Life Sciences Commons^™

The Rationale For Taxpayer Support For Primary Industry Research And Innovation In Western Australia, Ross Kingwell

Research Reports

During the 2000s a common view in government circles was that governments were over-investing in primary industry research and innovation. In agreement with this view, the Western Australian (WA) government lessened its support for primary industry research and innovation over the last decade. The impacts of this reduced support are seen clearly in the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). In 2008–09 its agricultural staff count was 1518, yet by the end of 2017–18 this will be under 800, with remaining staff working mostly in regulation, biosecurity and corporate services rather than research. So great has been the …

Preparing For A Changing And Variable Climate, Glynn Ward

Research Reports

Climate change has the potential to reshape the Australian wine industry. Regions will be differentially impacted and will respond according to their unique viticultural, environmental, economic and social characteristics. An industry forum and regional workshop series was held in Western Australia focusing on three wine regions: Margaret River, Pemberton and Mount Barker. Fine scale climate information (mesoscale maps) and overviews of current and emerging technologies and resources that can be used by the wine industry to plan for and manage the risks and opportunities resulting from a changing and variable climate were presented. The information indicated that the wine regions …

Production Of Biodiesel From Perennials, Henry Brockman

Research Reports

A scoping study funded through South West Catchment Council (SWCC)/National Action Plan (NAP) into the development of industries for saline land, identified three plant species suitable and potentially economically feasible for this environment. The main product of two of these plant species, is the production of bio-diesel. The mentioned plant species are Moringa oleifera and Pongamia pinnata. Both are tolerant to high salinity levels, waterlogging, frost and drought. Their pods are harvested, meaning that the trees keep on growing, using water and reducing the high watertable whilst sequestrating carbon. Bio-fuels must be sustainable, with these two plant species fitting all …

Pulse Industry Extension : Expanding Pulse Cropping By Targeted Extension Of Improved Varieties And Management Packages : A Final Report Prepared For The Grains Research And Development Corporation : Grdc Project Number Daw00100, Mark Seymour

Research Reports

The project aimed to overcome the barrier of harvesting field peas by promoting the role and value of semi-leafless varieties in combination with appropriate management in order to modify the attitude of growers and their advisers towards field pea [in Western Australia]." -- Project summary.

Farmer Crop Update Series - Western Region' Project Number Daw630, Nicole Kerr

Research Reports

The aims of this project are to:

• Provide regional forums for updating growers with the latest R&D in cropping systems and grain production.

• To foster participative R&D through effective interchange between agency based R&D groups, agribusiness R&D groups and grower based groups with potential to participate in R&D at a range of levels (from merely providing feedback to linking broadscale on-farm tests with the research).

• To reduce research segmentation by fostering a climate of mutual benefit in R&D exchange. There is already emergence of research segmentation from proprietary research. However, apart from an initial proprietary advantage (within …

Wa Agricultural Growth And The State Economy Research Report Volume 2, Nazrul Islam, Helal Ahammad

Research Reports

The impact of state and national policies on the Western Australian (WA) agriculture can not be assessed realistically unless the distinctive characteristics of WA agriculture are taken into account. The objective of this paper is to develop and document an economic information base for WA agriculture by identifying and exploring the main characteristics of its production systems. The study reveals that agriculture plays a more important role in WA than in the rest of Australia (ROA). The share of WA in the national gross value of agricultural production and exports is much higher than her share in the national gross …

Asian Wheat Market And Food Experience For Growers : A Final Report For The Grains Research And Development Corporation Project Daw637, Ben Curtis

Research Reports

This project was designed to set up a course which would allow Australian wheat growers and their partners to get closer to the markets that buy their wheat in order to learn more about some of the quality issues that affect the end products. This form of education should assist the wheat industry to move with these changing markets to lean more about them and build some supply chain linkages. This will also help improve grower responsiveness to changing market needs and increase the production of quality wheat.

The Use Of Red Mud/Gypsum To Reduce Water Pollution From Sandy Soils Used For Vegetable Production, Ian Mcpharlin, W. J. Robertson, R. C. Jeffery

Research Reports

An important domestic and export vegetable industry is located on the sands of the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) in Western Australia. The total value of the vegetable industry on the SCP was estimated at $90M in 1996/7 or about 50% of the total value of the industry. This vegetable production has been located on good quality sands such as the Spearwood and yellow Karrakatta sands, close to the coast, since the 1950s. However in recent years competition for this land for urban and industrial use has forced vegetable production onto soils with poorer water and phosphorus retention capacity such as …

Central Wheatbelt Grain Legume Development Extension Program : Fieldpeas And Lupins, E E. Rowley, I Pritchard

Research Reports

The project aims to:

1) Collect integrate and extend to advisers, farmers and industry representatives technical information on field pea growing systems to optimize profit and reduce new enterprise failure risks.

2) Collect market and process information (prices and demand) for all types of field pea products, and to advise industry representatives and growers on the best options for the continued development of the field pea industry.

3) Identify areas within the field pea industry which require immediate research and industry action.

4) Conduct a field research programme on field pea agronomy within the central medium and high rainfall areas …