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the australian agricultural industries Young innovators and scientists awards

Innovative scientific projects to benefit agriculture, fisheries, forestry, food and natural resource management industries

www.daff.gov.au/scienceawards

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dr therese McBeath 20Grains Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

dr richard Muhlack 22Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

ross Mann 24Horticulture Australia Limited Award Winner

dr Jason evans 26Land & Water Australia Award Winner

dr nicholas hudson 28Meat & Livestock Australia Award Winner

aaron tan 30Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

dr Bennett Macdonald 32Sugar Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

stephanie sinclair 6Australian Animal Welfare Strategy Award Winner

dr Kapil chousalkar 8Australian Egg Corporation Limited Award Winner

andrew williams 10Australian Meat Processor Corporation Award Winner

rachel Morrissey 12Australian Pork Limited Award Winner

dr nancy d’cruz 14Dairy Australia Award Winner

dr robin Katersky 16Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

lynette taylor 18Forest and Wood Products Australia Award Winner

contents

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overview

The Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Awards support young people to pursue their innovative scientific ideas that will deliver long term benefits to Australia’s rural industries.

Since 2001, the awards have helped 117 young Australians to make their ideas a reality and showcase their talent to the world.

The 2008 Awards include some exciting changes, which have helped generate more interest than ever.

Through the generous support from our sponsors, the value of each Industry Award has doubled to $20 000, enabling projects with a greater scope and depth to be undertaken.

2008 also sees the introduction of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Award, valued at an additional $30 000. Selected from the Industry Award finalists, this award recognises the project that will make the most significant contribution to our rural industries.

This year’s winners represent some of the best young scientific talent in Australia. The work of these innovators and others like them is essential to the sustainability and profitability of Australia’s rural future.

who was eligible to apply for the awards?To qualify, applicants had to be aged between 18 and 35 years and working or studying in Australia’s rural industries.

Applicants were required to submit an innovative project proposal that addressed a significant issue in Australia’s rural industries and could be completed within 12 months.

Projects could relate to animal welfare, dairy, egg, emerging and niche agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, grains, horticulture, meat and livestock, pork, sugar, viticulture or natural resource management industries.

Funding could be used for a research project, an industry visit, further study into a specific area or attending conferences.

how were the winners selected?The winners were selected from a competitive field throughout Australia.

Each application was assessed against a range of criteria, including the level of innovation and originality of the proposal and the potential to generate long-term benefits to Australia’s rural industries.

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a few words from previous award winners...

“It offers an exciting opportunity to meet other young people working in rural based science fields.”

Kate Richardson2003 winner

“This project will start me down the path of supplying native grass seed to my fellow grape growers and farmers in the future.”

Tim Zwiersen2004 winner

“The funding provided through this award allows me to take the work to the next level and puts the project on the path to commercial reality.”

Dr Andrew Harris2006 winner

“This award will give me access to technologies that I can use to generate and analyse behavioural data never before obtained under field conditions.”

Samantha Bickell2007 winner

Please meet the winners of the 2008 Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Awards…

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Stephanie will use her award to investigate the application of a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic for pain relief in northern beef cattle during dehorning.

“Tri-solven, for example, has been successfully trialled in sheep, reducing pain-related behaviour and improved wound healing after procedures such as mulesing, tail-docking and castration,” she said.

“I aim to determine if Tri-solven alone, or in combination with other pain relief methods, can reduce pain and blood loss after dehorning.

“The fact that this product can be applied at the time of surgery makes it a practical option that is more likely to be accepted and embraced by the industry.”

easing the pain in the beef industryThe welfare of their animals is a major priority for Australian beef producers.

Dehorning, for example, is commonly undertaken to help prevent injury to handlers and other cattle particularly while they are held in yards.

Stephanie Sinclair, a PhD student with CSIRO and Beef Genetic Technologies CRC, said that it will probably be some time before cattle can be bred without horns and that, in the interim, dehorning will remain necessary.

“But it could be practiced in conjunction with pain relief medication,” she said.

“However, industry needs to be convinced that this is both feasible and cost-effective.”

stephanie sinclairAustralian Animal Welfare Strategy Award Winner

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Stephanie said that it is important the impacts of dehorning are well understood so industry can not only satisfy concerns from animal welfare groups and the wider community, but also get on with the demanding job of raising beef cattle.

“Meeting concerns about animal welfare is not only the right thing to do, it will also enhance consumer confidence here and overseas.”

award sponsorAustralian Animal Welfare Strategy

The Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is Australia’s national blueprint to improve animal welfare outcomes for all animals and across the entire community. The strategy was jointly developed by national, state and territory governments, industry and the community, and endorsed by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council in 2004.

The strategy aims to achieve a consistent approach nationally to animal welfare arrangements, facilitate sustainable improvements in animal welfare based on scientific evaluation and community standards, and deliver an effective communication, education and training program promoting an improved understanding of animal welfare.

The strategy is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry but its implementation is a shared responsibility between all stakeholders.

www.animalwelfare.gov.au

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cracking the food safety codeWhether you scramble, fry or poach them, or use them to make the ubiquitous Aussie sponge cake, eggs are clearly a favourite part of the Australian diet. But they are also coming under increasing scrutiny as a potential health risk.

Eggs from healthy hens are generally sterile, but the shells can come into contact with faecal matter during laying. And if the shell cracks when it is collected or washed, harmful microorganisms can enter the egg.

According to Dr Kapil Chousalkar, a Postdoctoral Researcher from the University of New England, the main risks are Salmonella and E. coli.

“These are the most common bacteria found in commercial egg production systems and they can cause serious food poisoning in humans,” he said.

Australia is fortunate compared with many other countries in that we produce eggs that are extremely safe. However, food poisoning outbreaks, such as Salmonella, are often blamed on eggs even though the causes are not always confirmed.

Kapil’s project involves screening eggs from various parts of Australia and checking for the presence of organisms that cause food poisoning.

dr Kapil chousalkarAustralian Egg Corporation Limited Award Winner

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“I hope to identify in these organisms the genes that cause food poisoning, as well as the genes responsible for antibiotic resistance,” he said.

“This will help farmers adopt more effective antibiotic regimes and minimise the incidence of egg related food poisoning.”

“The public expects its food to be safe to eat–this project will enhance their confidence in the egg industry.”

The Australian Egg Corporation (AECL) is a producer owned company that integrates marketing, research and development and policy services for the benefit of all stakeholders.

AECL represents approximately 400 commercial egg producers who distribute a range of products to the local market, including caged eggs, barn-laid eggs, free range eggs and specialist eggs.

The AECL aims to create an industry operating environment that assists to minimise barriers and costs for Australian egg producers and to maximise benefits and revenue for the industry and the community through integrated marketing and research. The AECL aims to achieve this by focusing on the following objectives:

growing demand for eggs in the Australian market ■

enhancing the competitiveness of stakeholder ■

businesses creating and nurturing the capability of AECL ■

award sponsorAustralian Egg Corporation Limited

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“Australia has been successful in developing a breed of sheep, known as the ‘Rylington merino’, which is highly resistant to parasites.

“However, scouring still occurs in some resistant animals and, in some cases, is more extreme.”

Andrew’s project will investigate the reasons behind this increased scouring among Rylington merino.

Pulling the wool over the worms’ eyes Not all worms are farmers’ friends. Parasitic intestinal worms, for example, are estimated to cost the Australian sheep industry more than $500 million a year in lost profits.

According to Andrew Williams, a PhD student from the University of Western Australia, sheep with parasitic intestinal worms gain less weight and also suffer from a type of diarrhoea known as ‘scouring’.

“Scouring is of particular concern to sheep farmers as the soiled wool is less valuable and the animal is more susceptible to flystrike, which is costly to manage,” Andrew said.

“Unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to control these parasites because many are highly resistant to current chemical treatments.”

Andrew believes that the long-term solution is to breed sheep that are naturally resistant.

andrew williamsAustralian Meat Processor Corporation Award Winner

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award sponsorAustralian Meat Processor Corporation

Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) is a national Research and Development Centre, representing all processors active in the red meat processing industry. Specifically, AMPC aims to promote, protect and further the rights and mutual interests of its Members, including:

investing in projects for either the benefit of ■

individual meat processors or the meat industry promoting Australian meat in the domestic and ■

international marketimproving red meat quality ■

fostering the economic, environmental, health, ■

safety and social well-being of the meat processing industryfinancing commercially based research ■

and development

www.ampc.com.au

“My initial research has indicated that resistant sheep respond to worm infection by mounting an inflammatory immune response.”

“I hope to determine if this immune response may also be the cause of scouring in resistant sheep.”

If Andrew’s successful, it may lead to genetic and biochemical markers being developed that could help select sheep that are resistant to worm infection and less susceptible to scouring.

“This would be a major breakthrough in parasite control for the Australian sheep industry.”

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rachel MorrisseyAustralian Pork Limited Award Winner

Problems with pigsPig producers are puzzled.

Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) — a persistent, often fatal disease in pigs — is on the rise and they don’t know why.

Minor, sporadic outbreaks have occurred in most pig producing countries, including Australia. However, they are becoming increasingly more severe, particularly in parts of Europe.

“The problem is we do not know what causes the disease or how it is transmitted,” said Rachel Morrissey, a researcher and Director of ACE Laboratory Services in Bendigo, Victoria.

“Infected pigs develop skin lesions and often suffer respiratory distress and diarrhoea.

“The syndrome often persists on farms for many months, and there is no vaccination or treatment.”

Rachel’s using her award to study the disease.

“My project will be conducted in two parts. The first stage is to collate and summarise the current knowledge of PDNS,” she said.

“The second is to collect skin and kidney samples from pigs that have been affected by the disease for analysis in the laboratory.”

“This research will help us distinguish PDNS from other diseases with similar symptoms.”

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“Hopefully it will also play an important role in the development of improved methods of detection, control and even eradication of the disease.”

“We need to know if PDNS represents the tip of the iceberg of a disease that may be causing significant production losses in the pig industry.”

award sponsorAustralian Pork Limited

Australian Pork Limited (APL) is the national representative body for Australian pork producers. It represents the coming together of three legacy organisations, the Australian Pork Corporation; the Pig Research and Development Corporation; and the Pork Council of Australia.

APL is a producer-owned not-for-profit company combining marketing, export development, research, innovation and strategic policy development to assist in securing a profitable and sustainable future for the Australian pork industry.

APL’s purpose is to enhance the viability of Australia’s pork producers by delivering integrated marketing, innovation and policy services through the pork supply chain, and in association with key industry and government stakeholders.

www.australianpork.com.au

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dr nancy d’cruzDairy Australia Award Winner

Frozen in timeMilk production in Australia is big business — generating more than $4.5 million at the farmgate and contributing significantly to our export earnings.

The dairy industry’s success is due in part to the use of artificial insemination (AI), which enables genetic traits, such as improved milk production, to be introduced into a herd.

It involves freezing bull semen in a process known as ‘cryopreservation’ and then using it when required. But it’s a technique that is not without problems. While around 65 per cent of Australian dairy cows are bred using frozen semen, not all cows fall pregnant.

Nancy D’Cruz, from the Monash Institute of Medical Research, together with Genetics Australia, is using her award to investigate whether existing cryopreservation techniques are causing embryo loss and therefore reducing pregnancy rates among cows.

“It is well know that cryopreservation can lead to DNA damage and decreased sperm motility,” Nancy said.

“Furthermore, mice produced from frozen sperm have displayed abnormal growth rates, gene expression and behavioural defects.

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“Examining whether freezing bull semen for use in AI damages its structure will allow us to determine whether we need to use other methods in cryopreservation.

“There are about 10 000 dairy farms in Australia and if we can determine how to improve the semen cryopreservation technique, we can increase pregnancy rates in huge numbers and reduce costs for farmers.

“If we could improve pregnancy rates, even by as little as 5 per cent, it would result in at least $80 million profit to Australian dairy farmers!”

award sponsorDairy Australia

Dairy Australia is the dairy industry’s national service company owned by farmer and industry body members.

Dairy Australia is committed to helping the dairy industry to be collaborative, innovative, sustainable and competitive against both international dairy industries and substitute products. To achieve this Dairy Australia invests each year, dairy farmer levy payments and tax payer funds into projects and services for the benefit of the dairy industry.

Dairy Australia aims to increase farm productivity, maintain and develop high margin markets, channels and products and promote and protect the unique benefits of Australian Dairy.

Some of the regular activities undertaken by Dairy Australia include:

funding more than 300 research, development ■

and extension projects for the farm and manufacturing sectorspromoting the functional, health and nutritional ■

benefits of dairy productssourcing and distributing industry information ■

and market analysis

www.dairyaustralia.com.au

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dr robin KaterskyFisheries Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

the heat is on for tassie’s atlantic salmonWhile Tasmanians may look forward to the warmth of summer, rising temperatures are bad news for the state’s Atlantic salmon.

Each summer water temperatures rise, resulting in less dissolved oxygen for the salmon. The higher water temperatures can also cause them to eat less, or to poorly digest the feed they do eat. This affects growth and significantly slows production. And the problem looks set to worsen if predictions of rising global temperatures prove correct.

Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Award winner, Dr Robin Katersky from the University of Tasmania, thinks she may have the solution.

Robin hopes to identify individual Atlantic salmon that do well in the face of high water temperatures and the resulting reduced levels of dissolved oxygen.

“Preliminary research has suggested that a proportion of the Tasmanian salmon are ‘oxygen regulators’,” said Robin.

“This means they can regulate their metabolic rate to survive during low levels of dissolved oxygen.

“These resilient salmon can be incorporated in selective breeding programs to ensure that the Tasmanian Atlantic salmon industry continues to be robust and profitable.

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“My project will have applications for both the kingfish and barramundi aquaculture industries, which are facing similar problems with rising water temperatures.”

“Being able to selectively breed fish that can adjust to suboptimal temperatures would be a great benefit to these industries.”

award sponsorFisheries Research and Development Corporation

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) is recognised as the leading Australian agency concerned with marine related research and development.

The role of the FRDC is to plan, invest in and manage fisheries research and development throughout Australia, then facilitate the extension and adoption with the relevant stakeholders.

The FRDC is a statutory authority within the portfolio of the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, jointly funded by the Australian Government and the fishing industry.

The corporation, with its stakeholders, identifies research and development needs, and the means of addressing them through a planning process and by contracting with research providers. Stakeholders in the FRDC are the fishing industry; the governments of the Commonwealth, the states and the territories; and the people of Australia.

www.frdc.com.au

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lynette taylorForest and Wood Products Australia Award Winner

read all about it… wood fibre under the microscopeThe next time you sit down to read your favourite newspaper or magazine spare a thought for the science that helped create them.

Lynette Taylor, a PhD research scientist at the University of Melbourne, says that some wood types are more suited to producing paper than others.

“It all depends on the characteristics of the wood, particularly the microfibril angle (MFA) in the cell walls,” she said.

“Wood with a low MFA increases pulp tensile strength and makes stronger paper, whereas a high MFA increases the stretch and tear indices, making the paper more elastic.

“Therefore, wood fibre quality is extremely important for pulp and paper production as it determines the end use of the plantation timber.”

But Lynette said that little is still known about the genetics of wood fibre formation in eucalypts, particularly the genes that control MFA.

“Through glasshouse experiments, I aim to identify if genes involved in wood formation affect MFA,” she said.

“I will use poplar, with its readily available genomic resources, as a model tree system to guide the investigation of the function of these genes in both eucalypts and poplar tree species simultaneously.”

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Lynette will also compare the wood fibres in plants grown under glasshouse conditions with those grown in plantations, to establish tangible links between the genotypic and phenotypic properties.

If successful, Lynette’s project could lead to molecular markers for wood fibre quality being developed. And these could then be used in commercial tree-breeding programs to match specific characteristics with specific uses.

“It is important to invest in plantation research to meet future demands of this industry, harness the properties of Australia’s biological resources and reduce the pressure on Australia’s native and old growth forests.”

award sponsorForest and Wood Products Australia

Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is an industry services company providing a national, integrated strategy to increase demand for forest and wood products and reduce the impediments to their supply.

FWPA aims to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian forest and wood products industry through innovation by investing in effective and relevant R&D and participating in general industry promotion.

FWPA is committed to helping the forest and wood products industry to be collaborative, innovative, sustainable and competitive against both international forest product industries and substitute products. The corporation undertakes research and development that aims to:

promote internationally competitive and ■

environmentally sustainable practicesenhance employment opportunities ■

contribute to growing Australia’s reputation ■

as an innovative producer of high quality forest and wood products

www.fwpa.com.au

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dr therese McBeathGrains Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

searching for a better fertiliserThe hunt is on to find a fertiliser that is not only cheaper and more effective but also better suited to Australia’s harsh climatic conditions.

Dr Therese McBeath, a research associate at the University of Adelaide, wants to identify fertilisers that deliver phosphorus more efficiently and therefore increases the nutritional content of crops.

And with much of Australia still in the grip of drought, and fertiliser costs rising, it’s an important and timely project.

Part of her research includes a visit to the United States in February 2009 to see first-hand the latest research into foliar phosphorus — or ‘foliar P’ — fertilisers.

Therese said that researchers at Oklahoma State University are investigating a range of foliar P products.

“They have also tested those products, both in the field and in glasshouses, employing a range of crops, soils, growth stages and application rates,” she said.

“One of the major benefits of foliar P is that it can be applied using existing farm machinery, such as boomsprays, which will help reduce costs and enable easier implementation across the cereal crop industry.

“This means that while we’re looking at a new approach to P fertilisation in cereal crops farmers will not need to modify their equipment.

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“There will also be environmental benefits with less run-off into creeks and dams, reducing the chance of contaminating drinking sources for cattle and wildlife and affecting the wider water catchment.”

award sponsorGrains Research & Development Corporation

The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) is one of the world’s leading grains research organisations, responsible for planning and investing in R&D to support effective competition in global markets, through enhanced profitability and sustainability.

GRDC is working to ensure Australian grain growers have:

better practices developed faster ■

access to superior varieties that enable them to ■

effectively compete in global marketsnew products an services (both on and off farm) to assist ■

growers to effectively compete in global grain marketsthe awareness and capacity to optimise adoption of ■

grains research outputs

The GRDC’s research portfolio covers 25 levied crops spanning temperate and tropical cereals, oilseeds and pulses, worth over $7 billion a year in farm production.

The GRDC invests around $100 million per annum across a broad range of research areas — from molecular biology to farming systems — within the carefully balanced portfolio.

www.grdc.com.au

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dr richard MuhlackGrape and Wine Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

uncorking a more carbon-friendly wineWe all know Australia’s wines are great, but they’re about to get even better.

A leading wine expert is on the case with a project that aims to reduce industry running costs and fossil fuel use, and make our wine more carbon-friendly.

Dr Richard Muhlack, from the Australian Wine Research Institute, is investigating innovative ways of producing renewable electricity from winery waste.

“Most Australian wineries rely on grid-supplied electricity generated by fossil fuel combustion—but I believe there is a better, cleaner way to meet our energy needs,” Richard said.

“When we produce wines, a significant amount of organic waste, such as grape marc (grape skin) and stalk is leftover. These ‘waste’ elements could be used to provide renewable electricity.”

Richard will use his award to test the potential of using grape marc and stalks as a biofuel in low-emission, power generation.

“This project has many potential benefits for the wine industry, including reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Richard.

“It will also help minimise the impacts of global energy price fluctuations on the wine industry.

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“Carbon-conscious consumers around the globe are increasingly scrutinising food and beverage production methods and the impact they have on the environment.”

“The ability to adapt and cater to changing markets is crucial to the viability of our wine industry.“

“This project may provide the edge the industry needs to ensure that Australian wines continue to grace tables across the world.”

award sponsorGrape and Wine Research and Development Corporation

The Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (GWRDC) is an Australian Government statutory authority that was established in 1991.

GWRDC’s mission is to enable a sustainable, innovative and profitable future for the Australian wine industry through strategic investment in research and development.

It supports the development of the Australian grape and wine industry by planning and funding collective research and development programs and then facilitating the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation of the results throughout the industry.

www.gwrdc.com.au

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ross MannHorticulture Australia Limited Award Winner

native fungi provide solutions for pesticide problemsAs horticulturalists across the world seek to reduce their use of harmful chemical-based pesticides, an Aussie scientist is looking for alternatives in the most unlikely of places.

Ross Mann, a plant pathologist with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, is keen to prove that effective disease management can be achieved using biopesticides derived from native Australian fungi.

He said that horticulturalists want an alternative to existing pesticides that is not only safe and environmentally friendly, but also meets consumer expectations.

“Fungi found within native flora (endophytes) can produce compounds that act like a fungicide, protecting its host against invading pathogens”.

“It’s thought that these compounds could also prove effective against common pathogens such as Plasmodiophora (clubroot) and Sclerotinia, which affect a wide variety of horticultural crops”.

Ross’s project will look into the use of native fungi to develop improved disease management systems for the horticulture industry.

‘This is a new concept for pathogen and disease control in horticulture, and one that does not rely on synthetic pesticides.

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“Exploring the potential of natural biopesticides is very important as it may provide an alternative to some current products that have either developed pesticide resistance or leave residual effects in food.”

There are also other major benefits, with fungal-based biopesticides offering a safer product for farmers and farm workers.

Wider benefits for catchments and ecosystems could also be gained from this research with a possible reduction in use of some synthetic pesticides.

award sponsorHorticulture Australia Limited

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) is a not-for-profit industry owned company. It works in partnership with the horticulture sector to invest in research, development and marketing programs that provide benefit to Australian horticulture industries.

Each year, HAL invests almost $80 million annually in projects in partnership with the horticulture sector that cover a diversity of topics, including: market access, market research, export marketing, domestic marketing, supply chain management, quality assurance, food safety, skills development, industry communication, biotechnology, biosecurity, breeding, plant health, pesticide regulation, agronomy, crop regulation, physiology, natural resource management, climate change, irrigation and sustainable practices.

www.horticulture.com.au

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dr Jason evansLand and Water Australia Award Winner

Modelling our future flowWith water resources already stretched to the limit in many parts of the country, climate change looms as a major long-term threat to farming and communities across Australia.

In fact, the latest forecasts generally show a decrease in precipitation over much of Australia because of climate change, exacerbating our current water crisis even further.

And Dr Jason Evans, a scientist at the University of New South Wales, said our irrigators will be particularly vulnerable.

“They make use of the majority of deliverable surface water in many locations for their crop production,” he said.

Jason points out, however, that the modelling used to predict the impacts of climate change pays little or no attention to irrigation — despite its important place in Australian agriculture.

Jason’s project involves developing regional modelling that better represents irrigation practices common in Australia.

“It will not only provide predictions of the water required for irrigation, but also the supply through precipitation and run-off into reservoirs,” he said.

It can also be used to study the impact of various changes on water supply and water demand within a particular catchment, including: land-use changes — such as increases to an irrigated area; changes in methods — from using sprinklers to drips for example; climate changes and annual variability — whether, for example, we’re experiencing an El Niño or a La Niña pattern.

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Jason will test his modelling in the Murrumbidgee catchment during a full irrigation season.

Since it takes into account the full water cycle, the modelling could also be used to design the spatial arrangement of irrigated fields to maximise or minimise the effects of changes to the local wind fields and precipitation rates.

“Dealing with climate change will arguably be the greatest challenge facing water resource managers and the agriculture sector in the coming century.”

“The project will have major benefits for water managers and irrigation planners alike.”

award sponsorLand & Water Australia

Land & Water Australia is a statutory research and development corporation within the Australian Government. Its core business is as a research investor, with the aim of achieving the sustainable management and use of Australia’s natural resources. It also acts as a leading research broker, organising collaborative research and development programs.

Through carefully targeted and well-managed research, Land & Water Australia aims to:

generate knowledge needed for sustainable use ■

of natural resources by primary producers facilitate adaptation of farm practices in the face ■

of climate variability and climate changehelp governments balance competing demands ■

on natural resources and rural landscapes

www.lwa.gov.au

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dr nicholas hudsonMeat & Livestock Australia Award Winner

doing more with lessProducing beef is a tough and demanding business. And, largely because of the high cost of feed, it can also be an expensive one.

But Dr Nicholas Hudson, a postdoctoral research scientist with CSIRO Livestock Industries, has a plan.

“If we could reduce the feed intake of Australian cattle by 10 per cent, without compromising protein conversion, the beef industry would save around $59 million a year,” he said.

“In fact, improving feed efficiency — doing more with less — is the key to making Australian beef more globally competitive.”

Nick is using his award to investigate the molecular processes and genetic controls that may make feed conversion more efficient in beef cattle.

“Within animal cells, microscopic ‘energy factories’ called mitochondria are responsible for converting food into energy,” he said.

“Recent studies of mice have confirmed that reducing mitochondrial numbers increases feed efficiency. This is also likely to be the case in other mammals, such as cows, but we don’t know which molecular ‘buttons’ have to be pressed to control mitochondrial numbers..

“I’m hoping to solve that puzzle.”

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Nick’s research may also help with the development of tools to improve the genetic selection of cattle that are more feed efficient, reducing production costs and boosting returns for farmers.

There are other benefits, too.

award sponsorMeat and Livestock Australia

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is a producer-owned company, working in partnership with industry and government to achieve a profitable and sustainable red meat and livestock industry.

MLA has the responsibility of providing marketing and research services to its livestock producers, processors, exporters, foodservice operators, retailers and the broader red meat industry to help them meet community and consumer expectations.

The mission for MLA is to deliver world-class services and solutions in partnership with industry and government. Its core activities include:

building demand for Australian red meat ■

improving market access for products ■

conducting research and development to provide ■

competitive advantages for the industrycollaborating with partners to build capability ■

within the industry

www.mla.com.au

“Livestock with high feed efficiency not only produce less methane emissions, they also reduce the amount of grain diverted from human consumption and bio-fuel synthesis,” Nick said.

“It’s exciting to be involved in a project that will deliver such wide reaching social, economic and environmental benefits.”

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aaron tanRural Industries Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

little aussie battlersCould Australian native fruits be the latest weapon in the fight against cancer? Aaron Tan, a PhD scholar at the University of Sydney and Food Science Australia, believes so.

“Cancer is the number one killer in Australia,” Aaron said.

“One in three men and one in four women will be directly affected by the disease in the first 75 years of life.”

And, as well as the physical pain and suffering, cancer also has a significant financial impact, costing our health care system at least $2 billion a year, mainly in treatment.

“It’s vital that we explore ways of reducing the incidence of cancer,” Aaron said.

Natural preventive agents, such as antioxidants — found in a range of fresh fruits, vegetables and grains — show promising potential. And Australian native fruits may pack the strongest cancer-fighting punch of all.

“Recent studies into a number of native Australian fruits, such as the Kakadu plum, have confirmed the presence of significant levels of antioxidants,” he said.

“While this is encouraging, we know little about the specific mechanisms of chemo-preventive, or anti-cancer, activities that occur when antioxidants from native fruits come into contact with human cancer cells.”

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Aaron’s hoping to fill this gap by using his award to investigate the molecular processes by which compounds from native Australian fruits can prevent, suppress or even reverse cancer growth.

“I’m hoping to gain a clearer understanding of the potential health benefits that Australian native fruits can provide, particularly their role in preventing and fighting cancer,” he said.

“This project will not only have positive implications for public health, but also help build new markets for the native food industry.”

award sponsorRural Industries Research and Development Corporation

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) is a statutory authority in unique partnership with the Australian Government and rural industries to invest in research and development.

RIRDC’s aim is for a more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural sector. RIRDC’s focus is on new and emerging industries as a means of diversification of rural Australia, increasing the profitability and resilience of a suite of established industries and the development of a research program to address important cross-sectoral national issues facing the rural sector.

RIRDC aims to maximize knowledge outcomes by investing in R&D that meets the needs of industry and government and will be adopted to benefit rural industries and communities.

www.rirdc.gov.au

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dr Bennett MacdonaldSugar Research and Development Corporation Award Winner

a more efficient, carbon–friendly sugar industry — sweet!Can Australia’s sugar industry boost its productivity and profits, reduce fertiliser use and help the environment all at the same time?

It would seem a tough ask, but the ANU’s Dr Bennet Macdonald thinks it can be done.

“Australia’s sugar farmers apply nitrogen, either directly as a fertiliser or by planting legumes, to boost their crops,” he said.

“However, not all of this fertiliser stays in the soil.”

“Recent research indicates that almost 20 per cent of the fertiliser applied to sugar cane crops is lost to the atmosphere as nitrous oxide — a greenhouse gas that’s 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.”

Bennett said that significant amounts of other, indirect, greenhouse gases, including nitrogen oxides, may also be lost.

“Our understanding of nitrogen gas losses is very limited, but these losses are likely to be significant, particularly from waterlogged and acidic soils in southern Australia,” he said.

Bennett’s project aims to identify the drivers of soil nitrogen gas emissions and to develop strategies to reduce them.

“The issue of nitrogen loss from soils is not confined to the sugar industry — it occurs in all agriculture sectors,” he said.

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“I’m hoping this study will help us determine how we can reduce emissions and cut back on fertiliser use, providing farmers with welcome relief from rising prices.”

“As Australia becomes increasingly aware of the impact of greenhouse gases and looks to implement a carbon trading scheme, reducing soil nitrogen emissions will provide wide-reaching benefits to our agricultural industries.”

award sponsorSugar Research and Development Corporation

The Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC) works in partnership with the Australian sugarcane industry and the Australian Government to foster an innovative and sustainable sugarcane industry, through targeted investment in research and development.

Specifically, the role of the SRDC is to:

improve the competitive position and cost ■

efficiency of the Australian sugarcane industry achieve sustainable use and sustainable ■

management of the natural resource base of the sugarcane industryapply industry, scientific and community resources ■

more effectively to R&D in the sugarcane industrymanage SRDC resources efficiently and to ■

improve the accountability for expenditure on R&D for the sugarcane industry

www.srdc.gov.au

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The 2008 Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Awards are coordinated by the Bureau of Rural Sciences on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The Bureau of Rural Sciences wishes to thank the panel of judges for their contribution to the 2008 awards program.

For more information about the Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Awards and other activities of the Bureau of Rural Sciences, please visit www.brs.gov.au

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20

08

AW

AR

DS

SP

ON

SO

RS

Fisheries Research and

Development Corporation

Grains Research and Development Corporation

Grape and Wine Research and Development

Corporation

Land & Water Australia

Rural Industries Research and Development

Corporation

Sugar Research and Development Corporation