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RIRDC Online - an email update from
Australia's most diverse R&D Corporation.

Preserving wildlife with piped water
To reduce water loss, rural water will increasingly be delivered through pipes, rather than open channels. This change does have the potential to reduce water access for wildlife, but recent RIRDC research shows that including troughs and ponds for wildlife can help in preserving biodiversity while improving efficiency.  The report, Bio-diversity in a Piped Rural Water System –Evaluating the impact of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline on biodiversity on farms, was launched by Federal MP for the Mallee John Forrest, at the Wimmera Machinery Field Days in Horsham, Victoria. The two-year study compared wildlife access to water on farms in the Northern Mallee Pipeline region and on farms still receiving water from the channel system in the Wimmera and southern Mallee. The RIRDC-funded project was managed by the Birchip Cropping Group.   More information  Summary Report  Full Report

R&D boosts productivity growth
Research and development has contributed to high productivity growth rates for Australian farmers. Higher than most sectors of the economy,  farming has productivity growth rates among the highest achieved by farmers internationally.  Research from the Australian Farm Institute looked at trends in productivity growth in Australian agriculture, and the important role of research and development. Researcher Dr John Mullen said "‘high rates of productivity growth are an important element in maintaining the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, and the profitability of farming. If farmers are able to produce more outputs from the same or less inputs, then they are more likely to remain profitable despite static or declining real prices for agricultural commodities". RIRDC Managing Director Dr Peter O’Brien said: "The report drives home the role of R&D  as a driver of productivity and sustainability for our rural industries and communities."  More information  Australian Farm Institute

Internet works for rural professionals 
 The internet can be used to assist health care and other professionals in rural and remote areas, allowing them to stay in touch with developments and access valuable resources, recent RIRDC research shows. The report Effective Use of the Internet – keeping professionals working in rural Australia was launched by Sussan Ley, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, at the  9th National Rural Health Conference in Albury. The research found that while a wide range of resources are available on the Internet, their effective use is often  constrained. The research suggests that employers of rural professionals need to ensure greater internet access. The report recommends that resources be developed for rural professionals, including  online professional libraries and  postgraduate courses. The Farm Health & Safety Joint Research Venture, a conference sponsor, is a collaborative initiative involving a number of Research and Development Corporations investing in R&D to improve health and safety for farmers. “By the very nature of their jobs, farmers are exposed to more workplace hazards than workers in most other industries, and every year around 150 people die from accidental injury on Australian farms,” Ms Ley said. “Research on health and safety issues is an important aspect of the rural Research and Development Corporations’ efforts to support industry productivity.” More information   Full report Other reports from the Human Capital, Communications and Information Systems R&D Program 

Heywire youth tackle the drought
In February the thirty-nine Heywire winners met in Canberra for a week-long forum to share ideas and learn new ways to get their message across. The RIRDC-funded Heywire program gives young people living in rural and regional areas of Australia the chance to  describe their lives and  issues that are important to them over ABC Radio.  “The 39 winning stories cover a range of topics including isolation, triumph over adversity and connection to family and community in a mix of emotional and inspirational tales of what life is like in regional Australia,” said Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Peter McGauran. Arising from the Heywire forum, the participants have initiated a campaign to raise awareness and take action on water usage.  With the support of ABC Local Radio their words have become a challenge to all Australians:  The 40 Hour Drought – use only 40 litres of water in 40 hours.  For more details and to participate in the 40 Hour Drought go to abc.net.au/water.  More information

Native food industry goes national
Australia’s growing native food industry participants have joined forces to form a national body to represent industry participants and to meet the challenges of developing strong markets both locally and internationally.  In December the Australian Native Food Industries Limited (ANFIL) was incorporated as a National Body to represent participants in the industry. Announcing the formation of the body, ANFIL interim chair Andrew Fielke thanked the RIRDC, Coles Indigenous Food Fund and the CSIRO for their support in establishing the body. “This really is a landmark event for our fledgling industry,” Mr Fielke said. As well as making good progress in developing strong domestic and export markets, the native food industry offers opportunities for farm diversification and for the development of sustainable and environmentally appropriate agriculture. More information on Australian Native Food Industries Limited (ANFIL), and membership application forms, can be found on the CSIRO Native Foods website.  Reports from the New Plant Products R&D Program

Peppery, healthy & fresh watercress
Watercress is a traditional salad crop with long-recognised health benefits, but is not yet produced in commercial quantities in Australia. Recent RIRDC research indicates that a vibrant new watercress industry could cater to the demand for new flavours and healthy foods in Australia. Watercress plants are aquatic members of the brassica family, and are botanically related to garden cress and mustard - characterized by a peppery, tangy flavour. The vegetable is associated with a range of health benefits and contains significant amounts of iron, calcium and folic acid, in addition to vitamins A and C. The site of the first hospital established by Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was chosen close to a watercress stream so that he could use fresh stems to treat his patients. The plants are relatively easy to grow, and production systems can be hydroponic or gravel based. While gravel-based production offers more cost-effective mechanized harvesting and handling, hydroponic systems offer greater water-use efficiency. More information  Summary Report  Full report  
 


The internet can be used to assist health care and other professionals in rural and remote areas, allowing them to stay in touch with developments and access resources.



  The thirty-nine Heywire winners in Canberra for a week-long forum to share ideas and learn new ways to get their message across.
 
The thirty-nine Heywire winners in Canberra for a week-long forum to share ideas and learn new ways to get their message across.
 The native food industry offers opportunities for farm diversification and for the development of sustainable and environmentally appropriate agriculture

The native food industry offers opportunities for farm diversification and for the development of sustainable and environmentally appropriate agriculture.


Watercress is a traditional salad crop with long-recognised health benefits, but is not yet produced in commercial quantities in Australia.

Upcoming events

Quarantine and Market Access Conference  – Maximising Trade
Managing Risk, 2007
22–24 May 2007
Hyatt Hotel, Canberra

Australian Vegetable Industry Conference 2007 29 May– 1 June  Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour


Get connected!
The RIRDC website – www.rirdc.gov.au – has over 1600 reports for free download, plus numerous useful links. Please pass this newsletter on to anyone else who may be interested. To subscribe please contact us with an email address. For more information about these stories please email or phone Martin. 

Recent RIRDC Reports

Regulatory and Other Constraints to Sustainable Commercial Utilisation of Wildlife (06/014  AGT-9A) Report Summary

New Animal Products - New uses and markets for by-products and coproducts of crocodile, emu, goat, kangaroo and rabbit (06/117 DAQ 320A)  Report Summary

Economic Analysis and Business Development of Sustainable Wildlife Enterprises trial sites (07/042 UNE-94A) Report Summary
Opportunities for Tourism on Agricultural Land through Mammal Reintroductions (06/013  SUS-1A)  Report Summary

Best Practice Super Conditioning to ProduceQuality Export Oaten Hay (06/119  RDP-2A) Report Summary

The Australian Master TreeGrower Program- Development, delivery and impact of a national outreach and education program - 1996-2004 (06/029  UM-44A & UM63A) Report Summary

People and the Kangaroo Harvest in the South Australian Rangelands  (07/039 UA-59A) Report Summary

Technical Issues Affecting Trade in Agricultural Products  (07/032 DAH-2A) Report Summary

Internet Field Days - Helping farmers to make better decisions (06/122 BCG-1A) Report Summary 

A Virtual Meeting Space to Support Farmers Learning About Natural Resource Management (06/113 CSW 40A) Report Summary 

The Health Benefits of Traditional Chinese Plant Medicines: Weighing the scientific evidence (06/128  DAV-227A) Report Summary

Producing and marketing quality mohair (07/026  209A)Report Summary 

Functional Properties of Australian Bushfoods (07/030  UCS-29A) Report Summary 

Floral Manipulation and Canopy Management in Longan and Rambutan (07/031 DAQ-289A)  Report Summary 

Future Broadacre Agricultural Landscapes (06/028  DAW-109A) Report Summary

Water and Nutrient Relations of Parasitic Quandong and Acacia Host Species (07/027 UA-68A) Report Summary 

Improving Harvesting, Processing and Marketing of Australian Capers (07-025  CAU-2A)Report Summary 

Composition of New Meats - Analyses and nutrient composition of innovative meat industries (07/036 FSA-6A)Report Summary 

Impacts in Inland Saline Aquaculture - A Case Study for Trout Production from Saline Groundwater in Western Australia (05/166  UMU-27A) Report Summary

Outback Spirit Bush Foods - A learning model in marketing and supply chain management (06/037 REC-2A)Report Summary

Intensive Organic Vegetable Production Integrated Development  (04/121  DAT-37A)Report Summary 

Transmission of American Foulbrood (AFB) Disease of Honeybees Through Replacement of Queen bees (06/007)Report Summary

Using Near Infrared technologies to enhance precision management of rice crops (06/124 DAN-222A)Report Summary

International Symposium on Chamomile Research, Development and Production (06/136  TA056-27)Report Summary 

Chicken Litter Issues Associated with Sourcing and Use (07/035  WS990-19) Report Summary

Export Potential for Organics - opportunities and barriers (05/085  RFR-1A)  Report Summary 

Organic Farming in Victoria: Workshops to Enhance Communication, Practice and Conversion Report Summary 

Australia's Sandalwood Industry - An overview and analysis of research needs (06/131  AGL-5A)  Report Summary

The Natural Chemistry of Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil  (06/132 DAN-239A)Report Summary 

Gluten-free Grains: A demand-and-supply analysis of prospects for the Australian health grains industry (05/011) Report Summary 

Native Vegetation and Profitable Perennials to Ameliorate Salinity, and Enhance Biodiversity, Beneficial Insects and Pest Control (06/129 SAR- 49A) Report Summary

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The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation is a partnership between the Australian Government and industry that  funds and manages priority research across three key areas− new rural industries, selected established industries, and national rural issues. Through innovation our industries are continuously growing more productive.
PO Box 4776 Kingston ACT 2604 Australia
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