Sub-Program 1.1: New Plant Products
 

• 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.

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.

Achievements in 1998–99

• Obtained industry support for the Corporation’s R&D plan for bushfood and appointed an industry advisory panel to assist in addressing the plan’s objectives. Initiated projects on baobab tubers and novel, value-added products from bushfoods.
• Completed a commissioned evaluation that highlighted the current marginal profitability of Australia’s black tea industry and the potential of using new clonal teas to lift productivity and quality.
• Strengthened research on coffee through a new project on the better use of irrigation water in subtropical regions and by supporting the evaluation of a tractor-drawn harvester for small-scale growers.
• With Cadbury Schweppes, supported an overseas study tour that recognised improved clonal material, mechanical harvesting and mechanical seed separation as key factors for establishing a viable cocoa industry in a high labour-cost country such as Australia.
• Completed a market and technical feasibility study on non-wood fibre crops such as cereal straw, flax, hemp, kenaf, linola and sugar cane bagasse.
• Supported an industry workshop to obtain industry endorsement of the Corporation’s draft R&D plan for the olive industry.
• Completed a study on the market prospects for and customer reactions to Australian olive oil and funded a project on the relationship between water use and yield in olive groves.
• Contributed to the cost of an olive industry newsletter that will help in disseminating research findings to this new industry and shared the cost with the Australian Olive Association of a video on the pruning of young olive trees.
• Supported a study on the market prospects for jojoba.
• Launched a major study on improving the postharvest quality of lychee and initiated research projects on pepper spot disease in lychee, on nutrition and irrigation in longan and rambutan, and on phytophthora disease in durian.
• Started new projects on canary seed, culinary herb information systems, alternative oil seed crops, and potential sources of food gums.
• Extended RIRDC’s support for work on virus-free garlic production systems and a varietal evaluation of hazelnuts.
• Supported the first national new rural industries conference in Perth in October 1998.
• Provided financial assistance for five industry and research personnel to attend national and international conferences.
• Extended support for the Australian New Crops Newsletter, an increasingly important source of information and awareness on new crops.
• Published final reports on projects concerned with: new industries based on herbs and spices for Queensland’s Callide Valley; potential new salads and vegetables of subantarctic origin; the cultivation in Tasmania of certain medicinal herbs; green tea production systems; varietal evaluation of hazelnuts; quality management in walnut; lathyrus — a promising new grain legume; and the potential of morel fungi.
• Released a manual on cashew production for potential investors and growers.
• Refocused the cashew breeding research program.
• Identified green ants as a dominant predatory species in cashew plantations, a useful species around which to establish an integrated pest management program.

Strategies for 1999–2000

• Initiate research concerned with bushfoods, olives and tropical fruits in line with agreed industry R&D needs and priorities.
• Establish new projects on pesticide Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for culinary herbs, the field evaluation and multiplication of clonal teas, virus-free garlic production, coriander, walnut, market strategies for longan and rambutan, and an acacia species and Dorycnium as potential forage species.
• Address the findings of the market and technical feasibility study for non-wood fibres as appropriate.
• Initiate work on cocoa as a potential crop for northern Australia.
• Seek opportunities to establish research on prospective broadacre crops.
• Continue the cashew breeding program and nutrition management strategies, and undertake further research into biological control of major cashew pests.

Expected key outputs in 1999–2000

• Published reports on: market strategies for bushfood; a blue print for a bushfood industry database; virus-free garlic production systems; the identification of garlic lines with increased potential as sources of cholesterol lowering agents; walnut agronomy; canopy management in lychee; and prospective crops for northern 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 andLiving Lychee.
• Publication of technical abstracts in the Australian New Crops Newsletter.
• Published guidelines on the maximum levels of fertilisers that can be applied to Australian soils highly suitable for cashew growing.
• Published report on the use of green ants in an integrated pest management system for cashews production.

Expected key outcomes in 1999–2000

• Lowered production costs for small-scale coffee growers following the building and trialling of a tractor-drawn coffee harvester.
• Increased productivity for Australian garlic growers using newly available virus-free planting material.
• Improved management of new established olive groves based on the production of a pruning video.
• More regular flowering and fruit set in lychees through novel crop management processes.
• Production of the new crop buck wheat in Victoria and New South Wales, most of the production being exported to Japan.
• Better targeted investment in prospective industries as a result of providing market analyses for bushfoods, olives, non-wood fibres and jojoba.
• Economic and environmental improvements resulting from the availability of preliminary guidelines for an integrated pest management system for cashew plantations using green ants, and guidelines on the use of fertilisers.

 

New Plant Products - new projects being funded in 1999-200

Sub-Program 1.2:  New Animal Products
 

Objective: To accelerate the development of viable new animal industries

Budget: $960 000

 

• Identify R&D priorities.
• Assess RIRDC’s opportunity to fund innovative R&D.
• Facilitate market development based on customers’ demands.
• Fund production, processing, transport and storage R&D on animal products.
• 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.

Background

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 1998–99 the Corporation funded specific projects for eleven of these industries. Other individual projects covered a broad spectrum of species and their products. Projects are increasingly covering R&D in the value added past the production system. 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 1998–1999 for farmed rabbits, ducks and earthworms.

Achievements in 1998–99

• Prepared an overview of 19 new animal industries, describing their stages of development, estimating wholesale values, and predicting market potential and outlooks. Using case studies, demonstrated strategic principles and guidance for new meat, milk and fibres industries. Undertook additional market analysis for the buffalo and camel industries.
• Published a manual on kangaroo specifications and selected meat cuts, which is being adopted nationally and for some export markets.
• Published information on camel statistics and the logistics of harvesting and processing meat products in Western Australia as well as manuals from other research on a descriptive language for trading live camels and the methods for capturing and handling camels destined for abattoirs. Continued research on assessing any advantages of grazing camels with cattle in extensive commercial operations in Northern Territory.
• Developed an innovative approach to collecting semen from animals, resulting in humane techniques based on stimulation procedures. Routine use is a possibility and significance progress has been made on identifying and overcoming problems in semen emission in some livestock species.
• Used a national survey of dairy goat production enterprises, grazing and management demonstrations in Victoria and Tasmania and a visit by key producers to New Zealand as a basis for improving the productivity of speciality goat cheese and for creating a national goat cheese industry organisation.
• Analysed the chemical composition of semi-mature, soft spreadable and recotti cheeses made from sheep milk, which showed high nutritive values. Results from extensive consumer surveys have demonstrated that the local market would be prepared to pay relatively high prices, particularly for the soft spreadable type. Assessed the lactation performance of East Friesian milking sheep as well as of the progeny from crossing this breed with Awassi ewes.
• Commenced research on skins from new animal industries, initially with an inception study on grading kangaroo skins.
• Combined the collection and cryopreservation of buffalo semen with oestrous synchronisation for artificial insemination. Novel govadotrophin protocols have been used in multiple ovulation and embryo transfer programs. The resulting embryos have been cryopreserved for transfer to recipient buffalo cows and the procedures lay a foundation for rapidly spreading improved genotypes for buffalo meat production.
• Completed facilities for R&D in crocodiles from one year of age to marketable weights. Made further advances in developing a feeding pellet using a system that should result in producers being able to manufacture the pellet on farm.
• Ceased ostrich nutrition research in Tasmania due to the withdrawal of a commercial farm input and modified other similar research in Queensland for the same reason. Developed the nutritional requirements of breeder birds based on on-farm mixing to obtain the effects of diet in growing emus being offered diets of varying energy and protein concentration.

Strategies for 1999–2000

• Maintain the partition of research funding along the value-added chain at the same levels as in 1997–98 and 1998–99, with investment 60 per cent in production and 30 per cent and 10 per cent in processing and marketing respectively. Some projects have objectives that cover overlapping segments along the chain.
• Place increasing emphasis on R&D on skins, conversions to leather and leather products. This emphasis takes cognisance of the value of these products for the crocodile, buffalo, ostrich, emu and kangaroo industries.
• Continue to increase the scope of the program with initial funding of business plans and feasibility studies for hares and snails.
• Give consideration to increasing the scope of software packages for financial analysis of enterprises. Also give consideration to expanding benchmarking development from the inception style to greater alliances and responsibilities of stakeholders in establishing databases and analysing performances.
• Publish final reports for distribution via hard copy and the Internet to industry and other stockholder interests.

Expected key outputs in 1999–2000

• Completed marketing strategies for camel and buffalo.
• Increased knowledge on the feasibility of farmed rabbit and hare industries.
• Information on the effects of declawing emus to be considered for inclusion in Codes of Practice.
• Ten final reports published and marketed.
• Two short reports published and marketed.
• At least one final report launched at an industry meeting.
• Two articles incorporated in general R&D publications.
• Program results included on RIRDC’s website.

Expected key outcomes in 1999–2000

• Improved productivity in the crocodile industry as a result of producers using new feeding pellets developed by research over the past three years.
• Increased commercial production in the alpaca industry and advice on using production and health indices identified by research conducted over some years with cooperative farmers.
• Increased productivity in emus as a result of the uptake of advanced reproductive technology.
• Greater productivity in ostriches through the use of budgeting software.