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Program 1 Objective: To investigate and to develop prospects for new industries in rural and regional Australia.Expenditure in 2000/2001: $2,396,596
Compared with 1999/2000: $2,453,054Our R&D Plan which runs until 30 June 2002 has the following performance indicators for Program 1. Some key performance indicators and achievements in 2000/2001 were as follows:
Program 1
Prospective New IndustriesWe measured our success by:
Performance in 2000/2001 The development of sustainable new industries · Provided new strategic frameworks – Five Year R&D Plans – for culinary herbs and bushfoods · Established cocoa variety and agronomy trials in Northern Australia
· Fostered a number of the new animal industries – kangaroo, rabbit, dairy goat and sheep, crocodile, ostrich and emu – by release of reports that address impediments to their development
Industry adoption of the results of research that we organise and support · Commenced co-funding of newsletters for buffalo, ostrich and dairy goat industries · Published 40 R&D reports on project outcomes which were disseminated widely to existing and potential industry participants
Achievement of average benefit–cost ratios of two and/or internal rates of return greater than 15 per cent on R&D projects · Projects in Program 1 were the subject of a detailed B/C evaluation in 1999/2000. Program 4 was completed in 2000/2001. In 1999/2000 the study found, for selected projects in Program 1, 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 · Most projects in Program 1 are now receiving cash contributions direct from industry. This funding ensures close industry involvement from the start of projects · During 2000/2001 a statutory levy was introduced for kangaroo related R&D. Buffalo funding continued to be supported by a statutory R&D levy
The growth in industry outputs over a 5–10 year period · Farm gate values for new animal industries now exceed $150m per annum. Human consumption of kangaroo meat has doubled over the past five years. Ostrich meat exports were up from 80 t in 1996/1997 to 800 t in 1999/2000. Dairy goat milk output in Victoria was up by 60 per cent between 1997/1998 and 1999/2000 Investment priorities for Sub-programs of Program 1 – Prospective New Industries
Objective: To facilitate the development of new industries based on plants or plant products that have commercial potential for Australia.
Expenditure in 2000/2001: $1,442,733
Compared with 1999/2000: $1,526,411Background
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:
The Corporation views the sub-program as a seedbed or nursery in which stand-alone sub-programs of the future can be germinated and raised. The program also provides a means of supporting commercially viable but intrinsically small rural industries.
- Native foods
- Culinary herbs, spices and beverages
- Extractive and fibre crops
- Prospective fruit, vegetable and nut crops
- Prospective grain and pulse crops
- Miscellaneous crops and activities
Strategies
This sub-program has separate Five-Year Plans on Native Foods, Culinary Herbs, Longan and Olives, which are accessible on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/publications.html#newplans
- Support 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.
Strategic Plans for Lychee, Durian, Rambutan and Mangosteen are also available in hard copy.
Key outputs in 2000/2001
Publications in 2000/2001
- Completed and published an R&D plan for culinary herbs and addressed the industry's top priority issue by commissioning a study on the market for such herbs.
- Achieved establishment of cocoa variety and agronomy trials in the Northern Territory , Queensland and Western Australia and saw additional support for cocoa R&D from CadburySchweppes. Established MRL data allowing use of certain pesticides on longan and lychee.
- Provided support for an international symposium on tropical fruits that was held in Cairns in December 2000.
- Rounded out research on cashew during the last decade by completing projects on varietal and hybrid performance, on plant nutrition as a means of crop management, and on the biological control of pests. Would-be investors in cashew now have available to them a well rounded technology package that enables them to make informed economic and technical decisions about this potential new crop for northern Australia.
- Achieved satisfactory benefit cost-ratios in an independent study of returns on RIRDC investment in the New Plant Products sub-program over the last decade.
01/084 French Black Truffle 01/26 Australian Rambutans – Market Opportunity, Identification and Analysis of the Domestic Market 01/25 Australian Longans – Market Opportunity, Identification and Analysis of the Domestic Market 01/24 Supporting the Growth of the Australian Herb Growing Industry 01/23 Olive Oil: Yield,Quality and Cultivar Identification 01/28 Food Safety of Australian Plant Bushfoods 00/126 Frozen Culinary Herbs - Australian and International Market Analyses 01/14 Managing buckwheat production in Australia 00/187 Regional Australia Olive Oil Processing Plants 00/167 Potential of sugar beet on the Atherton Tableland 00/155 Condiment Paprika: breeding, harvesting and commercialisation 00/169 Market Alternatives for Japanese Green Tea 00/161 Determining whether pesticide application rates for culinary herbs meet NRL requirements 00/121 R&D Plan for the Culinary Herb Industry 00/59 Japanese Green Tea in Tasmania 00/116 Wild Olive Selection for Quality Oil Production 00/78 New Plant Products Research in Progress 2000 00/101 Maximum Residue Level Testing for Endosulflan for Use on Longans & lychee 00/63 A cholesterol lowering extract from garlic 00/100 High Yields & Early Bearing for Walnuts & Quality Timber Research Manager: Mr Max Bourke
Phone: (02) 6247 4630 Fax: (02) 6247 4051 Email: mebourke@ozemail.com.au
1.2 New Animal ProductsObjective: To accelerate the development of viable new animal industries.
Expenditure in 2000/2001: $953,863
Compared with 1999/2000: $926,643Background
There are more than 40 prospective and emerging animal-based industries for which RIRDC receives research proposals or enquiries regarding R&D funding. The annual value of livestock and products traded from these industries exceeds $180 million with approximately 50 per cent traded on export markets.
In 2000/2001 the Corporation funded specific projects for more than 15 of these industries. Other individual projects covered a broad spectrum of species and their products such as skin and meat. 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 and crocodile industries. Other projects continue in buffalo, dairy goats and milking sheep. New projects commenced in 2000/2001 in the potential export of gamebirds.
Strategies
This sub-program has its own three year R&D plan which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/newanimals3yr.htm
- Increasing market penetration and development.
- Improving processing, product development and diversification.
- Improving supply and productivity.
- Facilitating information transfer, industry development and community awareness.
Key outputs in 2000/2001
- Facilitated industry research and development, particularly for emu, ostrich, rabbit and alpaca, by funding international travel to conferences and meetings, and supporting national meetings related to silk, sheepmilk, crocodiles and skins.
- Commenced co-funding of newsletters for the buffalo, ostrich and dairy goat industries.
- Produced colour posters (3,000), brochures (20,000), and field guide booklets (1,000) showing kangaroo harvesters and processors the steps required for better kangaroo skin preservation, handling and skinning.
- Determined, using South African data, heritabilities of a number of ostrich production parameters. Genetic correlations and repeatibilities of hen reproductive traits were also determined. Overall the results clearly indicate that selection and culling can play a significant role in improving the future performance in reproductive and slaughter traits of farmed ostriches.
- Reported on the opportunity for ostrich producers and feed manufactures to reduce feed costs. It was estimated the cost of feeding a bird grown to 95 kg could be not less than $130 but this amount could be reduced to under $100 if good quality pasture is offered, particularly from 30 kg liveweight onwards.
- Released audit booklets on ostrich and emu skin production and processing to underpin industry QA programs. A CD was produced to guide stakeholders in the audit process.
- Published benchmarking reports on surveys of work practices, processes and general operating environment faced by emu and ostrich producing enterprises in 1999. Generally to improve performances there is a need to substantially improve data collection, storage and retrieval facilities.
- Identified five specific skin diseases in crocodiles. The most common was dermatophilus disease caused by a proposed new species of bacteria. The most effective method of treatment was a low cost immersion treatment of the animal in water containing 1ppm of copper sulphate.
- Obtained technical data showing that the number of scale rows of crocodile skins can be manipulated by the incubation temperature of eggs. Genetic influence (from the male) was identified, and through selection of breeding stock and varying incubation temperature, skin with higher scale rows may be produced.
- Sound progress has been further achieved with the development in pellet feeding of crocodiles. The development of a balanced pellet that will promote adequate growth is near completion and ready for commercial evaluation with crocodile producers.
- Completed research that showed by using AI, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, rapid genetic progress could occur in buffalo breeding by using riverine genotype to improve milk production and rate of liveweight gain in the progeny
- Nutrition research demonstrated that ducks have higher growth rates (and lower feed costs) if given as separate components rather than in combination.
- Reported on ways to remove impediments to the supply of dairy goat milk on a year round basis. Nutritional constraints can be overcome with cost effective silage and a wheat based diet, and the breeding season can be advanced by up to 4 months by isolating does completely from bucks, and then joining.
- Released a report that calculated that an opportunity exists to expand the use of existing purpose-built on-farm water resources for commercial production of freshwater crayfish especially following recent changes in government regulations in Victoria and NSW in respect of harvesting of yabbies from farm dams.
- Information has been released on the production, management and market potential of commercial snail farming. The economic benefits of production in France were assessed and a production system and details of construction of reproduction and rearing areas were described in a recent report.
BUFFALO SUB-ACCOUNT ACTUAL 1999/2000 ($) 2000/2001 ($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance
KANGAROO SUB-ACCOUNT BUDGETED 1999/2000 ($) 2000/2001($) Opening Balance Total Revenues Total Expenditure Surplus/(Deficit) Closing Balance Publications in 2000/2001
01/055 Dairy Goat Products – Developing New Markets 01/29 Dairy Sheep–Management and Breeding and Sheepmilk Powder 01/04 Improving Skin Quality of Emus and Ostriches 00/188 Breeding and Growing Snails Commercially in Australia 01/19 The Peruvian Alpaca Meat and Hide Industries 01/15 Maximising marketing opportunities for buffalo products 00/139 The Palatability & Potential Toxicity of Australian Weeds to Goats 00/165 Increasing buffalo production using reproduction technology 00/153 Genetic Evaluation for Australian ostriches 00/152 Alpaca enterprise budgeting software 00/156 Self-selection of diet by growing meat-type ducks 00/142 Potential for expansion of the Freshwater Crayfish Industry in Australia 00/136 Benchmarks for New Animal Products – Emu & Ostrich Production 00/123 Commercial Camel Industry in Western Australia 00/120 Ostriches – Their Nutritional Needs Under Farming Conditions 00/79 New Animal Products Research in Progress 00/105 Crocodiles – Restraining and meat quality 00/75 Farming European Brown Hare – Feasibility Study 00/74 Skin Disease of Farmed Crocodiles Research Manager: Dr Peter McInnes
Phone: (08) 8556 7331 Fax: (08) 8556 7289 Email: mcinnes2@intertech.net.au
 
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Last updated: 5 October
2001
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