Summary

AgriFutures’s goal is to develop and support emerging industries to achieve a value of $10million in the next five years.  Working towards this, AgriFutures is seeking to develop 5-year strategic RD&E plans for emerging industries with high growth potential.  These plans are intended to provide industries with strategic guidance for critical research for productive, profitable and sustainable growth through the supply chain.  Funding of future research may come from a range of different sources.   Industry ownership of the RD&E plans is essential.

Cocoa is produced on a small scale in far north Queensland and is believed to have high potential for expansion and value growth.  Whilst current production is small it has achieved yields up to 3 times higher than world averages and has high potential for price premiums.   

Our proposal is to work with industry, researchers and key stakeholders along the supply chain and research sector to develop a strategic R&D plan to guide the growth of the Australian Cocoa industry.  We can draw on our recent experience with the Horticulture Sustainability Framework to help the cocoa industry find its pathway to sustainable growth in a sensitive environment.  

From a production perspective our team’s combined experience is strongest in plant and tree crops, farm-gate tourism, cocoa and chocolate making and dairy.  Our skills, method and understanding of rural R&D can be applied to any industry and we would be happy to work with AgriFutures to adapt this methodology for another industry/s if desired.

Program

New and Emerging Industries

Research Organisation

Roth Rural and Regional Pty Ltd

Objective Summary

The core output of the project is an industry-owned 5-year Strategic R&D Plan for Australian Cocoa. 

Intended outcomes are:

–       Increased industry capacity and participation in RD&E planning and understanding of research funding streams

–       Improved understanding of current and past research on cocoa production and processing in Australia and globally

–       Identification and prioritisation of the key barriers to growth and possible enablers

–       Prioritisation of RD&E needs based on the significance of the issue to industry growth and the ability to influence   

–       Industry owned 5-year Strategic RD&E plan for Australian Cocoa

The intended impact is to contribute to:  
–     Industry growth through improved productivity and expansion to a value of $10million pa by 2026