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Prospective New Industries
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.
Expenditure in 1997-98: $1 076 722
Strategies
Background
- Support preliminary market and technical feasibility studies.
- Identify, evaluate and test markets 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 research and development 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:
The Corporation views the program as a seedbed or nursery in which stand-alone programs of the future can be germinated and raised. The program also provides a means of supporting commercially viable but intrinsically small rural industries.
- bushfoods;
- culinary herbs, spices and beverages;
- extractive and fibre crops;
- prospective fruit, vegetable and nut crops;
- prospective grain and pulse crops; and
- miscellaneous crops and activities.
Achievements in 1997-98
Publications in 1997-98
- Consulted the public and held an industry workshop that facilitated the update and distribution of the Corporation’s R&D plan for
- bushfood for further discussion by industry and other stakeholders.
- Initiated commissioned projects on better positioning bushfood in the marketplace, on food safety issues and on a blueprint for an
- industry database.
- Held a national workshop that enabled the current status of fibre-hemp as a potential new crop for Australia to be reviewed and
- provided a platform for commissioning a 1998-99 study on the economic prospects and technical feasibility of straw, sugarcane bagasse,
- flax, kenaf, hemp and linola as non-wood fibre crops in Australia.
- Progressed the development of an R&D plan for olives to a stage where the Australian Olive Association could seek endorsement of
- the plan by its constituent associations.
- Initiated new projects concerned with varietal improvements and quality in olives and provided funds for an olive pruning video to
- speed technology transfer within the infant industry.
- Published a report on the prospects for currently under exploited tropical fruits, vegetables and nuts complemented by a national
- workshop for growers and researchers that listed durian, longan, rambutan, mangosteen and abiu as the best bets of more than 40
- considered crops.
- Supported the development and publication of Business and R&D plans for the longan, lychee (now worth approximately $12 million
- (farmgate) a year), mangosteen and rambutan industries.
- Completed the first phase of a project on buckwheat, a crop that appears to have potential and good local and overseas market interest
- for the cooler, higher rainfall areas of Victoria and New South Wales.
- Published a user-friendly introduction to growing culinary and medicinal herbs as a business.
The Hemp Industry in Europe and its Future in Australia 97/51 Assessment of Commercial Products and Research Priorities for New Industries 97/52 Australian Durian Industry Strategic Plan 97/61 Opportunities for Commercially Under-Exploited Tropical Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts 97/80 Potential for Establishing an Olive Industry in Australia 98/5 Market Compendium of Exotic Fruit 97/74 World Hemp and Other Bast Fibre Manufacturing Developments 98/47 Evaluation of Volatile Quality Factors in Black Tea 98/46 Cropping of the French Black Morel 98/44 Desert Ephemeral Plants as Teaching Tools 98/2 The New Rural Industries – A Handbook for Farmers and Investors 98/34 Introduction to the Australian Herb Growing Industry 98/43 Second Hemp Workshop Proceedings 97/62 Research Manager: Dr David Evans
Phone: (02) 6258 6852
Fax: (02) 6259 0199
Email: davide@orac.net.au
1.2: New Animal Products
Objective:To accelerate the development of viable new animal industries.
Expenditure in 1997-98: $871 539
Strategies
Background
- 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.
There are more than 30 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 $150 million.
In 1997-98 the Corporation funded specific projects for seven of these industries. Other individual projects covered a broad spectrum for species and their products. Projects are increasingly covering R&D in the value-added chain past the production system. For the very small industries initially R&D is directed as necessary to feasibility studies and/or the development of business plans.
Funding continues on the commercialisation of native and feral animal products where the environment and biodiversity are not threatened. Specific projects are in progress for the kangaroo, emu, crocodile and camel industries.
Achievements in 1997-98
- Completed an external review of the sub-program — qualitative and some quantitative assessments. The main recommendations of the review report were to continue strong liaison with industry on project identification and reporting; to provide assistance in the development of industry business plans; to encourage some of the larger industries, such as emu, crocodile and kangaroo, to provide funds more directly to the sub-program and to fund a specific project for kangaroo meat trading.
- Published reports and articles on emu production, processing and the efficacy of some emu oil properties. Some, but not all, oils were found after topical application to be active against induced arthritis and some forms of inflammation in animal testing systems No evidence was obtained on tissue cell regeneration properties of emu oil.
- Published a manual describing a trading language for camel meat which is being used by some sectors of the meat wholesale, distribution and food networks.
- Analysed base performance data collected over 3 – 4 years from alpaca on commercially operated farms and a final report is being prepared. The findings will be used by both farmers and advisory personnel as high productivity is required in the commodity phase of the industry.
- Published improved analytical methods for the early detection of Aspergillosis in ostriches to aid veterinary practitioners in detecting the disease and completed research on improved means of increasing hatchability of ostrich eggs in both subtropical and temperate environments. Many findings from this research are being adopted by industry.
- Progressed the production of a feeding pellet for farmed crocodiles to partly or wholly replace the reliance of providing fresh animal by-products and offal. A pellet of satisfactory physical structure has been tested with crocodile hatchlings. However, the chemical composition is being improved with the cooperation of both a commercial livestock feed manufacturer and crocodile farmers so that liveweight gains can be maximised and feed conversion efficiency raised.
- Continued research on managing sheep and goats for milk production and on using the milk in product development, particularly for speciality cheese manufacture. The export marketing opportunities of such speciality cheeses are promising as shown in the findings of a joint project with the Dairy R&D Corporation.
Publications in 1997-98
- Released a final report on a bioassay for some medical properties from the skin and saliva of cane toads after exploring with the research agency the opportunities of patenting the bioassay process for use in measuring efficacy in alternative/oriental medicine.
The New Rural Industries – A Handbook for Farmers and Investors 98/34 Emu Processing and Product Development 97/66 Boosting Ostrich Productivity through Better Egg hatchability 98/17 Emu Oil in Wound Healing and Cellular Regeneration 98/18 Designing a Research Facility for Grower Size Crocodiles 98/20 Improving Consumer Perceptions of Kangaroo Products 97/36 Improving Consumer Perceptions of Kangaroo Products SR Sustainable Use of Native Birds and Animals 97/26 Sustainable Use of Native Birds and Animals - SR Research Manager: Dr Peter McInnes
Phone: (08) 8556 7331
Fax: (08) 8556 7289
Email: rirdc@netinfo.com.au
2. Emerging New Industries
2.1: Asian Foods
Objective:
To foster the development of a viable Asian foods industry in Australia.
Expenditure in 1997-98: $541 720Strategies
Background
- Foster research on Asian vegetable production and processing.
- Undertake market-focused product development (non-vegetable).
- Support generic research, including marketing, sociological and technical studies.
The market for Australian-grown Asian vegetables in many Asian countries is large. For instance, Japan imports $2.3 billion of fresh, frozen, preserved and dehydrated vegetables each year. There are off-season windows of opportunity for Australian businesses to supply fresh products when prices are high and supply from competing Asian sources is low.
There is no coordinated proactive market development by the Australian industry. Conservative estimates are that the current value of the Australian industry will double within three years if there is appropriate research and development. Foods other than vegetables, particularly processed foods, are popular and opportunities include sauces, ready-made meals and, possibly, snacks.
Domestically, with increases in the Asian-Australian population, Asian tourists in Australia and changes in eating habits of Australians, demand continues to grow at a substantial annual rate.
This sub-program was developed in close consultation with Australian producers and processors and the Asian community following extensive review.
Achievements in 1997-98
Publications in 1997-98
- Conducted a detailed study that assessed the potential profitability and feasibility of producing and exporting major Asian vegetables from Australia.
- Released a report that assessed the potential for producing of a range of Asian food processed products from Australian produced ingredients.
- Commenced a national Access to Asian Foods and Access to Asian Vegetables newsletter to improve the dissemination of the results from R&D projects and improve communication within the industry.
- Conducted meetings and workshops that encouraged the development of collaboration groups for the bamboo and aquatic Asian vegetable industries.
Reported on the results of leafy Asian vegetable production with recommendations for postharvest treatments and varietal recommendations in Victoria.
Potential Opportunities for Increased Production of Processed Asian Foods in Australia 98/64 The Chinese Waterchestnut Industry 98/38 Bamboo for Shoots and Timber 98/32 Improved Postharvest Handling and Storage of Speciality Mushrooms 98/39 Asian Vegetable Industry in East Gippsland SR23 Access to Asian Foods Newsletter (Aug 1997, Sept 1997) Access to Asian Vegetables Newsletter (ten issues) Research Manager: Dr Jeff Davis
Phone: (02) 6272 4152
Fax: (02) 6272 5877
Email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au
Objective:
2.2: Agroforestry and Farm Forestry
To integrate sustainable and productive agroforestry within Australian farming systems
Expenditure in 1997-98: $1 609 603Strategies
Strategies for the widespread adoption of agroforestryDesign principles for agroforestry
- Establish R&D addressing market, economic, social, policy, resource and regional planning opportunities and constraints.
- Support the development of extension and educational tools and strategies.
Background
- Develop more sustainable use of natural resources (soil, water, biodiversity) at regional, catchment and farm levels.
- Optimise the impact of trees on crop, pasture and animal productivity.
- Optimise returns from tree products.
- Investigate tree, crop, pasture and animal interactions to develop design principles to meet commercial and environmental objectives.
Agroforestry has the potential to improve agricultural productivity, diversify and increase farm income, conserve land, maintain biodiversity and contribute to the national timber supply. Given appropriate research, development and extension, agroforestry could become a widespread, profitable and sustainable system of land use. A Joint Venture Agroforestry Program was established in 1993 with three partners: the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation and the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation Funding was also provided for some activities by the Murray Darling Basin Commission the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Primary Industries and Energy.
The priorities for the sub-program have been revised following significant new developments in funding sources and a mid-term review conducted by AACM International.
In February 1998 the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy advised that $4 million, sourced from the Natural Heritage Trust, would be set aside for national farm forestry research and development and invited the management committee of the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program to determine a specific funding program on the basis of a set of priorities established by the Minister.
The MDBC contributed $150 000 to the joint venture in 1997-98 and will be contributing $275 000 in each of the subsequent two years.
- Funded $2.5 million will be available to assess new tree-crop products and industries with an emphasis on native species. The aims of this component are to support the development of commercial farm forestry as an integral part of sustainable agricultural systems, enhance biodiversity and protect the natural resource base. Of particular relevance will be areas where farm forestry uptake has so far been limited – for example, in the mid to lower rainfall areas. These funds will be managed by RIRDC.
- Funds $1.5 million will focus on timber production and processing elements of the Farm Forestry Program and the sustainable management and use of private native forests and woodlands. These funds will be managed by FWPRDC.
Achievements in 1997-98
Market, economic, policy and social research
Sustainable use of natural resources
- Developed an economic model demonstrating substantial benefits to a region developing new farm forestry industry – generating significant employment and flow-on to other industries.
- Developed and disseminated to stakeholders the principles and practices of effective market links between farm foresters and the forest processing industry.
- Disseminated a review of progress by industry, government and R&D corporations towards removing impediments to farm forestry development.
- Released comprehensive, up-to-date information on tree water use and its relevance to species selection for agroforestry.
- Published interim guidelines for revegetating areas with shallow, saline watertables.
Optimising returns from tree products
- Refined a physically based catchment model for predicting the effect of salt buildup in the root zone of trees planted over shallow watertables.
- Developed a new series of publications titled Water and Salinity Issues in Agroforestry.
Cost-effective agroforestry systems to meet commercial and environmental objectives
- Produced a book Commercial Timber Species for Sub-tropical Australia.
- Released a report on tree performance databases and selection systems
- Assessed four cheaper (preliminary) options for replacing conventional fencing.
- Assessed and disseminated information on low rainfall carob agroforestry.
- Assessed the growth of several high value rainforest tree species for South-East Queensland.
General
- Published a review of scientific principles of alley farming contributing to development research priorities.
- Identified for northern Australia several timber species that promote pasture production and quality, and provide dry season fodder.
- Developed a communications strategy for the sub-program.
- Published the outcomes of a priority setting project that will contribute to the development of the five year plan.
- Produced several advisory publications in conjunction with Greening Australia:
- Putting Back the Bush
- Making Farm Trees Pay
- A Haven from Storm and Drought
- Farm Forestry Success Stories
Publications in 1997-98
- Distributed the second and third program newsletters to over 2000 stakeholders respectively.
Priority Setting for the RIRDC/LWRRDC/FWPRDC JVAP 98/42 Links between Farm Forestry and the Wood Processing Industry 98/41 Potential for Tropical Agroforestry in Wood and Animal Feed Production 97/73 Black Wattle and its Utilisation 97/77 Biological Control of Scarabs Causing Eucalyptus Dieback 98/3 Productivity and Economic Assessment of Hardwood Species for Scrimber Production 98/4 Market, Economic and Social Assessment of Low Rainfall Carob Agroforestry 98/8 How Trees Affect Soils 98/16 Alley Farming in Australia SR8 Trees for Profit SR21 Market, Economic and Social Assessment of Low Rainfall Carob Agroforestry in the Murray Valley SR24 How Trees Affect Soils SR29 Agroforestry Newsletter Sep 97 Agroforestry Newsletter Apr 98 Research Manager: Mr Tony Byrne
Phone: (02) 6272 5472
Fax: (02) 6272 5877
Email: tonyb@rirdc.gov.auAssistant Research Manager:
Ms Sharon Davis
Phone: (02) 6271 6671
Fax: (02) 6272 5877
Email: sharond@rirdc.gov.au
2.3: Cashews
Objective:To foster the development of a viable Australian cashew industry.
Expenditure in 1997-98: $154 679Strategies
Background
- Develop varieties capable of yielding 5 tonnes per hectare through varietal selection and breeding.
- Achieve environmentally acceptable and cost-efficient pest and disease control and plantation management strategies.
- Explore opportunities for economic processing and marketing of cashews for the world market.
A concerted R&D program in recent years has aimed to provide the platform for future development of a viable cashew industry. It is likely that Australia now has the most diverse and comprehensive genetic collection of cashew material in the world. Furthermore, breeding efforts and production research aim to put Australia at the forefront in terms of establishing an internationally competitive industry based on marketing high quality fresh nuts and a range of value-added processed products.
Achievements in 1997-98
Publications in 1997-98
- Developed a manual on cashew production for potential investors and growers.
- Identified 49 high yielding hybrids through breeding research.
- Identified green ants as a dominant predatory species in cashew plantations — providing a useful species around which to establish an integrated pest management program.
An Evaluation of Cashew Hybrid Planted in Northern Australia 97/56 Research Manager: Mr Tony Byrne
Phone: (02) 6272 4033
Fax: (02) 6272 5877
Email: tonyb@rirdc.gov.au
2.4 Deer
Objective:
To foster an Australian deer industry as a highly profitable and efficient mainstream agricultural enterprise.
Expenditure in 1997-98: $346 668Strategies
- Focus on increasing deer numbers by unlocking farm level production constraints, bearing in mind that the industry will continue its development as a mainstream enterprise option for Australian agriculture only if the R&D program is linked to the value chain, be it from pasture to plate or from pasture to consumer.
- Continue to guide the R&D program by its five year plan, which identifies eight strategic areas to move forward:
Background
- increasing the supply of deer;
- improving slaughtering and meat processing efficiencies;
- enhancing information transfer;
- producing high quality deer products;
- identifying and developing non-chemical means of harvesting velvet;
- improving production efficiency;
- developing value-added products; and
- developing current markets more effectively and identifying new markets.
- Place extra focus on developing current markets and identifying new markets because of the downturn in venison and velvet prices caused by the Asian crisis.
The Australian deer industry had an estimated gross value of production of nearly $6 million in 1997-98. The majority of the herd continues to be in New South Wales and Victoria. There is expansion in Western Australia and Queensland, albeit from a small base. Fallow and Red deer make up more than 90 per cent of the national herd.
Australian venison production in 1997-98 was an estimated 800 tonnes and around 80 per cent was exported. Velvet production and harvesting have increased in recent years, with about 23 tonnes being harvested in 1997-98. Over 75 per cent continues to be marketed by Australian Velvet Pools Pty Ltd. A small but increasing quantity of velvet is processed in Australia before sale on the domestic or international markets.
Prices for deer product declined in 1997-98, primarily because of the downturn in Asian economies. All of Australia’s velvet exports continue to go to North Asian markets and around 20 per cent of venison exports went to Malaysia in 1996-97. For venison, selling prices for prime stock declined from around $5/kg to a low of around $2.65/kg during the currency crisis in Asia, but averaged around $4/kg carcass weight in 1997-98. Prices for velvet fluctuated throughout 1997-98 but the average selling price in the velvet pool was around $50/ kg, down from $60/ kg in 1996-97.
By way of comparison, the New Zealand deer herd totals around 1.5 million, with slaughtering of around 300 000 animals in 1997-98.
Achievements in 1997-98
Publications in 1997-98
- Published seven industry manuals by the Program Funded Industry Development Manager who facilitates information transfer.
- Finalised new arrangements for the Deer Industry Research and Development newsletter.
- Better defined alternative practices to minimise the meat quality defect blood splash, otherwise known as Ecchymosis.
- Published a research project establishing the feasibility of immunocastration vaccines to control rutting behaviour and so prevent weight loss.
- Developed stronger linkages between Chinese users of velvet and Australian producers and a better understanding of velvet market developments.
- Clarified the microbial status of deer velvet.
Maintaining Year-round Production of Quality Venison: The Use of Immunocastration
Vaccines to Control "Rutting Behaviour"98/1 Australian Deer Industry Manual No. 1 – Investment and Economics 97/71 Australian Deer Industry Manual No. 2 – Fencing and Handling Yards 98/14 Australian Deer Industry Manual No. 3 –Classification and Species Selection 98/28 Australian Deer Industry Manual No. 4 –
Deer Health98/29 Australian Deer Industry Manual No. 5 –
Deer Velvet Antler98/30 Australian Deer Industry Manual No. 6 – Pasture Assessment and Grazing Management 98/51 Australian Deer Industry Manual No. 7 – Management Guide 98/58 Deer Products R&D Newsletters Research Manager: Mr Peter Core
Phone: (02) 6272 4819
Fax: (02) 6272 5877
Email: peterc@rirdc.gov.au
Last updated: 20 October 1998
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