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Program 2

Emerging New Industries -
Objective: To expedite the growth and development of emerging new rural and associated processing industries.

Expenditure in 2001– 02: $ 4,728,335
Compared with 2000– 01: $ 5,334,074

2.1 Asian Foods

Objective: To foster the development of a viable Asian foods industry in Australia.

Some Key Performance Indicators


Expenditure in 2001–02: $521,457
Compared with 2000–01: $486,106

Background

Asian vegetables are mainly grown for domestic consumption, with production concentrated on the outskirts of the main state capital cities. However, there is a small, but growing, export sector historically exporting Chinese cabbage to Asian markets but evolving to exporting a wider range of high quality vegetables.

The market for Australian-grown Asian vegetables in many Asian countries is potentially large. For instance, Japan imports $2.3 billion of fresh, frozen, preserved and dehydrated vegetables each year.

Opportunities for Asian food arise out of:

  • The rapidly growing markets in Asia for high quality food products as incomes in this region rise;
  • The increasing Asian influence on cuisine in Australia; and
  • Australian producers’ ability to undertake high quality volume production and their ability to find niches that give them a competitive advantage to supply these markets.
    •  Foods other than vegetables, particularly processed foods, are also popular and opportunities include sauces, ready-made meals and possibly snacks.

    Increasing attention to industry development will be needed in the future, with greater emphasis on managing quality and the development of supply chains. Recognition of the Australian product as clean and green and the establishment of brands backed by reliable quality product are seen as keys to success in export markets.

    Strategies

    Industry development

  • Support industry development through improved information, communication and development of supply chain and marketer networks.
  • Develop new products with good market opportunities.
    •


    Production systems

  • Provide troubleshooting solutions and enhance quality and productivity through research in production systems and plant physiology.
  • Ensure chemical use is safe for workers and consumers.
    •  Post-harvest treatment and handling
  • Increase shelf life of fresh and semi-processed products.
  • Improve cool chain management.
    •  Key outputs in 2001–02
  • Annual meeting to improve communication between industry and researchers held in Murwillumbah in May 2001. The agenda covered presentations on green soybean, lotus, daikon, leafy vegetables, taro, waterchestnut and new developments in postharvest technology. There was strong interest, with over 130 people attending the meeting.
  • Further publication of the Asian Food and Asian Vegetables Newsletters.
  • Publication of reports on lotus for export to Asia and development of wasabi for the East Asian market.
  • Publication of reports on Diversifying Asian Vegetable Markets that examine a range of postharvest handling, packaging and marketing issues that will help deliver quality product through local and export distribution networks.
  • Vietnamese Asian vegetable growers in the Northern Territory were better informed and organised due to a pilot communication project.
    •  Publications in 2001–02
    02/035 Improved Management Practices for Culinary Bamboo Shoots: Local and Export Markets
    01/65 Asian Foods Research in Progress 2001
    02/006 Leafy Asian Vegetables - Extending their Shelf-Life: Part 2

    Research Manager: Mr Tony Byrne
    Phone:  02  6272 5472
    Fax: 02  6272 5877 
    Email: tony.byrne@rirdc.gov.au

    This Sub-Program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/asianfd5yr.htm


    2.2 Agroforestry and Farm Forestry

    Objective: To integrate sustainable and productive agroforestry within Australian farming systems.

    Some Key Performance Indicators

    Expenditure in 2001–02: $2,412,149
    Compared with 2000–01: $2,755,769

    Background

    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.

    The "multiple benefit" nature of agroforestry makes it ideal for collaboration between R&D partners with varying priorities. Development of a joint approach ensures that outcomes from agroforestry R&D expenditure are balanced amongst the benefits by focussing resources on a set of priorities agreed by all partners.

    The Joint Venture Agroforestry Program (JVAP) was established in 1993 and now has four partners: RIRDC, the then Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation (now Land & Water Australia), the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation and the Murray Darling Basin Commission.

    Funding is also provided for some activities by the Murray Darling Basin Commission, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia, and the Australian Greenhouse Office. A major contribution of $4 million was received in February 1998 from the Natural Heritage Trust through the Farm Forestry Program (FFP). This contribution concludes in 2002.

    The JVAP has the following key roles:

  • Initiating, coordinating and communicating agroforestry research and development
  • Assisting in the removal of policy and institutional impediments
  • Assisting in the development of new tree-based industries
  • Designing large-scale commercial agroforestry systems in lower rainfall areas to address environmental issues
    •  The JVAP recognises that future commercial agroforestry investments, particularly in the medium to low rainfall regions, are subject to considerably greater risk than other commercial land use enterprises with proven production systems and more transparent commodity markets. R&D intervention can help reduce this risk by quantifying land, water, biodiversity and social responses to agroforestry systems and developing new products from trees in low to medium rainfall areas.

    The JVAP has managed Bioenergy Australia (previously called the Biomass Taskforce) since 1998. This taskforce fosters and facilitates the development of biomass for energy, liquid fuels, and chemical feedstocks. Membership continues to grow with about 50 paying bioenergy members. The sustainable development of a biomass industry in Australia is an important new area of R&D within the JVAP.

    Strategies

  • Address targetted strategies for the implementation of farm forestry, focusing on identifying impediments and opportunities and improving information flows.
  • Investigate how agroforestry can contribute to more sustainable management of natural resources—for example, soil, water, biodiversity.
  • Seek to optimise the productivity of crops and pastures by assessing the effects of agroforestry on productivity of other agricultural enterprises
  • Promote optimised direct returns from tree products through species development, including in medium and low rainfall areas, and investigate harvesting, processing and management systems.
  • Develop cost-effective multipurpose agroforestry systems to meet commercial and environmental objectives, including farm forestry design options and decision-making tools.
  • Develop effective communications.
    •  This Sub-Program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/aft5yr.htm

    Key outputs in 2001–02

    Targetted strategies for implementation

  • Two complementary reports on Environmental Services were published. These were Emerging Markets for Environmental Services- Implications and Opportunities for Resource Management in Australia and Making Farm Forestry Pay: Markets for Ecosystem Services. These were combined and distilled into the single Research Update No. 3.
  • Published the R&D priorities for agroforestry and farm forestry systems in northern Australia.
  • ANU Quarterly Market Report was published.
  • Launched and published a key report into investment entitled Environmental and Commercial Outcomes through Agroforestry.
    •  Sustainable use of natural resources
  • Published the first in the Agroforestry Guideline Series Trees, Water and Salt, launched at a high profile event in March 2002.
  • Published a discussion paper to follow up from the conference held the previous year on Plantations, Farm Forestry and Water.
  • Published a report characterising root morphology in alley systems.
  • Published an Evaluation of pulpwood quality for 13 agroforestry species.
    •  Optimised direct returns from tree products
  • Released The Carbon Farmer report, manual and software, which allow farmers and advisers to evaluate whether it is worth engaging in carbon farming.
  • Released guidelines for the silvicultural management of blackwood.
  • The Bioenergy Atlas of Australia (jointly funded with AGO) made available online. The Atlas allows interactive view and query of information useful to evaluate bioenergy resource at a national scale, with two more detailed regional case studies.
  • Release of a report, bibliography and database of national silvicultural research and trials in farm forestry.
  • Published a feasibility study investigating the potential for integrated mallee processing for carbon products, eucalyptus oil and electricity. A pilot plant based on this system is currently being established in Narrogin WA, with government and private investment.
    •  Effective Communications
  • Published a third Research Update entitled Making Farm Forestry Pay: Selling the Environmental Services of Farm Forestry Research Update No. 3, The existing two Research Updates continue to be in high demand.
  • Supported the IUFRO Forestry Extension and presented a keynote paper at a conference in Lorne in November 2001.
  • Held a workshop on the potential of the Wattleseed industry in March 2002.
  • Held a workshop to develop Biodiversity guidelines in March 2002.
  • Supported the Bioenergy Australia Conference in the Gold Coast in December 2001 and presented a keynote address.
  • Continued to publish biannual JVAP newsletter, as well as 30 final research reports.
  • Updated and reprinted a JVAP information brochure.
    •
    AGROFORESTRY SUB-ACCOUNT
    ACTUAL
    2000–01($)
    2001–02 ($)
    Opening Balance
    559,020
    555,377
    Total Revenues
    2,964,774
    2,922,433
    Total Expenditure
    2,968,417
    2,626,307
    Surplus/(Deficit)
    (3,643)
    296,126
    Closing Balance
    555,377
    851,503

    Research Manager: Dr Roslyn Prinsley=
    Phone: 02  6272 4033
    Fax: 02  6272 5877
    Email: roslyn.prinsley@rirdc.gov.au

    Assistant Research Manager: Dr Deborah O’Connell
    Phone:  02  6271 6671
    Fax: 02  6272 5877
    Email: deborah.oconnell@rirdc.gov.au

    Assistant Research Manager: Sarah Bruce
    Phone:  02  6271 6671
    Fax: 02  6272 5877
    Email: sarah.bruce@rirdc.gov.au

    Publications in 2001–02
    02/057 Environmental and Commercial Outcomes through Agroforestry
    02/044 Measurement and Integration of Fauna Biodiversity Values in Queensland Agroforestry Systems
    02/022 Innovative Use of Farm Trees: Australian Marketing Experiences 
    02/028 Australian Low Rainfall Tree Improvement Group: Compendium of Softwood Tree Improvement Strategies
    02/051 Biodiversity in Agriculture and Agroforestry
    02/014 Vineyard Posts from Eucalypts Grown on Effluent Water
    02/039 Forage Trees and Shrubs in Australia- their Current Use and Future Potential
    02/024 Tree Root Morphology in Alley Systems
    02/019 Plantation Design and Biodiversity Conservation
    02/018 Making Farm Forestry Pay
    01/086 Trees, Water & Salt: An Australian Guide to Using Trees for Healthy Catchments and Productive Farms
    02/005 Making Farm Forestry Pay - Markets for Ecosystem Services
    01/166 Farm Grown Pine in Silicon Smelters
    01/165 Potential Non Wood Products for Low Medium Rainfall Areas
    01/137 Plantations, Farm Forestry & Water: Water & Salinity Issues in Agroforestry No. 8
    01/176 Silvicultural Management of Blackwood 
    01/161 Defining the Product – Log Grades Used in Australia
    01/101 A Bibliography of Plantation Hardwood and Farm Forestry Siliviculture Research Trials in Australia
    01/164 Evaluation of the Pulpwood Quality of 13 Eucalypt Species with Potential for Farm Forestry
    01/162 Emerging Markets for Environmental Services: Implications and opportunities for Resource Management in Australia
    01/146 Conifers in the Dry Country
    01/142 Agroforestry R&D for Northern Australia
    01/160 Integrated Tree Processing of Mallee Eucalypts
    01/112 Identifying Pest Resistant Eucalypts using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
    01/114 Genetic Pollution from Farm Forestry using Eucalypt Species and Hybrids
    01/100 Compendium of Hardwood Breeding Strategies
    01/66 Agroforestry and Farm Forestry Research in Progress 2001
    SR111 What's Happening in the Farm Forestry Market? - Volume 2
    SR 113 Environmental and Commercial Outcomes through Agroforestry.


    2.3 Deer

    Objective: To foster an Australian deer industry as a profitable and efficient mainstream agricultural enterprise.

    Some Key Performance Indicators

    Expenditure in 2001–02: $286,758
    Compared with 2000–01: $279,931

    Background

    The Australian deer industry has an estimated gross value of production of about $7 million at the farm gate. Although the industry is dispersed throughout Australia, the majority of the herd continues to be in Victoria and New South Wales. Fallow and Red deer are the most numerous species.

    Major products are: (i) Venison where annual production has been up to 1,500 tonnes, with an estimated 90% of that volume exported and (ii) Velvet antler with annual production at around 25 tonnes of fresh product.

    Traditionally, most velvet is exported in a frozen state to Korea and China. However, there is an increasing trend to contract processing of product in Australia and New Zealand for subsequent, value-added, sale in tourist markets. The Australian Deer Horn and Co-Products Pty Ltd continues to grade and sell the majority of the industry’s production on behalf of farmers.

    Like velvet, venison prices are determined primarily by international developments. In 2001–02 venison prices were strong up to November and then weakened due to a number of factors in the European red meat markets. Average venison prices for 2001–02 were around $3.50 hot carcase weight similar to that in 2001–02.

    Velvet prices in 2001–02 averaged around $65 per kg. This compares with $85 per kg in 1999–00 and $56 per kg for 2000–01.

    Strategies

    Focus on increasing deer numbers by: - increasing adoption of available technologies that have the potential to increase returns to producers from improved product quality; and

    - increasing new interest in the industry from farmers of traditional livestock species.


    Continue to guide the R&D program from its 2000–2005 plan. This plan centres around:

    - increasing the size of the national herd

    - improving the per unit production of Australian herds

    - increasing adoption of known (nutrition) technologies

    - developing markets for processed deer antler

    - improving the average quality of venison and antler produced by the industry

    - developing specialist international and domestic markets for Australian venison

    - investigating non-chemical means of harvesting deer antler; and

    - improving confidence in industry representative groups.


    Place particular emphasis on encouraging the adoption of research knowledge, particularly nutrition technologies, in an attempt to improve the international and domestic image of the quality of industry products and its ability to consistently supply them.

    Communicate research outcomes and market their adoption to the deer industry through strong relationships with key industry players and audiences, while maintaining the Corporation's high standards of accountability.

     This Sub-Program has its own five-year R&D plan, which is accessible in hardcopy and on the Internet at www.rirdc.gov.au/pub/deerrd1.html

    Key outputs in 2001–02

  • Velvet and Venison Co-products Specification manual produced.
  • Upgraded Quality Assurance Manuals disseminated to all registered participants in the Industry Quality Assurance program.
  • Deer Quality Assurance, Management and Analysis (Deer QAMA) software distributed to all registered participants in the Industry Quality Assurance program.
  • Retrained and reassessed industry Quality Assurance facilitators to ensure they are familiar with amended manuals and the Deer QAMA program.
  • Industry software produced as part of RIRDC funded projects (Deer QAMA and VenStat) demonstrated and promoted at the Third World Deer Farming Congress (Austin, Texas).
  • Continued development of industry statistical database.
  • Industry Quality Assurance approved by the Trade Marks Office and the ACCC.
    •
    DEER SUB-ACCOUNT
    ACTUAL
    2000–01($)
    2001–02 ($)
    Opening Balance
    342,636
    472,010
    Total Revenues
    447,400
    375,191
    Total Expenditure
    318,026
    318,793
    Surplus/(Deficit)
    129,374
    56,398
    Closing Balance
    472,010
    528,408

    Publications in 2001–02
    02/064 Deer Research in Progress and Completed Projects for 2001–02
    02/010 Performance of Red Deer Calves After Early Weaning
    01/120 Deer: Quality Assurance, Strategic Alliances and Industry Development
    01/107 Growing Weaner Deer: Overcomiong Nutritional Constraints in South Australia
    01/110 Deer Publications – Comprehensive International Bibliography
    01/67 Deer Research in Progress 2001
    01/095 Nutritional Requirements for Pregnant and Lactating Red and Fallow Deer
    01/094 Venison Quality Assurance

    Research Manager: Mr Peter Core
    Phone:  02 6365 5482
    Fax: 02 6365 5482
    Email: peter.core@rirdc.gov.au


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    Last updated: October 2002
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