NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the
Advice on Publications Available.Tasmania is recording some notable successes in the development of new primary industries and is establishing a reputation, nationally and offshore, for the quality and appeal of its food products.
Strong rural and marine industry growth has been achieved over the past decade, despite commodity and climatic set backs. This has occurred in both established and new industries and has not been inhibited by Tasmania's relative isolation and lack of scale.
Recent successful developments have been characterised by the involvement of multi-disciplinary R&D teams, relying on effective government/private sector collaboration to achieve workable development strategies.
These R&D teams have learnt by costly experience that when considering the development of new opportunities caution must be exercised and effective research and planning employed on a whole-of-industry basis.
This is critical when viewed from the perspective that the future prosperity of many of our industries, new and established, will depend heavily upon more skilful marketing and the processing of raw material into value-added products or the sale of our produce in lucrative fresh markets.
In all these situations efficiently managed R&D will be a key requirement for success.
'Potential new opportunities' are continually being identified by research agencies, private sector operators and visitors to Tasmania.
The Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries Tasmania (DPIFT) is attempting to screen the larger-scale, high-potential opportunities, against a model which forces the 'whole-of -industry approach' to be taken.
Any potential 'opportunity' will not attract significant R&D effort unless it scores well against the following criteria:
These investigations also explore the development strategy necessary to husband the new opportunity through its early R&D phase, to the point where it can be adopted and commercialised by private sector operators.
This second phase of the investigation attempts to detail key research and other activities which must be undertaken to properly support the development program.
The basic strategic issues addressed (eg. for plant industries) are as follows:
The investigative process outlined, will clearly identify the level of current knowledge and the issues requiring further investigation. In this manner a sequential development strategy can be established, with clear priorities for investigation and 'milestones' to trigger subsequent R&D activities.
As research and commercial investigations progress, evaluation becomes more accurate and detailed. Individuals or companies investigating new opportunities on a regional or local basis, using this model, can convert the 'feasibility assessment' into a full business plan, for boardroom or banker consideration.
Conversely, major obstacles will be readily identified during the update of the assessment documents and the project can be halted in a timely fashion, if this is appropriate.
Some of the most successful, entrepreneurial operators in Tasmania have given their full support to DPIFT-initiated R&D projects, when presented with a well researched proposal prepared in this format. They will readily participate in a broad-based R&D investigation, which addresses whole-of-industry issues in a comprehensive manner, through a combination of technical and commercial expertise.
Organisations such as the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and the Fishing Industries Research and Development Corporation (FIRDC) are also using these assessments, prepared for Tasmanian projects, to evaluate R&D progress. In the case of the FIRDC, the assessments are being used to rank projects and plan research strategies.
The DPIFT has established three multi-disciplinary mentor groups to encourage the investigation of new plant, animal and marine development opportunities and the monitoring of investigations using the model described.
Over fifteen potential new crop, animal production and aquaculture opportunities are under investigation using this process and more will follow.
The approach is at least, a valuable check list of important R&D issues and at best, a method of establishing highly credible R&D strategies, of monitoring progress and of enlisting integrated support from the public and private sectors.
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
New Crops Home Page] [New Crops Program] [Australian New Crops Newsletter] [New Crops Publications] [Order Form] [People] [Crop Profiles] [Other Resources]originally created by:
GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF