Program Overview

Strategies and Expectations 2008-09

Climate change - assess and/or establish opportunities to introduce, or improve, new plant industry alternatives that provide opportunities for responding to climate change, for example high value, low water use plants and heat/drought tolerant plants
Diversification and rural resilience - increase the opportunities for existing and new farmers by both supporting the development of existing new industries (that have the potential to make a substantial contribution to Australia's GDP, import replacement and export creation, rural and regional development in the future), and seeking out/developing "Blue Sky" industries that may provide alternatives to industries facing an uncertain future
Process improvement - facilitate profitable and sustainable production and supply chain systems, and other mechanisms within new plant industries that may assist with reduction in wastage, production or transport costs, improvements in product safety improvements in shelf-life/marketability of new plant products, improvement in biosecurity and quarantine in new industry practices
Communication - improve the communication of information that facilitates the exchange of knowledge around the science and industry development activities that support Australia's new plant industries

Strategic research directions for the seaweed industry ratified with commencement of new cultivation and utilisation trials
Collation of Asian vegetable industry statistics
Commencement of analysis of Australia's French black-truffle genome and completion of initial study on truffle rot identification
Identification of harvesting efficiencies for Cullen - an important native pasture legume
Documentation of physiological activity of Australian native fruits
Presentation of treatise on the potential commercialisation of Mume in Australia
Finalisation of study into development of a Stevia - sweetener industry in Australia.

Generation of increased interest in crops of low water / climate change potential
Strategic directions determined for tropical fruit industry, contributing to better, more relevant new industry development and R&D in northern Australia
Improved communication with industry, R&D community and policy makers
Further engagement of the seaweed industry including producers, chain partners/markets and R&D specialists, in an agreed R&D strategy and industry planning.