Award Partners

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

The Australian Animal Welfare Strategy focuses attention on key animal welfare issues and coordinating activity. The strategy covers all sentient animals (those that can experience suffering or pleasure) and has relevance for the entire community. Sentience is the reason that welfare matters. Our vision is that all Australians value animals and are committed to improving their welfare, and our mission is to deliver sustainable improvements in animal welfare for all Australian animals.

Projects are sought to advance animal welfare science, innovation and understanding in Australia. Projects should address one or more of the strategy’s goals:

• Animals – The welfare needs of animals are understood and are met
• Systems – National systems deliver consistent animal welfare outcomes and prioritise ongoing improvements
• People – People make ethical decisions regarding animal welfare supported by knowledge and skills
• International – Australia is actively engaged in international partnerships and developments to improve animal welfare

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation is a national R&D Corporation that represents meat processing plants throughout Australia. AMPC’s mission includes maximising efficiency, viability and sustainability of the red meat processing industry; assisting to secure and maintain market access; supporting mechanisms to attract, up skill and retain capability and investigating and developing scientific solutions that enhance overall productivity, performance and efficiency of the meat processing sector. AMPC supports projects in a wide range of areas including meat science, automation and technology, environment and sustainability, animal health, biosecurity and animal welfare, traceability and market access.

Project topics for future students would relate to the following areas, focussing on the red meat processing industry:

• Investigating factors towards enhancing meat quality and product integrity (including eating quality, food safety)
• Investigating options for enhancing sustainability, including environment, waste, energy and water management and efficiency
• Innovative new technologies that improve meat processing processes and efficiency
• Supply chain management and market access, including integrated supply chain approaches and value adding to products
• Livestock management, including animal health, welfare and biosecurity at the processing establishment.

Dairy Australia

Dairy continues to be one of Australia’s leading rural industries with the farm–gate value of milk estimated at $4.0 billion. Conversion to finished product delivers an estimated wholesale value of approximately $6 billion in the domestic market and $3 billion in the export market. Nearly 55 per cent of Australia’s milk is consumed in the domestic market with the remainder exported to a variety of international markets – predominantly Asia. Globally recognized for its excellence in innovation, productivity in the Australian industry has increased significantly through improved pasture, feed, herd management and efficiency gains in manufacturing, distribution and exports. The industry encourages and nurtures young innovators and offers them exciting careers prospects.

The Science and Innovation Award and Dairy Australia’s Innovation in Dairy Manufacturing Award are two examples of awards which have propelled innovative individuals into rewarding dairy careers.

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and its stakeholders are focused on what the Corporation has adopted as its vision: a vibrant Australian fishing and aquaculture industry, adopting world–class research to achieve prosperity and to wisely use the natural resources on which it depends. “Prosperity” in this sense encompasses not only the financial wellbeing of the commercial sector but also the many social and environmental values related to the commercial, recreational and indigenous customary sectors. The FRDC recognises that it is vitally important to support young people to develop the knowledge and capabilities to assist the fishing industry to reach its potential. The fishing industry faces significant challenges, but it also provides enormous opportunities to build a rewarding career. The person we are looking for to receive an FRDC sponsored award will have a great idea, will be a great role model for young people to further their interest in science, and be keen to use this opportunity to build their networks with other researchers, the FRDC and with industry. We encourage applicants to obtain a copy of the FRDC’s RD&E Plan 2010–2015 from our website or by phoning our office on 02 6285 0400.

The Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation

The Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (GWRDC) invests in research, development and extension (RD&E) to generate new information that enhances the profitability, international competitiveness and sustainability of the Australian wine sector.

Our RD&E investments come from levies on the annual winegrape harvest and matching contributions from the Australian Government.

We collaborate with our key stakeholders to coordinate and direct our investments to best address the sector’s strategic priorities, which are detailed in our Five–Year R&D Plan 2012–17 and our Annual Operating Plan 2012–13.

We support a competitive Australian grape and wine sector by investing and directing RD&E programs along the whole value chain ‘from vine to glass’.

Meat & Livestock Australia Limited

Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (MLA) is a producer–owned company with more than 47,500 members working across the beef, sheepmeat and goatmeat sectors.

MLA builds demand and productivity for Australia’s livestock industry by delivering marketing and research services that create opportunities for livestock producers.

As part of work to build productivity, we invest industry levies with matching Australian Government funding in a broad range of research and development throughout the red meat supply chain.

The Sugar 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, development and extension.

Specifically, SRDC aims 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 industry
• apply industry, scientific and community resources more effectively to R&D in the sugarcane industry
• manage SRDC resources efficiently and to improve the accountability for expenditure on R&D for the sugarcane industry.

SRDC believes in the value of investing in the future of Australian sugarcane industry leaders to ensure the industry maintains its competitive edge as a global leader in sugarcane production. That is why SRDC is an avid supporter of the 2013 Science and Innovation Awards, and encourages young sugar industry leaders and innovators to apply.

Australian Pork Limited

Australian Pork Limited would like to hear from young people wishing to develop a career in the pork industry or further develop their scientific skills by undertaking a project of relevance to the Australian industry. Applicants should also consider opportunities to enhance their networks within the science community and pork industry, both nationally and internationally. Applicants are encouraged to read APL’s 2010–2015 Strategic Plan and align their application with APL’s 2012–2013 R&D Priorities in one or more of the six priority areas:

• Marketing, supply chain & product development
• Genetics, genetic modification & genetic transfer
• Production & pork quality
• Industry capability & technology transfer
• Environment & welfare
• Quality assurance, Biosecurity & food safety.

The Grains Research and Development Corporation

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is one of the world’s leading investors in grains research, development and extension (RD&E). The Grains Research and Development Corporation is responsible for planning, investing in and overseeing RD&E to deliver improvements in production, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry. The GRDC is committed and passionate about the Australian grains industry and we value creativity and innovation. Our mission is to create value by driving the discovery, development and delivery of world–class innovation in the Australian grains industry. Our vision is for a profitable and sustainable Australian grains industry, valued by the wider community.

Applicants should consult the GRDC’s Annual Operational Plan 2012–13 and Strategic Research and Development Plan 2012–17 to assist them in preparing their applications.

Horticulture Australia Limited

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) is a not–for–profit, industry–owned company. It works in partnership with Australia’s horticulture industries and the Australian Government to invest in research, development and marketing programs that provide benefit to industry and the wider community. HAL sponsors the 2012 Science and Innovation Awards to recognise and develop outstanding young scientists that will make a significant different to the future of Australia’s horticultural industries.

Australian Cotton – Carefully Grown – Naturally World’s Best

The 2011 Science and Innovation Awards are supported by Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) as part of its quest for a sustainable competitive advantage for the Australian cotton industry.

CRDC supports and rewards young scientists for their exploration of concepts, novel solutions or engagement in the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs and new knowledge. Innovative farming systems and transformed cotton and cotton fibre supply chains contribute to the industry’s vision of Australian cotton, carefully grown, and naturally world’s best. CRDC welcomes scholarship project proposals that seek to advance the industry’s strategic R&D goals through innovative research methodology or by addressing emerging scientific issues, methodologies or techniques.

The strategy of CRDC is to invest in improving the value of cotton products, reducing the industry’s environmental footprint while concurrently improving the productivity and resilience in the systems of production, fibre value and people.

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) invests in research and development that will create the knowledge to support a more profitable, sustainable and dynamic rural sector.  This includes research and development into Australia’s new rural industries which focuses on providing the knowledge for diversification in Australia’s rural industries. Industries represented in RIRDC’s ‘New and Developing Industries’ portfolio include olives, essential oils and plant extracts, farmed rabbits, wildflowers and native plants, tea tree oil, crocodiles, and bioenergy. RIRDC invites applications from young people that will further our knowledge and understanding of innovations that could contribute to the growth and development of Australia’s new and developing industries. Applicants should consult the RIRDC website to assist them in the preparation of their applications.