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10 May 2019

CEO - Jed Matz

As we approach another Federal election, its timely to reflect on the importance of continued investment across northern Australia - building capacity, resilience and supporting the development of key sectors, like agriculture, health and Traditional Owner-led enterprise.

The CRCNA plays a unique role in brokering partnerships and working across State and Territory borders to ensure our research collaborations deliver meaningful research for northern Australia, avoiding duplication and maximising "buy in " from stakeholders and adoption from industry.

This update provides a brief snapshot of some of the work we're doing across northern Australia. You can view all of our recent projects and funding call information on our website.








 

 

Project Announcements                                                                       


As at the end of April 2019, the CRCNA had committed more than $5.5 million in funding towards 19 projects with a total value exceeding $16.9 million.

A project's total value includes CRCNA funding plus cash and in-kind contributions from project participants.


 

AustCham ASEAN partnership 

The CRCNA has commissioned the Singapore-based Australia-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce (AustCham ASEAN) to examine the key export opportunities for northern Australian agri-food businesses into ASEAN markets ... Read more.

Project updates 

Exporting perishables to Asia

A fresh collaboration hopes to open doors to export more perishable foods from northern Australia to Asia by air.

The project has an initial focus on lychee, mango and avocado crops to create new supply chains, assess new processing technologies and pave the way for another seven key perishable commodities.

Project stakeholders met in Rockhampton to provide feedback to researchers... Read more.


Clockwise from top left are workshop participants Dr Azad Rahman, Dr Ben Lyons, Dr Delwar Akbar, Professor John Rolfe, Dr Mathew McDougall and Jenny Van de Meeberg.

Bush food workshops

Building the Traditional-Owner led bush products sector project leader Dr Kirsten Maclean (CSIRO) held a workshop in Darwin for entrepreneurs involved in northern Australia-based Indigenous-led bush product enterprises. 

The workshop enabled attendees to share their experiences in business models and approaches and discuss challenges and barriers facing the sector.

This project will inform the CRCNA's bush food situational analysis study which will also facilitate stakeholder workshops in coming months.

New mango crops planted

It's been a busy six weeks for project leader Geoff Dickinson (DAF) and his team as they worked to transplant new mango trees at trial sites in Katherine (NT) Mareeba and Bowen (Qld).

Their work is part of the CRCNA's Transforming mango futures project.

Photo courtesy of Geoff Dickinson, DAF (Qld) : New mango plantings at Mareeba.



 
NQ Agribusiness forum

Townsville Enterprise Ltd hosted its inaugural North Queensland Agribusiness Futures Forum last month.

Robert Poole from KPMG shared some of the preliminary findings from TEL's  NQ Agricultural market and supply chain project .

The study has identified five key commodities for evaluation : beef, soybeans, on-shore aquaculture, macadamia nuts and avocados.

A final report is due next month and will be available on the CRCNA's and TEL's websites.

NA forestry industry forums

The northern Australia forestry and forestry products situational analysis project team will be hosting free forums next month in Cairns (11 June), Nhulunbuy ( 12 June), Darwin (13 June) and Karratha (10 July).

The forums are part of industry consultation for the CRCNA's northern Australia forestry and forest products situational analysis study which is being lead by Timber Queensland... Read more.

New Alliance to strengthen NQ agricultural supply chains

A new Alliance has been forged to develop and strengthen North Queensland’s agricultural and value supply chains to help grow the sector across the north.

The North Queensland Agricultural Supply Chain Alliance includes representatives from the CRCNA, Townsville Enterprise, Advance Cairns, Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3), Central Queensland University and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries... Read more.

L-R back row : Wendy Hughes (Advance Cairns), Jed Matz ( CRCNA), Gary Scanlan (GW3), Michael McMillan (Townsville Enterprise), front L-R : Kristin Nunn (CRCNA), Chrichelle Ignacio (Townsville Enterprise), Adam West (DAF), Dr Delwar Akbar (Central Queensland University)

Broadacre cropping in the north


CRCNA CEO Jed Matz  recently attended a Food Futures Roadshow event in Georgetown, Qld.

The purpose of the two day trip was to showcase current cropping trials at Strathmore (as part of a CRC-P funded project) and Forest Home (funded by DAF Queensland). 

While the CRCNA is not currently funding any broadacre cropping projects, we are currently in discussions with several stakeholders looking to develop research projects in this area across north Queensland, the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia.
Photo L-R : Cotton growing at Strathmore and CRCNA CEO Jed Matz inspecting a crop of mungbeans growing at Forest Home,Qld.

Trainee nominated for top award


Menzies School of Health Research trainee Raelene Collins has been nominated for a top award for her work in the lab as part of the CRCNA's traditional Australian medicinal plant agribusiness project.

The GTNT Awards recognise the achievements of apprentices,trainees, students, supervisors and host businesses across the Northern Territory.

Raelene is a finalist in the Indigenous Apprentice/ Trainee of the Year category and is completing a Certificate III in Laboratory Skills at Menzies.

Winners will be announced at the GTNT Awards ceremony tonight (Friday 10 May) in Darwin.

PhD opportunities - Calypso mangoes


The University of Queensland's School of Agriculture and Food Sciences is offering two PhD scholarship opportunities, working with Calypso mango producer, Perfection Fresh. 

Perfection Fresh, UQ and DAF are currently collaborating on a CRCNA-funded project seeking to increase Calypso mango exports to China.

PhD #1 : Improving production practices to reduce the incidence of jelly seed and stem end cavity in ‘Calypso’ mango

PhD # 2 : Non-destructive assessment of jelly seed and stem end cavity in ‘Calypso’ mango, and identifying additional control measures

Please note, these are not CRCNA-funded PhD positions so any questions about the above should be directed to UQ via the links.





Scholarship applications now open - Closing 7 June 2019

A limited number of scholarships are available to assist Early Career Researchers from developing countries to attend and present at TropAg2019. For more information on scholarships available and how to apply, please visit www.tropagconference.org/scholarships/.
 

Present your research as a poster


There is the opportunity to present alongside prominent researchers in the field of agriculture and food science. Abstract submissions close 7 June 2019. For more information about the conference themes and the abstract submission process, visit www.tropagconference.org/call-for-abstracts/.

We encourage you to look into these opportunities quickly to ensure you don't miss out.

Should you have any queries, please contact TropAg2019@expertevents.com.au.

Contact us:                                                                                            

Jed Matz CEO  07 4401 5035
Sally Leigo NT Project Manager  0499 333 266
Catherine Marriott WA Project Manager  0400 129 279
Kristin Nunn QLD Project Officer 0401 579 414
Carla Keith CRCNA Communications Manager 0499 330 051
Copyright © 2018  Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia, All rights reserved.

Email : enquiry@crcna.com.au

2 / 214 Charters Towers Road
Hermit Park Qld 4812

Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia Ltd
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Hermit Park Qld 4812

+61 7 4401 5035

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