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Summary of Operations - back to menu
Program 1 Objective: To investigate and to develop prospects for new industries in rural and regional Australia.Expenditure in 1999/2000: $2,453,054
Our Five Year Plan 1997–2002 has the following performance indicators for Program 1.
Some key performance indicators and achievements in 1999/2000 were as follows:
Program 1
Prospective New Industries
We will measure our success by:Performance in 1999/2000 The development of sustainable new industries Completed a study advocating that bushfoods will be better positioned in the market if they are renamed native Australian foods and are supported by consumer education and promotion.
Assisted the newly formed Australian Culinary Herbgrowers Association to draft an R&D plan.
Completed a study on the market prospects for the Australian olive industry.
Released a number of reports on various aspects of camel meat production, processing and marketing.
Assisted in the formation of the National Buffalo Industry Council, the Kangaroo Industry Advisory Council and the Australian Goat Milk Association.
Produced an ostrich software program to assist management on-farm. Industry adoption of the results of research that we organise and support Provided the major sponsorship for the Triennial Lychee Conference at which reports were given on several RIRDC-funded projects.
Published reports on various aspects of producing bushfoods, herbs, olives, sugar beet, buckwheat, asparagus and truffles.
Published 12 final reports on various new animal industries or products, including new methods of immobilising crocodiles and treatment of crocodile skin diseases. Achievement of average benefit–cost ratios of two and/or internal rates of return greater than 15 per cent on R&D projects A major benefit- cost study of 21 new industries’ projects was undertaken in 1999/2000. This found rates of return ranging from 6 to 230 per cent, with all but three exceeding the target rate of 15 per cent. It also found benefit-cost ratios between 1.1 and 36, with all but two exceeding the target rate of 2. The level of industry funding support for our research programs Cash contributions to RIRDC projects made by cocoa, coffee, culinary herbs, durian, lychee, olive, pet food and rambutan industries.
The kangaroo industry has organised a voluntary contribution of funds, commencing in 2000/2001, and is seeking approval for a statutory levy system. The growth in industry outputs over a 5–10 year period NSW coffee industry projected to be worth $18 million at the farmgate by 2010. Herb industry estimated to have a farmgate value of $25 million a year. Exports of ostrich and kangaroo meat are increasing substantially and production of dairy goat milk continues to rise, particularly in the southern states. Investment priorities for sub-programs of Program 1 – Prospective New Industries
- Increase productivity and processing efficiency
- Ensure safe food production and develop new products
- Increase market access and export volume
- Facilitate industry development on a sustainable basis
- Increase information transfer
Objective: To facilitate the development of new industries based on plants or plant products that have commercial potential for Australia.
Expenditure in 1999/2000: $1,526,411
Background
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
- Prospective grain and pulse crops
- Miscellaneous crops and activities
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.Strategies
R & D PlansSupport 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.
This sub-program has several five-year R&D plans, which are accessible in hardcopy (durian, rambutan, mangosteen, lychees, olives, longans and bushfoods). The last three are also available on the Internet.Olives:
www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/olive5yr.htmLongans:
www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/cat/contents.htmBushfoods:
www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/bush5yr.htmKey outputs in 1999/2000
Publications in 1999/2000
- Completed a study advocating that bushfoods will be better positioned in the market if they are renamed native Australian foods and are supported by consumer education and promotion aimed at giving them greater authority and prestige among leading chefs and trend setters. Joint promotion with game and other fine foods is recommended.
- Assisted the newly formed Australian Culinary Herbgrowers Association to draft an R&D plan for the industry, now estimated to be worth $25 million a year at the farmgate.
- Completed a study on potential markets for frozen Australian-grown culinary herbs indicating that the bulk catering (meal assembly) and fast food components of the hospitality industry appear to have most potential.
- Completed a consultancy on the prospects and potential development strategies for the NSW coffee industry, which is projected to be worth $18 million at the farmgate by 2010. The formation of an inclusive industry body to guide the future of the industry and fund its development is identified as a key strategy.
- Successful field trials of a tractor-drawn harvester for small-scale coffee growers.
- In partnership with the primary industry departments of WA, NT, Queensland and Cadbury Schweppes, initiated a feasibility study on growing cocoa in northern Australia.
- Completed a study on the market prospects for the Australian olive industry that warns of the need to develop marketing strategies to cope with the large volumes of oil that will be produced locally by 2010.
- Started two national projects to evaluate the suitability of a range of olive varieties for differing geographic regions and end-users.
- Provided the major sponsorship for the well attended Triennial Lychee Conference at which reports were given on several RIRDC-funded projects.
- Completed a major study on canopy management in lychee, longan and rambutan that provides a model for predicting optimal pruning time in lychee, and possibly longan, and establishes a sounder scientific base for higher density trees that are less costly to pick and can be more easily netted against birds and bats, which can destroy 60% of fruit.
- Completed the first phase of a study aimed at maximising cashew yield by better tailoring nutrient application to the phenology of the bearing cycle.
- Extended regional variety trials of hazelnut to include Tasmania.
- Started new projects on:
- native mints
- bushfood production by Aboriginal communities in central Australia
- regional field trials of selected bushfoods in SE Australia
- production systems for specialty mushrooms
- objective quality measurement in black tea
- improving allicin yield in Australian virus-free garlic (see box below)
- production systems for coriander seed
- domestic market opportunities for longan and rambutan
- best-practice production systems in walnut
- evaluation of acacia and Dorycnium species as fodder and browse leguminous plants for livestock; and selecting new crops for Australia.
- Provided financial assistance for industry and research personnel to attend national and international conferences.
- Published final reports on:
- projects concerned with market positioning the bushfood industry
- a database for bushfoods
- a technology package and
- website for herbs
- olive yields, quality
- parameters and varietal recognition
- the commercial potential of sugar beet
- asparagus production in the dry tropics
- buckwheat production
- truffle growing in Tasmania.
99/85 Australian jojoba products - Discovering their market potential 99/86 The Olive Industry: a Marketing Study 99/107 NPP research in progress 99/119 Hemp and other natural fibres - today and tomorrow 99/142 Storage of culinary herbs 99/149 Commercial production of medicinal herbs in Tasmania 99/150 Lathyrus – a new grain legume 99/158 Improving access to bushfood production and marketing information 99/160 Market opportunities for non-wood fibre crops 00/5 Opportunities for New Agricultural Industries 00/15 Information System for the Cashew Industry 00/22 Asparagus - Productivity response to droughting in tropical environment 00/24 The effect of nitrogen on cashew in north Qld 00/29 Lychee, Longan and Rambutan - Optimising canopy management 00/38 The food safety of three species of Native Mint 00/61 Marketing the Australian Native Food Industry 00/58 High Yielding, Virus-free Garlic for Greater Profits 00/60 Business Plan for the NSW Coffee Growing Industry SR 69 Storage of culinary herbs SR 70 Development of Lathyrus as a new grain legume
GARLIC
Garlic has long been cited as having a range of health benefits, in particular, the capacity to lower blood cholesterol. Scientists have linked this effect to the compound allicin. Garlic has the added benefit of having few known side effects and there is a multi-million dollar global business in the production and sale of cholesterol lowering drugs and other treatments.Previous commercial research had shown that one of the problems in using garlic as the raw commodity basis for cholesterol lowering drugs was inconsistency. The yield of allicin from garlic bulbs was often low and fluctuated from batch to batch causing the extraction process to become uneconomical.
RIRDC funded a project through Agriculture Victoria to study the varietal, production and storage conditions that affect the level of allicin extracted from garlic. The project showed that Australian garlic has very high levels of allicin by world standards. The project also optimised a range of garlic varieties, production areas and management practices for allicin formation and crop yield.
The demonstration of the high quality of Australian garlic has provided a strong opportunity for the re-positioning of Australian garlic on world markets. This has been evidenced in recent market developments with the export of high quality Australian garlic to the United States.
Research Manager: Dr David Evans
Phone: (02) 4454 3039 Fax: (02) 4454 5131 Email: davide@shoalhaven.net.au
Objective: To accelerate the development of viable new animal industries.
Expenditure in 1999/2000: $926,643
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 1999/2000 the Corporation funded specific projects for fifteen of these industries. Other individual projects covered a broad spectrum of species and their products. Projects are increasingly covering R&D across the value added chain. 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 1999/2000 for snails, hares and crayfish.
Strategies
Key outputs in 1999/2000Identify R&D priorities. Facilitate export market access and development. Fund production, processing, transport and storage R&D on animal products. Strengthen development within and across industries by supporting creativity, innovation and integration along the value-added chain 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. Facilitated industry research and development, particularly for ostrich, buffalo and kangaroo, by funding national and international travel, supporting national meetings and the formation of appropriate councils. Released a number of reports on various aspects of camel meat production, processing and marketing. Three documents were published concerned with the handling of camels and meat trading language and meat specification. A pre-feasibility study of a potential camel industry in WA indicates opportunity. A marketing analysis and plans were developed for camel meat distributors and the wholesale/retail trade in the domestic market. Completed an analysis of the feasibility of farming rabbits now that the supply of wild rabbits has been greatly reduced due to the control program using the calicivirus. Results support the need for research to improve the production system to ensure profitability. Produced an ostrich software program to assist management on-farm including objective assessment of the potential profitability and the effect of economics of scale. Developed and demonstrated to industry a stunning device that immobilises crocodiles and allow safe treatment and measurement under experimental conditions. Identified export markets for goat cheese products to utilise a milk surplus in the spring. Scanned cartilages of a number of livestock – eg emu, crocodile, kangaroo, ostrich – to complement the supply of shark cartilage that is purported to have anti-cancer properties. Identified issues that prospective animal industries experience as development occurs. Marketing and processing constraints and impediments hinder many of the industries partly because of the lack of alliances along the supply/marketing chain. Published reports on strategies, particularly related to nutrition, for emu for meat and oil production. Reported on the therapeutic properties of emu oil. Using rat modules anti-inflammatory properties of the oil were demonstrated. Research continues on identifying the potent constituents. Experiments showed limited evidence of antimicrobial effects of oil samples and there was insufficient responses to support tissue regeneration properties. Obtained sound scientific data on the implications of declawing emus by measuring the effects on gait, behaviour and histological examination for the presence or absence of neuromas. Published reports on the feasibility of viable enterprises for silkworms, hares and snails. Published an analysis and business plan on the marketing of quality buffalo meat in Southern Australia. Analysed the potential and scope of camel racing in Australia in light of public interest, increasing prize-money and the possibility of support from international interests. Published 12 Final Reports, launched a buffalo marketing analysis at an industry meeting and provided articles for inclusion in general RIRDC publications. Publications in 1999/2000
BUFFALO SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 1998/1999 ($) 1999/2000 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Research Manager: Dr Peter McInnes
99/69 Development of speciality dairy products from sheep milk 99/71 Australian Buffalo Industry - Market Research and Feasibility Study 99/89 Australian Farmed Rabbit 99/108 NAP research in progress 99/117 Ostrich enterprise budgeting software 99/118 Developing a sustainable camel industry – Western Australia and Northern Territory 99/120 Australian camel racing 99/121 First national new rural industries conference 99/132 Emu Oil – its Antimicrobial and anti-viral potential 99/133 Emu oil – its anti-inflammatory properties 99/134 Growing juvenile ostrich in a grazing environment 99/143 Emu products – increasing production and profitability 99/177 Declawing of farmed emus – harmful or helpful? 00/9 Marketing Analysis and Plan for the Camel Industry 00/17 Novel Drugs from Toad Skins 00/21 Improving the quality of Australian crocodile skins 00/31 Year round supply of Goat Milk 00/37 Emu Farming – Development of reproductive technology 00/35 Cartilage Co-products – Commercial development of alternative production species 00/56 Potential for Silk Production in Australia
Phone: (08) 8556 7331 Fax: (08) 8556 7289 Email: mcinnes2@intertech.net.au
 
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Last updated: 5 October
2000
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http://www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/anrep00/ops2.html