control methods and reduced harvesting costs and wastage.

• RIRDC is a major partner in the CRC for Sustainable Rice Production which has a major focus of its research on a range of issues related to improving water use efficiency, at both the farm and water management authority levels, and soil management.

• Development of bait traps to assist in the capture of Apis cerana (Asian Honeybees) to prevent incursions into Australia, protecting the Australian honey industry and other natural flora and fauna.

• Production of a series of reports identifying the flora resource base and their importance to the honey industry.

• Investigations of more effective harvesting strategies for a range of pasture seeds to reduce environmental impacts.

• Sustainable natural resource management is a primary goal of sub-program 2.6 ‘Organic Produce’.

• Cultivation and sustainable wild harvesting of Bushfoods by Aboriginal communities in Central Australia.

• Optimising irrigation and nutrition management systems for tropical fruits (lychee, rambutan and logan) to enhance sustainability yield and quality.

• Research into Newcastle disease prevention and control to assist in Australia maintaining its virulent Newcastle disease-free status.

• Support for a group of projects on multiple use of resources and innovative approaches to commercial structures and resource tenure arrangements. Aim is to encourage diversity of enterprises, including integration of wildlife as a commercial enterprise option.

• Preparation of a draft plan to assist the integration of aquaculture into farm operations and to increase the diversity of farm enterprises, particularly irrigation enterprises.

• A cost–benefit analysis of the applicability of internationally acceptable, Accredited Sustainable Production Schemes.

A whole of industry approach to production, processing and marketing to ensure the chain works to its best advantage
 

• We have refocused our Resilient Agricultural Systems program to place greater emphasis on through-chain issues.

• Our Global Competitiveness program is funding several projects which are investigating generic issues related to whole of chain linkages including: social and cultural barriers to developing trust within demand chains; and is supply chain management the key to unlocking successful new rural industries?

• An integrated set of projects which identify the quality characteristics of rice required by consumers and translates these into new varieties through a clear understanding of the whole industry chain.

• Development of a set of effective checks/tests and disease prevention measures which provide the basis for an effective quality assurance system through the whole honey production and consumption chain.

• Development of objective measurement techniques and systems for fodder which provides effective links with consumers and improves the confidence of all parts of the industry chain in the product.

• Farming, processing and marketing of rabbits is being researched in an integrated way after studies have shown a deficit in supply to satisfy demand following the eradication of wild rabbits due to improved pest control programs.

• Improvements in the production, storage and marketing of skins of many livestock industries are being assessed with industry stakeholders.

• Formation of organic peak body and ongoing collaboration with all relevant State agencies.

• Conducted an international benchmarking study of the egg industry to assist the industry to improve its efficiency throughout the production and processing chains.

• Review agriculture’s potential to provide pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and industrial products.

Development of biotechnology, along with sensitive handling to accommodate consumer’s concerns
 

• A project has been commissioned to investigate the farm and resource management issues relating to genetically modified plants.

• Support for projects which will result in greatly improved knowledge of the rice genome and its application to longer term production of improved rice varieties which have desirable quality characteristics for consumers and improved environmental implications.

• Development of a unique DNA technology based vaccine to combat herpes virus abortion in mares, a major source of economic loss in the horse industry.

• Genetic finger printing of wild olive selections for quality oil production and cultivar identification.

• Development of a microsatellite DNA library and markers for Tea Tree. This will provide security for Australian developed superior genetic material.

• Development of new/improved cutflowers through selection and sexual hybridisation (using genetic finger printing).

• Development of new poultry vaccines, eg. for fowl pox, and diagnostic techniques, eg. for Newcastle disease, using molecular engineering technologies.

• Transfer to a commercial partner one or more gene/enzyme systems that can detoxify pyrethroid insecticides.  This will be one of a set of enzyme-based pesticide bioremediation capabilities under development at CSIRO.

Trade and market access negotiations
 

• aDevelopment of a set of reports and support for symposia which provide a research background to and support for Australian’s input into the WTO round of trade policy negotiations and other important trade reforms.

• Production of a set of reports which synthesise and expand past research on Australian export potential and development for a range of Asian economies.

• Development and testing of an effective test for bacterial wilt to establish an internationally accepted protocol to facilitate trade access in lucerne seeds.

• Enhancement of organic standards to ensure market access especially in Europe, Japan and US.

• Improved fumigation techniques for export disinfestation of wild flowers.

• The marketing of Kangaroo skins is being improved by developing an international trading specification to access new markets.

Maintenance and enhancement of our clean green image
 

• Development of systems to detect pest resistance in trees for farm forestry.  If successful, planting pest resistant trees may be able to reduce the use of chemicals.

• Implementation of ant-based biocontrol in cashews.

• Development of IPM for control of quandong moth.

• We are proposing to support a project to investigate better means of communicating with  non-English speaking growers of Asian Foods, particularly targeting their use of chemicals.

• In the coming year, development of national guidelines or Code of Practice for environmental design and management of broiler farms.

• Development of alternative strategies to antimicrobial growth promotants for meat chickens.

• Implementation of a welfare audit system for the chicken meat industry.

• Contribute to the development of a scientifically sound and operationally feasible, management plan for addressing incursions of selected groupings of agricultural pests.

• Identification of biological control agents for Serrated Tussock to the stage where they can be introduced into quarantine in Australia. Investigation of the specificity of these pathogens against key Australian native and agricultural grasses.

Addressing food safety concerns of consumers
 

• Development of cost effective methods for removal of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from honey and possibly other products.

• Investigation of food safety issues of Australian bushfoods.

• Development of bio-replacement strategies for two major intestinal pathogens (Salmonella and Campylobacter) that can cause food-borne illness in humans.

• Identification of epidemiological risk factors associated with Campylobacter infection in poultry flocks, so that strategies can be put in place at the farm to reduce levels of this organism on poultry products.

• Investigation of the antibacterial resistance patterns of bacteria found on poultry carcasses.

• Investigation of food safety issues related to different egg production systems.

• Development of a Salmonella enteriditis (SE) monitoring program to assist the egg industry in remaining free of SE.

• Research into the shelf-life and microbiological safety of selected new and emerging meats destined for export markets.

Cultivating creativity and innovation among our human resources
 

• Support for the Australian Rural Leadership Program, the Nuffield Scholarship Scheme, the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program and Rural Women’s Awards.

• Support for researchers to undertake post graduate training, overseas travel and attend conferences.

• Promoting learning in the horse industry by working across industry sectors and having key resources available, relevant to industry’s needs.

• A joint research program is being developed by RIRDC on behalf of DRDC, MLA, The Woolmark Company, GRDC and DNRE to facilitate improved uptake of education and adaptation on farm and to enhance the professional development of farm advisers.

• A new series is being developed on ‘Options for farming people: doing things differently’ to assist family farms to make decisions on business development options including enterprise improvement, diversification, alternative asset use and ownership and exiting the industry.

Broader Community Benefits

RIRDC has focused on research that:
 

• results in the sustainable management of resources, especially when there are external effects of their use.

• improves market access and development programs.

• determines the implications of changes in the environment, such as climate change and variability.

• has implications for human nutrition and health.

• determines implications of practices for occupational health and safety.

• supports the development of Australia’s rural  research and leadership capacity.

While many of these wider community benefits come from RIRDC’s core funded research programs they also result from research funded by RIRDC’s levy-based R&D programs. As was mentioned earlier while some of these areas overlap with the priorities recently identified by the Government we feel that is still important to highlight how this Operational Plan focuses on these wider community oriented benefits, these are briefly discussed below.

New products and industries

Wider community benefits are an important potential component of RIRDC’s research into new and emerging industries. In many cases, identification of alternative production possibilities for farming groups can provide the diversity and scope for value-adding that can maintain the criticalmass necessary to maintain rural towns and improve their viability.

RIRDC’s research covers areas such as investigating market prospects for newer industries and assessing the feasibility and methods for their competitive production.

To complement RIRDC’s original books The New Rural Industries and The New Rural Industries: Financial Indicators (the industry coverage of this series continues to be expanded) a range of more detailed crop and animal product ‘how-to-produce’ handbooks are continuing to be developed. These are targeted at both established farmers and agribusiness participants as well as the wider community considering whether to investment in agriculture.

Several of the new products currently being investigated also have potential to have important impacts on human health that will affect the community well beyond the direct value of the products produced. Examples include the pharmaceutical attributes of tea tree and other essential oils and garlic lines that are potential sources of cholesterol lowering agents.

Sustainable resource management

In many of RIRDC’s sub-programs there is a major focus on issues related to more effective use of Australia’s rural resource base so that production minimises its impact on the environment in the longer term. Some examples are highlighted below.

A significant effort is in place addressing the important area of dryland salinity. R&D ranges from strategic use of trees in farming to consideration of saline water aquaculture.

Exclusion of exotic pests and diseases is an important issue for many Australian rural industries. RIRDC supports a range of projects, which are making a significant contribution to minimising the chance of introduction of these problems. These range from Newcastle disease in poultry to veroa mites in honeybees.

A range of projects focus on improved water use, reduced chemical use in agriculture and better quality assurance systems to ensure that agricultural products are produced with minimum impact on resource degradation and are safe for consumers.

The animal-based programs are supporting research that has potential to significantly influence our understanding of the impact of production methods on the welfare of animals, especially in the chicken meat, egg, new animals and horse industries. This improved understanding is an important aspect of developing practices, which support sustainable production levels while giving due care to the wellbeing of animals.

Food safety

Although RIRDC’s established industries programs focus primarily on research that benefits all members of the levy-paying industry they also have potential to generate significant community wide benefits. Some of these focus specifically on improved food safety, which is an area receiving significant attention by the whole community.

Examples in the current Plan include projects in the new animals, egg and chicken meat programs that continue to make significant contributions to understanding the development of and testing for a range of significant bacterial food contaminants. This research has important implications for all food safety areas, not just in the new animals and poultry industries.

The fodder program continues to support research on Corynetoxin contamination and effective identification to ensure that the contamination does not enter the food chain and therefore affect the health of the wider community. The original research in this area has stimulated further work by other groups.

The honeybee program continues to support research that fully investigates the implications of toxins in food, the properties of honey in the diets of diabetics and considers the potential for some types of honey as a therapeutic agent for treating bacteria infections.

Cross-sectoral impacts

RIRDC supports a major research effort in areas that have cross-sectoral impacts. The global competitive­ness program provides assessments of impediments to Australian trade and of market prospects for all agricultural production. The impact of this type of research will have ramifications throughout the broader Australian community. Examples include projects that have provided and will continue to provide R&D support for negotiators during the next round of WTO trade policy negotiations. Changes in these policies, if they further liberalise world trade, will enhance Australia’s trading potential and, therefore, benefit agriculture and the wider community.

Research on a range of domestic policy impediments to efficient agricultural production will have potential to influence policy changes that will benefit all members of rural communities, not just farmers. An example is the analysis of the provision and pricing of regional infrastructure and detailed analysis of recent trends in rural credit provision.

Many research activities in the resilient agricultural systems program will have potential communitywide benefits. These include research on bioremediation and waste-water management, reduced pesticide risk, implications of climate change for agricultural production and regional resource use and a detailed review of agriculture’s potential to provide pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and industrial products.

In the rice program, research emphasises improved water use, recharge and quality, and the sustainable use of farm chemicals. Better understanding of these areas via this research has the potential to benefit communities along Australia’s major river systems. The Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Rice Production, of which RIRDC is a partner,is significantly expanding our research support in this important area.

Community safety, training, communications

Under its Human Capital, Communications and Information Systems Program RIRDC manages and supports a major collaborative research effort that considers many aspects of rural community occupational health and safety. Projects range from development of effective farm safety courses to investigating the causes of traumatic deaths in rural areas.

In addition, RIRDC supports a program of rural leadership training and university scholarships, which focus on building the stock of human capital available to address problems facing the rural sector. This also contains some specific focus on leadership development activities for rural women and youth.

Projects on information technology continue to look at the importance and implications of developments in communications services for rural communities and their effective links with urban areas and the global economy.

The impacts of all of these research activities have significant implications and benefits for the wider Australian community.