Understanding the cropping behaviour of Riberry (Syzygium leuhmannii)
Industry Development Grant – Trong Tran
Uncapping: a defence against Varroa
Varroa is an external mite that feeds on both brood and adult bees.
First of its kind agriculture innovation tour connects producers across the country
Agritech has taken enormous steps in recent times – but on-farm uptake hasn’t advanced at the same pace. Determined to match strides, AgriFutures Australia hosted the inaugural Innovation Intensive Tour in February 2023.
Media release
AgriFutures Australia welcomes new Chairman
AgriFutures Australia welcomes the appointment of The Honourable Mick Veitch as its new Chairman.
AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Alumni Committee of State Chairs Announced
Seven passionate AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Alumni have been selected as the inaugural AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Alumni Committee of State Chairs.
AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program welcomes new Manager, Research
AgriFutures Australia’s John Smith, General Manager Research has welcomed the appointment of Annie Lane in her new role as Manager, Research for the Chicken Meat Program. Annie joins the team at a time of expansion for the Program
Australian fuel supply, fertiliser and supply chain pressures
... for producers and supply chain operators.Insights from recent AgriFutures industry engagement confirm that pressures are not isolated; they are being felt across multiple industries, including chicken meat, rice, honeybee and cropping systems.AgriFutures also acknowledges that the operational pressures...
Industry Development Grant Project_Jessica Berry
An ambitious new direction to grow the prosperity of our rural industries
AgriFutures Australia is the new name for Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), but it’s much more than a name change, according to Managing Director John Harvey. The organisation has set its sights on a bold new direction to grow the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries. Here John explains how and why AgriFutures...
Industry summary
In-field validation of the newly developed AFB-LAMP assay
Paenibacillus larvae, the bacterium responsible for American foulbrood (AFB), is a serious economic threat to apiaries. This bacterial infection can infect both strong and weak colonies, and is challenging to manage due to highly resistant spores that can remain viable for more than 50 years. Therefore, effective beekeeping practices are necessary to prevent the spread of AFB between hives.
A rapid and cost-effective diagnostic tool could significantly enhance management of AFB. Knowing this, the research team behind this project developed a field-deployable assay to detect P. larvae based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology, called AFB-LAMP. The assay’s diagnostic sensitivity (98.41%) and specificity (100%) were validated in the field, suggesting its suitability as a point-of-care assay. This rapid and affordable diagnostic tool could help apiarists protect their colonies from this devastating disease.
Media release
The next generation of startups to AgXelerate agrifood innovation
The ten successful startups and scaleups are set to participate in a personalised program designed help them develop, prototype and/or commercialise their innovations for use in AgriFutures Australia's levied and emerging industries.
Final report summary: Review of the security of tenure for apiary on public lands
The aim of this project was to understand the current legal, policy and business status of Australian beekeeping permissions on public lands. The project examined apiary permissions across Australian jurisdictions and contrasted their status with those enjoyed by other industries that use public land. It investigated the potential implications of upgrading apiary permissions, the potential for state government legislation or policy change, and possible approaches for the rollout of more secure tenure agreements.
Relative to other users, beekeepers have inadequate tenure over public lands. This project identified alternative models for beekeepers to hold secure tenure, noting that state government enabling legislation would need to change to facilitate their implementation.
While it may be possible to establish the conditions necessary for apiary permits to upgrade from an insecure licence to a lease, the more likely outcome will be a strengthening of apiary permits under existing legislation via more favourable policy settings.
Tea Tree Breeding 2019 – 2023
Champion Changemakers put the Future of Ag in Focus
AgriFutures Australia is proud to announce the seven recipients of the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant – women whose creative responses to some of agriculture’s biggest challenges signal a bright future for rural industries and regional communities.
Podcast
Podcast: Late bloomer scientist uses Grant to grow vanilla
Vanilla is an emerging rural industry in Australia with huge potential. There is one major roadblock which is preventing the spice from really taking off.
Hugh Roberts Travel Award Winner 2007 – Shane Oster
Evaluating alternative antibiotics for control of European Foulbrood disease
Truffles
Truffles are the edible fruiting bodies of fungi that grow underground (in a symbiotic relationship) attached to the roots of particular trees, commonly oak and hazelnut trees. Truffles are a gourmet food highly valued by the food industry around the world. Truffles are eaten fresh and also made into a variety of products including pasta,...
