RIRDC Environment and Farm Management Research 2005-06 Program Page

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Environment and Farm Management
Program Details for 2005-06
Key Strategies Expected Key Outputs Expected Key Outcomes New Projects Funded	Program Overview 2006-07 Program Details
Key Strategies for 2005-06
Sustainable Production Support investigations into practical solutions to cross- sectoral problems affecting sustainability. Weeds projects and salinity mitigation projects will be referred to programs which specifically focus on those topics Any soil or salinity projects which are supported should be part of farm systems approaches Identifying legal, financial and administrative incentives for more efficient resource use. Frontier Technology and New Products Developing technologies that are cross sectoral for food, fibre and bioenergy production and which contribute to sustainability goals. Supporting aquaculture projects that are part of systems eg "Farm aquaculture & aquaponics systems". Enabling Information Sharing - Enabling sharing of experiences and opportunities for collaboration between trials and related programs. EMS and Accreditation systems Supporting the development of clear protocols, guidelines and accreditation processes for green food marketing. Developing markets for sustainably produced food products. Minimising the costs of operationally effective EMS, for example by avoiding duplication of audit and certification procedures. Supporting the coordination of EMS research across the research and development corporations.
Expected Key Outputs for 2005-06
An assessment of consumer reluctance to pay extra for trout which has environmental protection attributes. A review of the environmental impact of aquaculture production of trout in inland saline water. Reports indicating that EMS as yet produces elusive marketplace benefits and that there is a paucity of environmental information for use in farm EMSs. Data showing that the costs of EMS implementation and certification, plus the costs of being audited, are too high for most farms which are micro businesses. Investigations into legumes with pharmaceutical and aquaculture potential. Demonstrations of what precision farming is delivering to farmers. Technologies showing how to maintain biodiversity in a piped water supply system; to map roots electronically; to utilise Near Infra Red (NIRS) and DNA technologies to manage rangeland sustainability. Quantification salinity risk from modern agriculture in brigalow landscapes.
Expected Key Outcomes for 2005-06
Development of agronomy and aquaculture technologies for agarophyte and carrageenophyte seaweed cultivation. Better coordination of EMS research across the research and development corporations. Greater clarity on the barriers to environmental management systems (EMS) implementation and certification in agriculture. Stronger research into managing climate variability. Better understanding of opportunities for Integrated agri-aquaculture through a demonstration facility alliances to assist implementation of environment management systems.
New Projects Funded in 2005-06

Project No	Title	Researcher	Phone
EFM05-08	Tramlines, trees...trouble? Keeping trees in the tramlining equation	Dr Peter Stone	08 9333 6461
EFM05-11	Greening EMS products, drivers and impediments to sustainable value chains	Mr David Dumaresq	02 6125 0349
EFM05-13	Fourth national conference on environmental management systems in agriculture	Ms Eloise Seymour	02 6030 4577
EFM05-29	Development of a desiccant solar drying system for agricultural products	Dr Kame Khouzam	07 3864 2483
EFM05-31	Assessment of lotus (nelumbo nucifera) in wastewater bioremediation	Mr Brett Herbert	07 4092 9913