After initial delays while these new publishing arrangements were organised, Access to Asian Foods was published eleven times in the project period (one for July / August 2003, and monthly thereafter). Over the one-year project, a total of approximately 11,000 newsletters were sent out Australia-wide. In June 2004 the subscription list stood at around 800 individual addresses. The vast majority of these received a single English version every month. But six industry representatives also received multiple English copies (between ten and ninety-five).

Translation of the newsletter into Cambodian commenced in July / August 2003 and about twenty-five of these were supplied to two vegetable industry representatives each month.

Translations into Vietnamese and Chinese continued through the project period. Sixty-three addresses received a monthly, single copy in Vietnamese but a further 165 copies were supplied to industry representatives. Chinese copies went to seventeen individual addresses and a further eighty to an industry representative based at the Sydney Markets. Some addresses received copies in more than one language.

The editor sourced a range of articles from around Australia that reflected the diversity of topics relevant to those with interests in Asian foods. Issues covered twenty-seven separate articles in categories including new products / crops, agronomy, postharvest handling, technology transfer and industry news. Articles featured twelve different crops. Many articles focussed on research reports for projects funded by RIRDC.

 Articles in the period July 2003 to June 2004 -
Research shows how to use poultry litter safely.

• The role of harvest technique & injuries in water loss from stored bok choy heads.
• Development of Prunus mume, a new tree crop for Australia.
• New RIRDC publications.
• Longans - postharvest handling & storage.
• Taro mechanisation - further improvements.
• ChemCert program.
• Advancing vegetable production of Vietnamese growers In NSW.
• Retail & restaurant survey.
• New work on Chinese waterchestnut.
• Postharvest water loss from bok choy.
• Farm hygiene protocols for wasabi.
• Taro mechanisation.
• Adding value to Asian vegetables through easier meals for households.
• Bi$link update.
• Taro symposium report.
• Kabocha report.
• Hydroponic Asian vegetables.
• Taro chip development.
• Anti-cancer potential of Asian cruciferous vegetables.
• A review of recent Australian postharvest research on bitter melon.
• Aspects of lotus nutrition.
• Production and marketing of myoga in Australia.
• Developing new export vegetables – project completed.
• Update on RIRDC Asian Foods Program.
• Victorian vegetables- a vital defence against disease.
• Clean planting material critical in the fight against clubroot disease.

In the period July 2003 to June 2004, the editor interacted with researchers from 12 organisations to obtain contributions for articles.

Contributors -

• DPI, VIC – Graeme Thomson, Kevin Wilkinson, Steven Moore, Caroline Donald.
• DPI & Fisheries, QLD – Bruce Topp, Dougal Russell, Judy Noller, James Drinnan, Craig Lemin, Steve Grauf, Brett Wedding, Tim O’Hare, Lung Wong.
• NSW Agriculture – Phillip Wilk, David Hall, Vong Nguyen.
• ChemCert (NSW) – Julie McAlpin.
• Department of Primary Industries, Water & Environment (Tasmania) – Angela Sparrow.
• Food Science Australia – Jayanthi Weerasinghe, Mala Gamage, David O’Beirne, Rachel Marsh, Lorraine Ruddick & Sieh Ng (VIC).
• Bi$Link– Sally Richards (SA).
• NORADA – David Hicks (NSW).
• University of Western Sydney – David Hicks, Tony Haigh.
• Agrilink Asia Pacific – Richard Warner (TAS).
• Department of Agriculture, WA – Soon Chye Tan.
• RIRDC – Tony Byrne (ACT).

Project evaluation demonstrated that information provided to the Asian food industry via this publication has had a significant impact in changing production and handling practices. It has also increased the level of knowledge and understanding within the target audience of approximately 750 subscribers (based on addresses receiving single English, Vietnamese and / or Chinese copies as of January 2004). The evaluation was able to capture the opinions of a diverse range of industry participants including Asian crop growers, researchers, retailers, extension officers and interested growers from other horticultural industries. The survey response rate was 15% (103 respondents) from a sample size of 760 subscribers.

Key findings from the newsletter project evaluation included:

• 97% of survey respondents felt that the newsletter had expanded their knowledge, role or interest in Asian foods. Over 60% of this group had gained a broader understanding of vegetable production requirements, industry development, research outcomes or value- adding opportunities.
• 93% of respondents indicated that their ability to name and identify different types of Asian vegetables had improved, while 95% had also increased their knowledge of quality issues associated with Asian vegetables / foods as a result of newsletter derived information.
• 47% of survey respondents involved in a commercial enterprise felt that the newsletter had assisted them in making successful business decisions resulting in higher financial returns or increased sales.
• 57% of survey respondents involved in a commercial enterprise indicated that the newsletter had assisted them in changing some aspect of their business or on-farm practices.

Survey results also demonstrated that information provided in the newsletter had an impact on vegetable production and on-farm water-use efficiency. Of the 25% of respondents who did make changes to on-farm production practices, 55% of them had reduced total water consumption, increased water-use efficiency per hectare or changed to a different irrigation system to reduce water consumption. Another 33% achieved an increase in crop yield per hectare as a result of newsletter information.

The newsletter also had a positive impact on pest and disease control in the industry with 27% of respondents implementing new practices that reduced disease outbreaks and severity.

Thirty-three percent of respondents highlighted that they now had less reliance on pesticides and had selected disease-resistant cultivars resulting in a reduction in chemical inputs. Overall chemical use was reduced by 27% of respondents who were able to use fewer pesticide sprays by implementing information provided in the newsletter.

The survey results indicate that newsletter stories contributed to beneficial outcomes in postharvest handling and development of new products. Asian vegetable quality was improved in 52% of cases due to improvements in postharvest temperature management with appropriate cooling of crops resulting in better quality (eg. less yellowing and less water loss) and longer shelf-life. New value-added or processed Asian vegetable products were developed as a result of newsletter information by 44% of respondents involved in this industry sector.

Industry evaluation clearly demonstrated that the Asian vegetables / foods newsletter has had a significant impact in improving subscriber knowledge / skills, and in accelerating and increasing uptake of more efficient and sustainable practices. The newsletter project has met many of the program objectives at the highest levels of Bennett’s Hierarchy as outlined in the Summary performance story (page 8), particularly outcomes at the KASA and practice change levels. As well as improvements in knowledge and skills the newsletter has had an impact on the attitude and aspirations of industry participants with 55% of respondents having greater confidence in making changes to on-farm or business practices. Over 40% of these respondents also indicated that they now had confidence in making changes to improve product quality, or could make planting and production decisions to meet market demands with greater certainty.

Although it can be quite difficult to attribute changes to project activities at the highest hierarchy level (Social, Economic and Environmental impacts) evaluation results tend to suggest that the newsletter has had some impact at this broader level. For example, 73% of respondents indicated that their knowledge of other cultures had increased due to information on Asian foods and crops provided in the newsletter. Other positive social outcomes from the newsletter included greater subscriber knowledge of the roles of others in the industry and improved communication and networking opportunities. Broader economic and environmental impacts are also indicated by the survey results, including - higher profits and sales; better business decision-making; and, reductions in on-farm chemical and water inputs resulting in a more sustainable Asian food industry.

The majority of subscribers were satisfied with the format and content of the newsletter but suggestions were also provided on improving the relevancy of information and on the type of topics that should be covered in the future. The evaluation also found that most subscribers would be able to access the newsletter over the Internet making this a potentially viable and cost-effective distribution method in the near future. In general, subscribers found that the newsletter was an excellent publication and an effective extension and communication tool for the Asian vegetable / food industry.
 

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Last updated: January 2005
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http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/AFO/05-030sum.html