Summary

The Australian Legume Symposium will set the agenda for investment in legume R, D & E in Australia for the next 10 years and provide a forum for researchers to interact, exchange ideas, and to debate how to take the next quantum leap in legume research?

The themes of the symposium are;
Role of legumes in Australian Farming Systems,
Current legume research to address gaps (in cropping and permanent pasture zones),
Addressing specic gaps/problems
Directions for future legume research –what happens next?

Program

Pasture Seeds

Research Organisation

Grassland Society of Southern Australia Inc

Objective Summary

Reduced R&D funding, a dwindling supply of graduate students and an aging population of pasture scientists have all contributed to the isolation of pasture researchers. There are few opportunities for researchers to interact with others. As such pasture research is fragmented, increasingly being conducted in isolated areas with minimal exchange of ideas. This makes it difficult for the pasture industry to present to funding organisations a clear, well-grounded and broadly supported message about funding priorities.

The purpose of this research project is to pilot a symposium as a prelude to a regular series of symposia, that will enable the pasture industry to promptly recognize the issues it faces and respond to them through either changes in existing research priorities or the creation of new priorities.