Australia-China Agricultural Cooperation Agreement (ACACA)
The 2010–11 funding round is now closed.
The process for selection of successful applicants will run until February-March 2010, at which time applicants will be advised of the outcome.
The next ACACA round is expected to open in the second half of 2011.
The ACACA program funds delegation visits to China with an agricultural, fishing or forestry focus. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China jointly fund and administer the agreement. Forestry delegation visits are co-funded by DAFF and the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China.
Background
The Australian and Chinese governments signed ACACA in 1984. The program enhances cooperation in activities related to agriculture, fishing and forestry by helping to develop trading relationships and facilitating the exchange of technical information between Australia and China.
Every 18 months, ACACA funds six four-person delegations to each country. For Australian visits to China, the Ministry of Agriculture (or State Forestry Administration) provides an interpreter for the duration of the visit.
For Australian citizens, ACACA offers a special opportunity to visit locations within China and to make business contacts that might otherwise not be possible. To enhance the value of the program for Australia, delegates are required to share key lessons and contacts from their visit with their broader industry.
The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture provides the same opportunity for stakeholders in China to visit Australia to establish business contacts.
The current program focuses on projects that demonstrate commercial potential and provide clear flow-on benefits to the delegation’s broader industry.
Projects
Since 1984, nearly 200 delegations have been exchanged in areas as diverse as:
- horticulture
- beef
- dairy
- wool
- fisheries
- forestry
- agricultural and food processing, storage and transport
- agricultural economics
- land and water management technology
During each funding round, five agriculture or fishing delegations and one forestry mission from each country are selected to participate in the ACACA program. By clearly demonstrating an ability to fulfill ACACA objectives, the following six delegations were selected for funding under the 2009-10 round:
- Enhancing trade and education in the olive industry.
Objectives: Extend the collaborative operating environment between Chinese and Australian interests in the olive industry, and identify and develop linkages between Chinese and Australian educational institutes and the olive industry.
- Sustainable forage production and erosion control.
Objectives: Promote sustainable animal forage production and erosion control in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of China.
- Opportunities for Australian Abbachio Milk Fed Lamb in the Chinese fine dining market.
Objectives: Establish relationships in the Chinese marketplace to determine future demand and potential supply considerations, including understanding the market requirements in China.
- Development of market and distribution networks for Australian Low Protein Soft Wheat into China.
Objectives: Research and develop soft wheat markets in China, including developing relationships with flour millers and manufacturers that require high quality flour.
- Developing opportunities for counter-seasonal trade in cherries, new technologies training and promotion in both Australia and China.
Objectives: Research the export market in China so that when access is approved for Australian cherries, the industry is export ready. This includes developing a range of collaborative activities that support the reciprocal trade in high quality cherries.
- Explore the market potential in China for Northern Territory plantation eucalypt species suitable for veneer and sawn timber production.
Objectives: Research and develop a market in China for Northern Territory plantation eucalypt species suitable for veneer and sawn timber production.
Information for prospective applicants
For details on:
- who can apply
- selection criteria
- the format of visits to China
- other information
view further information.
ACACA contact and subscription details
For more details on ACACA please contact:
Mr Richard Perry
East Asia Section
Trade and Market Access Division
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601
Switchboard Phone: +61 2 6272 3933
Fax: +61 2 6272 4600
Email
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