New Plant Products New Animal Products

Sub-Program 1.1: New Plant Products

Objective: To facilitate the development of new  industries based on plants or plant products  that have commercial potential for Australia

Background

RIRDC supports a diverse program of R&D within its charter of encouraging and assisting prospective industries. Existing small industries are also supported so that they may contribute to regional development and to the national economy as a whole. Frequently, the research and development needs of these smaller industries are just as demanding as those of the larger established industries.

The program has six components:

• bushfoods;
• culinary herbs, spices and beverages;
• extractive and fibre crops;
• prospective fruit, vegetable and nut crops, including cashews;
• prospective grain and pulse crops; and
• miscellaneous crops and activities.

• Support preliminary market and technical feasibility studies.
• Identify, evaluate, test market and develop species, varieties, processes or products with prospects of commercial viability.
• Develop integrated production, harvesting, processing and marketing systems.
• Foster the development of policy, infrastructure and R&D plans and initiatives to underpin industry growth.

 

• Support research on bushfoods, olives and tropical fruits in line with agreed industry R&D needs and priorities.
• Establish a top-level website for bushfoods.
• Start new work on paprika, jojoba, guayule, senna tora, truffles, culinary beans and buckwheat.
• Identify major research needs and priorities for the NSW coffee industry and for the Australian black tea industry.

Seek opportunities to establish research on prospective broadacre crops.

Expected key outputs in 2000-2001

 
• Published reports on: virus-free garlic production systems; the identification of garlic lines with increased potential as sources of cholesterol lowering agents; walnut agronomy; and identifying prospective crops for Australia.
• All published reports available on RIRDC’s website.
• Publication of research findings in industry journals such as the Australian Bushfood Magazine, the Olive Press and Living Lychee.
• Publication of technical abstracts in the Australian New Crops Newsletter.

 

 
• Easier access to information on bushfoods and culinary and medicinal herbs through new websites.
• Establishment of business and research plans for the NSW coffee industry.
• Lowered production costs for small-scale coffee growers following the building and trialling of a tractor-drawn coffee harvester.
• Increased productivity and returns for Australian garlic growers using newly available virus-free planting material with high allicin content.
• Improved management of new established olive groves based on the production of a pruning video.
• More regular flowering and fruit set in lychees through better timed pruning.
• Increased production of the new crop buckwheat in Victoria and New South Wales, most of the production being exported to Japan.
• Better targeted investment in prospective industries stemming from market analyses for coffee, frozen culinary herbs, buckwheat, longan, olives, and rambutan

 

Achievements in 1999–2000
 

• Completed a study advocating that bushfoods will be better positioned in the market if they are renamed native Australian foods and are supported by consumer education and promotion aimed at giving them greater authority and prestige among leading chefs and trend setters.  Joint promotion with game and other fine foods is recommended.

• Assisted the newly formed Australian Culinary Herbgrowers Association to draft an R&D plan for the industry, now estimated to be worth $25 million a year at the farmgate.

• Completed a study on potential markets for frozen Australian-grown culinary herbs indicating that the bulk catering (meal assembly) and fast food components of the hospitality industry appear to have most potential.

• Completed a consultancy on the prospects and potential development strategies for the NSW coffee industry, which is projected to be worth $18 million at the farmgate by 2010. The formation of an inclusive industry body to guide the future of the industry and fund its development is identified as a key strategy.

• Successful field trials of a tractor-drawn harvester for small-scale coffee growers.

• In partnership with the primary industry departments of WA, NT, Queensland and Cadbury Schweppes, initiated a feasibility study on growing cocoa in northern Australia.

• Completed a study on the market prospects for the Australian olive industry that warns of the need to develop marketing strategies to cope with the large volumes of oil that will produced locally by 2010.

• Started two national projects to evaluate the suitability of a range of olive varieties for differing geographic regions and end-uses.

• Provided the major sponsorship for the well attended Triennial Lychee Conference at which reports were given on several RIRDC-funded projects.

• Completed a major study on canopy management in lychee, longan and rambutan that provides a model for predicting optimal pruning time in lychee, and possibly longan, and establishes a sounder scientific base for higher density trees that are less costly to pick and can be more easily netted against birds and bats, which can destroy 60% of fruit.

• Completed the first phase of a study aimed a maximising cashew yield by better tailoring nutrient application to the phenology of the bearing cycle.

• Extended regional variety trials of hazelnut to include Tasmania. Started new projects on:

• native mints
• bushfood production by Aboriginal communities in central Australia
• regional field trials of selected bushfoods in SE Australia
• production systems for specialty mushrooms
• objective quality measurement in black tea
• improving allicin yield in Australian virus-free garlic
• production systems for coriander seed
• domestic market opportunities for longan and rambutan
• best practice production systems in walnut
• evaluation of acacia and Dorycnium species as fodder and browse leguminous plants for livestock; and selecting new crops for Australia
• Provided financial assistance for industry and research personnel to attend national and international conferences.

• Published final reports on:
• projects concerned with market positioning the bushfood industry
• a database for bushfoods
• a technology package and website for herbs]
• olive yields, quality parameters and varietal recognition
• the commercial potential of sugar beet
• asparagus production in the dry tropics
• buckwheat production
• truffle growing in Tasmania.

Sub-Program 1.2:  New Animal Products

There are more than 35 prospective and emerging animal-based industries for which RIRDC receives research proposals or inquiries regarding R&D funding. The annual value of livestock and products traded from these industries exceeds $160 million with approximately 50 per cent traded on export markets.

In 1999-2000 the Corporation funded specific projects for fifteen of these industries. Other individual projects covered a broad spectrum of species and their products. Projects are increasingly covering R&D across the value added chain. For the very small industries, initially R&D is directed as necessary to feasibility studies and/or the development of a business plan.

Funding continues on the commercialisation of native and feral animal products where enhancement of the environment and biodiversity are not threatened. Specific projects are in progress for the kangaroo, emu, crocodile and camel industries. Other projects continue in buffalo, dairy goats and milking sheep. New projects commenced in 1999–2000 for snails, hares and crayfish.

Key sub-program strategies
 

• Identify R&D priorities.

• Facilitate export market access and development.

• Fund production, processing, transport and storage R&D on animal products.

• Strengthen development within and across industries by supporting creativity, innovation and integration along the value-added chain

• Assist in the development of business plans for some potential innovative animal industries.

• Stimulate co-funding of R&D from industry, enterprises and public sector interests.

• Communicate outcomes in final reports, at field days and industry meetings, and via media releases.

Strategies for 2000–2001
 

• Increased funding for meat quality and storage R&D.

• Initiate an issue study on the transport of live animals and their products

• Commence to formulate a 3 to 5 year corporate plan for the sub-program.

• Increase funding for skin R&D.

• Continue to increase the scope of the program with funding initially of feasibility studies and business plans for enterprises such as further commercialisation of Australian game animals, turtle shells and alpaca meat. Also assess the value of funding for further development of Cape Barren geese and game-bird meat for export.

• Publish final reports for distribution via hard copy and the Internet to industry and other stakeholder interests

Expected key outputs in 2000–2001
 

• Improved basis for kangaroo skin grading standards.

• Increased knowledge in the management, production, processing and/or marketing of dairy products from sheep and goats.

• Attainment of initial genetic parameters for ostriches.

• Innovative outputs on the relationship between incubation and the formation of follicles in crocodiles.

• Facilitate the initial publication of a national buffalo industry newsletter.

• Ten final reports published and marketed.

• At least one final report launched at an industry meeting.

• Two articles incorporated in general RIRDC publications

Expected key outcomes in 2000–2001
 

• Improved quality of kangaroo skins to increase returns.

• More acceptable pelleted diets for farmed crocodiles to increase productivity.

• Increased productivity in the farmed rabbit industry.

• Greater demand for camels and camel meat products for export markets.

• Improved animal welfare by developing more humane methods of collecting semen for use in artificial breeding programs.

Expected key outcomes in 2000-2001

 
• Improved quality of kangaroo skins to increase returns.

• More acceptable pelleted diets for farmed crocodiles to increase productivity.

• Increased productivity in the farmed rabbit industry.

• Greater demand for camels and camel meat products for export markets.

• Improved animal welfare by developing more humane methods of collecting semen for use in artificial breeding programs.

Sub-Program 1.2: New Animal Products — new projects being funded in 2000-2001

Project No.		Title	Researcher	Phone
NAP00-08		Husbandry and genetic strategies to improve hide quality of ostriches	Dr Phil Glatz	08 8303 7786
NAP00-09		Factors that influence meat quality for kangaroos	Dr Peter Wynn	02 9351 1632
NAP00-10		Increasing markets for kangaroo products by improving kangaroo industry image	Mr John Kelly	03 6326 8639
NAP00-14		Shelf-life and microbiological safety of selected new and emerging meats destined for export markets	Ms Joanne Bobbitt	03 9217 4334
NAP00-17		Identification and development of export opportunities for game birds	Ms Bronwyn Warfield	07 4688 1251
NAP00-18		Commercial hunting of Australian feral game	Dr Gordon Deyden	07 5460 1255
NAP00-21		Develop a feasibility plan for alpaca meat and hide markets in Australia	Mr Warwick Hack	08 8535 6400
NAP00-42		New value added products of selected new and emerging meats destined for various domestic and export markets	Ms Joanne Bobbitt	03 9217 4334

 Note: An asterisk (*) indicates that the Corporation is still to finalise amendments to the project in terms of, for example, a lower budget or project design.

Achievements in 1999–2000
 

• Facilitated industry research and development, particularly for ostrich, buffalo and kangaroo, by funding national and international travel, supporting national meetings and the formation of appropriate councils

• Released a number of reports on various aspects of camel meat production, processing and marketing. Three documents were published concerned with the handling of camels and meat trading language and meat specification. A pre-feasibility study of a potential camel industry in WA indicates opportunity. A marketing analysis and plans were developed for camel meat distributors and the wholesale/retail trade in the domestic market.

• Completed an analysis of the feasibility of farming rabbits now that the supply of wild rabbits has been greatly reduced due to the control program using the calicivirus. Results support the need for research to improve the production system to ensure profitability.

• Produced an ostrich software program to assist management on farm including objective assessment of the potential profitability and the effect of economics of scale.

• Developed and demonstrated to industry a stunning device that immobilises crocodiles and allow safe treatment and measurement under experimental conditions.

• Identified export markets for goat cheese products to utilise a milk surplus in the spring.

• Scanned cartilages of a number of livestock – eg emu, crocodile, kangaroo, ostrich – to complement the supply of shark cartilage that is purported to have anti-cancer properties.

• Identified issues that prospective animal industries experience as development occurs. Marketing and processing constraints and impediments hinder many of the industries partly because of the lack of alliances along the supply/marketing chain.

• Published reports on strategies, particularly related to nutrition, for emu for meat and oil production.

• Reported on the therapeutic properties of emu oil. Using rat modules anti-inflammatory properties of the oil were demonstrated. Research continues on identifying the potent constituents. Experiments showed limited evidence of antimicrobial effects of oil samples and there was insufficient responses to support tissue regeneration properties.

• Obtained sound scientific data on the implications of declawing emus by measuring the effects on gait, behaviour and histological examination for the presence or absence of neuromas.

• Published reports on the feasibility of viable enterprises for silkworms, hares and snails.

• Published an analysis and business plan on the marketing of quality buffalo meat in Southern Australia.

• Analysed the potential and scope of camel racing in Australia in light of public interest, increasing prize-money and the possibility of support from international interests.

• Published 12 Final Reports, launched a buffalo marketing analysis at an industry meeting and provided articles for inclusion in general RIRDC publications