Australia’s young agricultural scientists, innovators and researchers are being invited to share their ideas for a chance to receive a share of $240,000 in grants.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said the 2017 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry encouraged 18-35 year old innovators to undertake new and creative research to benefit Australia’s agricultural industries.
“Innovation is a key driver of productivity growth for Australian agriculture, which is a key pillar of our national economy,” Minister Joyce said.
“The Science and Innovation Award grants are designed to support early career researchers, scientists and other innovators in developing new approaches to industry issues and, in turn, making our agricultural industries more productive and more competitive.
“They also support the career pathways of the award recipients, and highlight the opportunities, innovation and technologies in modern agriculture.”
Applicants can receive a grant of up to $22,000 for their project, with eleven different award categories on offer.
Successful projects from the 2016 Science and Innovation Awards included:
- Maximising the benefits of high speed broadband for the red meat industry through real-time livestock tracking and remote sensors.
- Soil organic carbon sequestration using melanised root-associated fungi.
- Keeping salt out of wine—a novel genetic approach.
- Smart investment in detection dogs for post-border bio-security.
- Development of fungal biocontrol agents to manage root-knot nematode in ginger.
- Investigating the potential of using drone technology to improve on-farm efficiency and management during lambing.
- Investigations into the prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in Australian dairy cattle.
Since their commencement in 2001, the awards have seen more than 210 young researchers, innovators and scientists share in more than $3.2 million in grant funding for their projects.
Applications close on Friday 14 October 2016. For more information on the awards, eligibility and how to enter visit: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/conferences-events/scienceawards.
