Applications for RIRDC funding for 2008-09 are now CLOSED
Click here for  information on the application process, and to apply for RIRDC scholarships
 
 

Objective: To foster the development of agri-industry systems that have sufficient diversity, integration, flexibility and robustness to be resilient enough to respond opportunistically to continued change. Research

Program manager: Dr George Wilson,
Phone 02 6281 2160, email: georgewilson@awt.com.au
 

RIRDC Resilient Agricultural Systems Research Results:
Resilient Agricultural Systems reports for sale	Free downloadable research reports
Handbook of New Industries entries	Free Short Reports (research sumaries)
Completed Projects in 2003-2004 & Research in Progress as at June 2004
Environmental Management System in Agriculture
About the Resilient Agricultural Systems  Research Program:
Key challenges and trends	Strategies for 2005-2006
Some Key Performance Indicators	Background
Key program strategies	Expected key outputs in 2005-2006
Expected key outcomes in 2005-2006	New Projects funded in 2005-2006
Total program budget 2005-2006
Industry related links:
Climate Variability in Agricuture

RAS is helping find solutions to the challenges identified above by:

Contributing to the R&D base that underpins the development of internationally acceptable accreditation systems for sustainable agricultural production, environment management and new agri-industry systems.

Supporting the redesign of farm production so that it is more compatible with the environment and supports viable rural communities .

Backing the development of innovative agri-industry systems for production of food, fibre and bioenergy based on multiple use of resources and the conversion of liabilities into assets.

Proposing alternative land tenure arrangements, improved financial systems, and alternative capital structures that enhance production and encourage reassignment of land that is unsuitable.

Identifying the implications of new technology systems for agri-industry such as precision farming, information management and genetic engineering of plants and animals.

Background

Resilient Agricultural Systems sponsors research and development into ways that farm-based agribusiness systems can be made both sustainable and more profitable. The sub-program aims to make agriculture more resilient and at the same time develop commercial opportunities particularly by converting liabilities into assets.

As a sub-program of RIRDC's Future Agricultural Systems Program, Resilient Agricultural Systems supports biophysically based systems, thereby complementing the trade and human capital foci of the other two sub-program.

Over past decades, Australian farmers have responded to Australia's declining terms of trade for many rural products by reducing costs and increasing productivity. Yet there are physical and environmental limits to the capacity of Australia's natural resources to do so – particularly in drought.

The availability, for selected weeds, pests and diseases, of control strategies that are integral parts of improved sustainable agri-industry systems

Identification of new opportunities for enterprise diversity

The availability of issues papers relating to Australian agriculture's potential role as a provider of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and industrial products by 2000

Availability of specific decision support software products by 2003

Provision of measures for testing the sustainability of systems

• Continue support for the development of innovative food, fibre and bioenergy production based on application of new technologies, integrated multiple use of resources and the conversion of liabilities into assets,
• by supporting trials of aquaculture in inland saline water and sea weed production,
• the sustainable use of wild plant and animal resources particularly in the rangelands.
• by considering current regulatory constraints to sustainable farming of wildlife
• Coordinate with other RDC’s and pilot programs to enable the development of EMS that are operationally effective at minimal cost and avoid duplication of audit and certification procedures.
• Promote program products to improve adoption and identify opportunities for commercialisation

• Interim report on seaweed project ‘Industrial Seaweed agronomy in saline drainage water evaporation basins’
• national audit of peri-urban agriculture that calculates the importance of peri-urban agriculture and describes planning arrangements used in the States.
• A study on developing Free Range Animal Production Systems that integrate grains, chickens and pigs.
• Release of a new device for monitoring water in and below the root zone and so reduce water and nutrient loss.
• A cost effective spillway design/review procedure for south-eastern Australian farm dams.

• Increased understanding among the rural community that international accreditation in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles is important to maintaining access and obtaining premiums.
• Greater awareness of the opportunities to increase the diversity of farm enterprises, particularly irrigation enterprises that incorporate multiple use of water and integrated aquaculture into farm operations.
• Better knowledge and skills in rural communities about climatic risks and opportunities, and effectiveness of computer-based seasonal forecasting and production prediction packages such as Rainman / Streamflow and Aussiegrass.

Budget: $945,000
 

AgFacts - Agricultural information from around Australia

What threat is salt to my farming operation?  (QDPI Notes)
Interpreting water analysis for crop and pasture  (QDPI Notes)
Cutting Costs With Water Use Efficiency Technology  (QDPI Notes)
Soil insects in Central Queensland  (QDPI Notes)
Root knot nematodes in the home garden  (QDPI Notes)
Testing Your Own Rice Flower Planting Sites for Nematodes  (QDPI Notes)
Spiraling whitefly in Australia  (QDPI Notes)
Kangaroo paw rust  (QDPI Notes)
Temperature influences plant quality during road transport  (QDPI Notes)
Farm hygiene for vegetable crops  (QDPI Notes)
Fungicide resistance - threats and strategies  (QDPI Notes)
Grossmargins for vegetable crops: why are they useful?  (QDPI Notes)
Integrated weed management components in vegetable crops  (QDPI Notes)
Oils ain't oils - they're adjuvants  (QDPI Notes)
Preparing soil for vegetable crops: organic matter and soil pH  (QDPI Notes)
Producing vegetables for market  1: successful horticultural enterprises  (QDPI Notes)
Producing vegetables for market  2: the production environment  (QDPI Notes)
Producing vegetables for market  3: matching crop requirements with the production environment  (QDPI Notes)
Producing vegetables for market 4: sensible use of irrigation resources  (QDPI Notes)
Producing vegetables for market 5: temperature requirements & limitations  (QDPI Notes)
Nitrogen requirements, sources & use in the Southern N.T.-1.  (NT DBIRD Agnotes)
Nitrogen Nutrition of Cattle in the Southern NT - 2. Supplementary Feeding (NT DBIRD Agnotes)
Environmental management systems for agriculture (AGWEST Farmnotes)
Salinity at a glance (AGWEST Farmnotes)
Saltland pastures : changing attitudes towards saline land (AGWEST Farmnotes)
Scheduling irrigation of potatoes using tensiometers on light/medium to heavy soils (AGWEST Farmnotes)
Genetically modified crops in agriculture: an overview (AGWEST Farmnotes)
Puccinellia: for productive saltland pastures (AGWEST Farmnotes)
Weed control for successful revegetation: for agricultural regions with less than 600 mm rainfall (AGWEST Farmnotes)
Commercial earthworm farming - is it for you? (AGWEST Farmnotes)