Queensland University of Technology

This ACIAR-funded work complements a PhD project funded by the Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC) led by Kylie Anderson; the ACIAR-funded project addresses the sugarcane planthopper Eumetopina flavipes and its host plants in Papua New Guinea. Ms Anderson is the leading researcher in the ACIAR-funded work.
There are three main objectives associated with the ACIAR-related work; these are: i. determining the impact of E. flavipes at Ramu Agri-Industries and development of management practices that minimise insecticide usage and re-infestation from wild canes, ii. establishment of local quarantine guidelines and the education of indigenous residents in prevention of the spread of the insect to other regions / countries, and iii. Investigation of the role of Saccharum host usage in re-colonisation of the pest / the potential of alternative species to host Eumetopina flavipes.
There have been some major obstacles to some of the programmed research for the last 12 months. This relates particularly to the work to be conducted by Ramu Agri-Industries (formerly Ramu Sugar Limited). On their Estate, outbreaks of Sesamia stemborer and ratoon stunting disease (RSD) have meant that resources have been re-directed to reduce commercial losses from these organisms. This has led to little further work on the Eumetopina x varieties aspect of the research. Ramu Agri-Industries have expressed firm commitment to completion of the research but will need a project extension to complete the work.
The last of the planned project surveys was completed during the period - this included the Torres Strait and northern Peninsula area of Cape York.

The E. flavipes specimens collected during the PNG survey (year 1) were initially subjected to DNA analysis in the laboratories of James Cook University (Cairns campus) for identifying population-level variation. Population differences could reflect ethnic population movements, and feeding preferences in PNG E. flavipes populations. As mentioned in the previous annual report, a range of published primers failed to amplify the Cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) region of E. flavipes mitochondrial DNA. After method variation, the process was completed and the CO1 region was amplified by PCR. However analysis sequences revealed that the required variation did no occur in this region. There was a requirement therefore for mitochondrial DNA screening and for the development of species-specific microsatellite primers. This is a specialist task. Griffith University were requested to assist in the development of the assay primers. A selection of E. flavipes individuals from PNG and northern Australia has been sent to Griffith University for this purpose. Griffith University has indicated they will be in a position to provide the primers within three months. The assays are being developed to shed light on the relationship between the pest and host, as well as re-colonisation potential provided by the various hosts at different locations. E. flavipes assays will also provide direct evidence on how E. flavipes populations interact among geographic locations. Such variation is expected to provide information on the historical movement of the pest between locations, as affected by human movement of the Saccharum host(s).

The AGRF Adelaide Laboratory has completed analyses on Saccharum host leaf samples, where genetic fingerprinting technology for the Australian sugar industry has been developed. Molecular analyses will provide information on differences and variation in the four Saccharum species collected: S. officinarum, S. robustum, S. edule and S. spontaneum. How this analysis relates to the Eumetopina assays is yet to be determined because of the delay in the development of micro-satellite primers. The required analyses will take an additional eight weeks following the development of the micro-satellite primers.

This ACIAR-funded work complements a PhD project funded by the Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC) led by Kylie Anderson; the ACIAR-funded project addresses the sugarcane planthopper Eumetopina flavipes and its host plants in Papua New Guinea. Ms Anderson is the leading researcher in the ACIAR-funded work.
There are three main objectives associated with the ACIAR-related work; these are: i. determining the impact of E. flavipes at Ramu Agri-Industries and development of management practices that minimise insecticide usage and re-infestation from wild canes, ii. establishment of local quarantine guidelines and the education of indigenous residents in prevention of the spread of the insect to other regions / countries, and iii. Investigation of the role of Saccharum host usage in re-colonisation of the pest / the potential of alternative species to host Eumetopina flavipes.
There have been some major obstacles to some of the programmed research for the last 12 months. This relates particularly to the work to be conducted by Ramu Agri-Industries (formerly Ramu Sugar Limited). On their Estate, outbreaks of Sesamia stemborer and ratoon stunting disease (RSD) have meant that resources have been re-directed to reduce commercial losses from these organisms. This has led to little further work on the Eumetopina x varieties aspect of the research. Ramu Agri-Industries have expressed firm commitment to completion of the research but will need a project extension to complete the work.
The last of the planned project surveys was completed during the period - this included the Torres Strait and northern Peninsula area of Cape York.

The E. flavipes specimens collected during the PNG survey (year 1) were initially subjected to DNA analysis in the laboratories of James Cook University (Cairns campus) for identifying population-level variation. Population differences could reflect ethnic population movements, and feeding preferences in PNG E. flavipes populations. As mentioned in the previous annual report, a range of published primers failed to amplify the Cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) region of E. flavipes mitochondrial DNA. After method variation, the process was completed and the CO1 region was amplified by PCR. However analysis sequences revealed that the required variation did no occur in this region. There was a requirement therefore for mitochondrial DNA screening and for the development of species-specific microsatellite primers. This is a specialist task. Griffith University were requested to assist in the development of the assay primers. A selection of E. flavipes individuals from PNG and northern Australia has been sent to Griffith University for this purpose. Griffith University has indicated they will be in a position to provide the primers within three months. The assays are being developed to shed light on the relationship between the pest and host, as well as re-colonisation potential provided by the various hosts at different locations. E. flavipes assays will also provide direct evidence on how E. flavipes populations interact among geographic locations. Such variation is expected to provide information on the historical movement of the pest between locations, as affected by human movement of the Saccharum host(s).

The AGRF Adelaide Laboratory has completed analyses on Saccharum host leaf samples, where genetic fingerprinting technology for the Australian sugar industry has been developed. Molecular analyses will provide information on differences and variation in the four Saccharum species collected: S. officinarum, S. robustum, S. edule and S. spontaneum. How this analysis relates to the Eumetopina assays is yet to be determined because of the delay in the development of micro-satellite primers. The required analyses will take an additional eight weeks following the development of the micro-satellite primers.

The project, which centres on researching the influence of the most important pests and diseases in the Javan sugarcane industry, and the development of appropriate management strategies to minimise their economic effects, has been very active during the last 12 months. A review meeting in December 2007 effectively set the scene for the project. Extensive preliminary surveys (over 930 individual crops) in western, central and eastern Java were undertaken between April 2008 and April 2009 by Indonesian research teams working in association with Australian sugarcane scientists. These preliminary surveys have provided foundation knowledge of the distribution of pests and diseases in Java and have also enabled a refinement of pest and disease monitoring methods. A large amount of information has also been collected during these surveys on bio-control species attacking the major borer pests. Subsequent more detailed monthly surveys are providing information on the ecology of the major pest borer species.
In the preliminary surveys, the incidence of the borer species (Chilo auricilius, Chilo sacchariphagus and Scirpophaga excerptalis) varied with location and site. There was a lower incidence of borers overall than anticipated, though high incidences were recorded at some locations; these generally being known highly infested areas. C. sacchariphagus was the Chilo species with the highest incidence, causing dead heart in young crops and extensive tunnelling in cane stalks in mature crops. Data analyses suggested this species was more common in irrigated fields. C. auricilius was found at higher populations in the wetter (higher) parts of the industry; C. sacchariphagus tolerates drier conditions. Of the three borer species, Scirpophaga excerptalis (top borer) is the most common causing a dead heart symptom in both young and older crops. This species was more common in factory-owned, rather than in farmer-owned crops. This is thought to be because individual farmers grow a diversity of crops, thus limiting populations. Other pest species, such as cane grubs, were of a more restricted nature.
Significant disease observations occurred in these surveys; two 'first disease' findings for Java were established - these were for the leaf diseases 'leaf scorch' (central Java) and 'target blotch'. Leaf scorch has been found previously in Indonesia but only in Sumatera and western Java. The disease has caused very significant losses in parts of Asia, including Taiwan and the Philippines; varietal resistance has been required in commercial crops in these countries to minimise commercial losses. The need for a resistance strategy for Indonesia will now need consideration. Target blotch has been identified in Papua New Guinea, but never before in Java. It is usually of lesser significance than leaf scorch. The preliminary surveys established the incidence of the major diseases yellow spot, orange rust, brown rust, mosaic, chlorotic streak and leaf scald. Leaf samples were taken during these surveys to establish the distribution of the three different viruses that cause sugarcane mosaic symptoms in South East Asia (sugarcane mosaic, sorghum mosaic and sugarcane streak mosaic); molecular assays are yet to be completed on the collected specimens. The first finding of chlorotic streak in some parts of the Javan industry was made during the preliminary surveys and the disease may be having a greater influence on the industry than previously recognised.
A review meeting was held in early April 2009 and all data considered and analysed by project scientists from both Australia and Indonesia. Methods for the detailed monthly monitoring of selected crops, to establish the ecology of the pest borer species, were established and this monitoring has now begun.
Project extension activities have already been initiated, even though detailed field data on pest ecology is only now being gathered. Work has begun on the proposed Indonesian sugarcane pests and diseases field guide; the content of the diseases section has been agreed on and the text translated into Indonesian. Work on the pest section has also started and planning is progressing; it is proposed to have the guide ready to use in association with extension activities in mid-2010. Immediately following the review meeting on Thursday 2nd April, factory staff from around Java were invited to an information meeting at the Indonesian Sugar Research Institute. At this meeting project activities were outlined, as was information on the major pests and diseases affecting the Javan sugarcane industry. Visits were also made to the Pesantren Baru sugarcane factory in central Java in order to view the borer biological control laboratories, but also to extend information to the sugarcane factory staff.

The project focuses on the following elements: i. identification of the most important pests and diseases of sugarcane in Java, ii. the development of improved IPM practices for these pests and diseases, iii. better extension of these practices to the sugarcane farming community, and iv. the development of additional resources to assist extension activities. The extensive general surveys conducted in 2008-2009, where over 930 individual sugarcane fields were surveyed (to determine both the incidence and severity of these pests in Java), has been followed by the selection of a much smaller number of specifically-affected crops for detailed monthly monitoring. This is enabling the ecology of the different pests to be studied in more detail to provide a better understanding of the most efficient management strategies that could be applied.
During the last 12 months, individual research experiments have also been conducted to further refine individual components of IPM strategies; these refined strategies will be integrated into the final project recommendations. A field experiment was established comparing application doses of the moth borer egg parasite Trichogramma; previously used release populations were compared with a higher release population. The results so far suggest previous recommendations were not optimal and will need to be changed. Sugarcane mosaic was found to be vectored in Java by the aphids Toxoptera citricida and Melanaphis sacchari. Molecular assay of commercial crop leaf samples has shown that over 80% leaves with mosaic symptoms are infected with sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSrMV); 3-5% are affected by sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). This is the first time the incidence of the different mosaic pathogens in Java has been quantified.
Training and project information meetings have been held in five factory areas, with total attendees being 185 people so far. Results from the project were outlined at each meeting and feedback gained from meeting participants. Participants responded to project staff on project outcomes as well as on information delivery in these workshops. Responses will be used to guide the nature of future meetings and also directions for the project. Extension materials under development include a sugarcane pests and diseases field guide. Considerable progress was made during the last 12 months and a first draft is nearing completion. This publication will be in Indonesian, to be printed on water-proof paper, of pocket size and to become available in late 2010. Electronic materials from the guide will be used to develop other extension materials, including pamphlets, brochures and Powerpoint presentations.
An annual review meeting was held at Botu in eastern Java in April 2010. All project results were analysed, presented and future directions decided. A report was prepared that also included a summary of other travel by Australian scientists within the last 12 months. Travel was undertaken by entomologists, plant pathologists, the desktop publisher and extension staff.

The project focuses on the following elements: i. identification of the most important pests and diseases of sugarcane in Java, ii. the development of improved IPM practices for these pests and diseases, iii. better extension of these practices to the sugarcane farming community, and iv. the development of additional resources to assist extension activities. General crop surveys (2008-2010) were followed by the selection of a small number of crops for monthly monitoring; this continued through 2010-2011 and provided a better understanding of the incidence, severity and ecology of the different pests.

In the last 12 months, research into improving IPM strategies as well as into the control of soil-based cane grubs has continued. A field experiment investigating application of the bio-control agent Trichogramma was carried into the first ratoon, with assessments made on the effectiveness of traditional application rates compared with a revised strategy. Control in an untreated check and an insecticide 'best control' treatment were used as a comparison. 'Traditional' applications were shown to be largely ineffective while a modified (higher) Trichogramma application gave better control; losses in the untreated control were up to 35% (tonnes cane). Top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis) was the most damaging, followed by Chilo sacchariphagus and C. auricilius. These are key outcomes and will be used to formulate future IPM industry recommendations.

Molecular leaf sample assay from the original pest and disease survey was finalised during the period. The main pathogen leading to mosaic symptoms in diseased crops is sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV), accounting for over 95% of all infected samples, while sugarcane mosaic (SCMV) infected <5% of samples. Streak mosaic is widespread in Indonesia and requires more research, development and extension if losses from the disease are to be reduced. The recent detection of this pathogen in West Papua emphasises the need for the Australian sugarcane industry to act / prepare to attempt to prevent an incursion into Australia, or to be able to manage the disease in the event of an incursion. Knowledge of varietal resistance to the disease is a key issue.

Training has focused on a borer workshop, held in Rejo Agung Baru (May 2011) and a farmer field school (May 2011). In the borer workshop, topics covered were: i. Results from IPM research experiments, ii. quality control in rearing and mass release of Trichogramma, iii. recommended method for placing the biocontrol in the field, iv. how to identify borer damage, v. general information on diseases (including chlorotic streak) in the field. Twenty factory managers and R&D leaders attended. At the farmer field school, 40 farmers heard how the local 'champion farmer' was controlling sugarcane pests and conducting his farming operation. Other topics were: i. a presentation by a project entomologist on borer identification / yield impacts, ii. a presentation on the New South Wales sugarcane industry by the project extension specialist.

Extension materials being developed include a sugarcane pests and diseases field guide (currently at the printer).and two fact sheets on borer management. Travel to Indonesia was undertaken by entomologists and extension staff, while the Indonesian entomologist, pathologist and extension specialist visited Australia in July 2010.

There is very significant opportunity, and important reasons, to consider future project(s) related to sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV).

Finalisation of project agreements with all parties occurred at the end of 2002, but the official project start date was retained at July 2002, as per the original project proposal. The commencement of most activity related to molecular marker activity, which was dependent on funding, was delayed until the start of 2003, but it is planned to catch up with these delays and no overall adverse effects on the project are expected.

The project is proceeding in five (linked) main activity areas, corresponding to each of the five objectives. Progress in these are summarised briefly below.

(i) To assess genetic diversity in germplasm collections and select a core set of clones for future breeding.
Work done on genetic characterisation of germplasm collected from China and other parts of the world has commenced. 497 wild (Saccharum. spontaneum and E. arundinaceus) clones collected from different provinces in China, have been selected for genetic characterisation. 96 S. spontaneum and 83 E. arundinaceus clones from the germplasm collection housed in BSES, Australia, have also been selected for marker analysis. 150 clones, and 100 clones, from Australia and China respectively, have also been selected to represent the genetic diversity sampled within core commercial breeding programs. The latter clones include key ancestors and cultivars in both programs. DNA has been extracted from most clones and marker analysis has commenced.

Arrangements have also commenced regarding collection of samples from wild (S. spontaneum and E. arundinaceus) clones from the ISSCT world collection in the USA and a collection in Brazil: representative clones from these collections are planned to be sampled by the end of 2003.

(ii) To develop improved clones derived from wild germplasm.
A range of crosses (78 in total) were made at both YSRI and GSIRI in December 2002 from germplasm derived from wild clones collected in China. The wild clones, or clones recently derived from the wild clones, were crossed with either S. officinarum or with commercial type varieties. Some seed has already been sown in China, and some seed has been reserved for later shipment to Australia. Families and individual clones derived from these crosses will be evaluated for cane yield and sugar content later in the project, and clones with good performance and capturing new sources of genetic variability (as per the genetic diversity studies) will be transferred to breeding programs for use as parent material.

(iii) To evaluate DNA marker assisted introgression of exotic germplasm in sugarcane improvement.
The aims of the research in this component are to examine several case study populations to assess and develop methods for marker assisted introgression in sugarcane. Populations suitable for research plans in this component have been produced and are currently being propagated in the field, in preparation for planting replicated yield evaluation trials during 2004 and 2005 as per project plans. DNA characterisation of these populations will commence in 2004.

(iv) To undertake GxE studies between China and Australia.
Twenty clones characterised extensively across a large number of environments in Australian sugarcane production regions were sent to YSRI after a 1 year closed quarantine period in Australia. These are currently being grown in closed quarantine in Kunming by YSRI. Several clones were damaged during transport and will be deleted from further work, but this is not expected to have a significant effect on research objectives.

(v) To develop capability in YSRI and GSIRI in application of molecular marker technology and sugarcane breeding.
An operational molecular marker laboratory at YSRI has been developed to a stage where AFLP markers are being assessed, and screening of germplasm for component 1 in the project will shortly commence. A molecular marker laboratory at GSIRI is presently in the process of being equipped, and is expected to be operational by the end of 2003. A trip to Australia by project staff in China was conducted in 2002. The aim of the trip was to demonstrate a range of methodologies and research associated with sugarcane improvement being done or being developed in Australia. The group of eight project staff from China visited a number of research centres from Cairns to Canberra with particular focus on field research associated with sugarcane, and biotechnology projects with relevance to plant improvement.

Year 2 (01/07/2003-30/06/2004)
Assess genetic diversity in germplasm collections and select a core set of clones for future breeding.
Work on genetic characterisation of germplasm collected from China and other parts of the world is well underway but not yet completed. This component was delayed during 2003-04 due to some technical problems with commissioning the marker laboratories in China. These problems have been addressed in the Yunnan Sugar Research Institute (YSRI) lab, with Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLPs) now being run routinely in that laboratory. In YSRI, gel running has been completed for the Erianthus material, and is underway for the S. spontaneum material. Some technical problems are still being experienced in the Guangzhou Sugarcane Industry Research Institute (GSIRI) laboratory at the time of writing this report. One hundred clones representing material in the core breeding programs in China will soon be done in the GSIRI laboratory.
In Australia, commercial-type clones (ancestors, parents, cultivars) representing genetic diversity in Australian breeding programs have been scored for AFLP markers and these data analysed. S. spontanem and Erianthus arundinaceus clones from the Australian germplasm collection have also been characterised with AFLP markers but the data not yet analysed. DNA has been extracted from S. spontaneum and Erianthus clones collected from collections in the USA and Brazil. Characterisation of all the material from the overseas collections is being delayed until around August when a capillary sequencer machine will be available which will allow more efficient scoring.
Final analysis of this component of work is expected to be completed by the end of 2004. This will focus on understanding the relationships between clones in available germplasm collections, both within and between the different collections. A second focus will be on the identification of a core set of clones for future breeding efforts that sample a large portion of genetic diversity in these two species of interest to introgression breeding.
Develop improved clones derived from wild germplasm.
A further 62 crosses producing viable seed were produced at both YSRI and GSIRI in 2003-04 from basic germplasm or germplasm derived from wild clones collected in China. The wild clones, or clones recently derived from the wild clones, were crossed with either S. officinarum or with commercial type varieties. Some seed has already been sown in China, and seed has been brought to Australia. Generally for most crosses, about half the seed is kept in China and half taken to Australia. Quarantine protocols have been developed with AQIS for importing this material to Australia, as it is the first time true sugarcane seed (as opposed to vegetative cuttings) have been brought in. Currently seedlings from 71 crosses are being grown in quarantine in Australia. Families and individual clones derived from these crosses will be evaluated for cane yield and sugar content later in the project, and clones with good performance and capturing new sources of genetic variability (as per the genetic diversity studies) will be transferred to breeding programs for use as parent material.
Evaluate DNA marker assisted introgression of exotic germplasm in sugarcane improvement.
The aims of the research in this component are to examine several case study populations to assess and develop methods for marker assisted introgression in sugarcane. Populations suitable for research plans in this component have been produced and are currently being propagated in the field, at Kaiyuan in Yunnan, and Hainan, in preparation for planting replicated yield evaluation trials during 2004 and 2005.
Undertake GxE studies between China and Australia.
Twenty six clones needed for this component of the project are currently under propagation in Yunnan and Guangdong. These include 15 unselected clones and six cultivars extensively evaluated across many environments in Australia, and 3 other cultivars grown in China and available in Australia. As reported in the 2002-03 progress report, some damage of cane sent to China for this component occurred, and this limited available planting material, resulting in the need for an additional cycle of propagation. This will cause a one year delay in the original timeframe of trial establishment, but project objectives will still be achieved.
Develop capability in YSRI and GSIRI in application of molecular marker technology and sugarcane breeding.
An operational molecular marker laboratory at YSRI has been developed to a stage where AFLP markers are being assessed, and screening of germplasm for component 1 in the project will shortly commence. A molecular marker laboratory at GSIRI is presently in the process of being equipped, and is expected to be operational soon. A trip to Australia by project staff in China was conducted in 2002. The aim of the trip was to demonstrate a range of methodologies and research associated with sugarcane improvement being done or being developed in Australia. The group of eight project staff from China visited a number of research centres from Cairns to Canberra with particular focus on field research associated with sugarcane, and biotechnology projects with relevance to plant improvement.

The project is proceeding in five (linked) main activity areas, corresponding to each of the five objectives. Progress in these are summarised briefly below.

(i) To assess genetic diversity in germplasm collections and select a core set of clones for future breeding.

Work on genetic characterisation of germplasm collected from China and other parts of the world has been almost completed, with data analysis and manuscript writing underway. Characterisation of Erianthus arundinaceus from China has been completed. The results showed that the Chinese representatives of this species are genetically diverse compared with material in the Australian collection; the latter material being mostly sourced from Indonesia. Within China, there is a clear general difference between clones collected in eastern versus western regions.

Characterisation of all non-Chinese S. spontaneum clones (including clones from Australian, USA and Brazillian collections) has been finished. Characterisation of the Chinese S. spontaneum in the laboratory at YSRI has proved problematic and is still being completed. Final analysis of data for S. spontaneum has been awaiting final laboratory analysis at YSRI.

The above analysis will be used in helping target small core sets of clones from both species that represent most available genetic diversity available for use in Chinese and Australian collections. An agreement for exchange of basic germplasm clones between YSRI and CSIRO-BSES was made in 2004. Selection of clones for exchange will be finalised based on results from the diversity study.

Work in the remainder of 2005 will focus on reporting the results obtained in the scientific literature.

(ii) To develop improved clones derived from wild germplasm.

This component of the project has been successful, and completed, ahead of schedule.

A further 40 crosses were made at YSRI and GSIRI in 2003/04 from parents derived from wild clones collected in China. These involved crossing the clones derived from basic germplasm clones with either S. officinarum or with commercial type varieties. Some seed has been sown in China, while some seed has been brought to Australia. Generally for most crosses, about half the seed is kept in China and half taken to Australia. We have spent a lot of time liasing with AQIS in developing quarantine protocols for importing this material to Australia, since this is the first time true sugarcane seed (as opposed to vegetative cuttings) have been imported. Families and individual clones derived from these crosses are being evaluated in China and Australia, and families and clones with good performance and capturing new sources of genetic variability will be used for further breeding. It is important that future plans are discussed and carefully made for use of this material, in order to develop commercial benefits (via cultivars) from the outputs in this section of the project.

(iii) To evaluate DNA marker assisted introgression of exotic germplasm in sugarcane improvement.

The aims of the research in this component are to examine several case study populations to assess and develop methods for marker assisted introgression in sugarcane. Populations suitable for research plans in this component have been produced and were successfully established in replicated field trials in Yunnan, Guangzhou and Australia in 2004/2005. In Yunnan, two populations derived from a S. spontaneum clone are being grown. One of these populations is also being evaluated in Australia. In Guangzhou, two populations derived from an Erianthus arundinceus clone are being evaluated. Marker characterisation on these populations has commenced at YSRI and GSIRI.

(iv) To undertake GxE studies between China and Australia.

Twenty six clones needed for this component of the project are currently undergoing a second cycle of propagation in Yunnan, Guangdong and Australia, in preparation for planting field trials in 2005/06. These include 15 unselected clones and six cultivars extensively evaluated across many environments in Australia, and 3 other cultivars grown in China and available in Australia.

(v) To develop capability in YSRI and GSIRI in application of molecular marker technology and sugarcane breeding.

Molecular marker laboratories at both YSRI and GSIRI have been developed and both micro-satellite (SSR) and AFLP markers are being run. These markers are the main ones being applied in the current project, and are currently the most widely used in sugarcane generally. Some minor problems with gel clarity with AFLPs are still being found however. Several trips have been conducted by CSIRO staff to assist in addressing the problems with routine operations, and these trips have been successful in identifying and addressing problems.

The project is proceeding in five linked activity areas, corresponding to each of the five objectives. Progress in these are summarised briefly below.

(i) To assess genetic diversity in germplasm collections and select a core set of clones for future breeding.

Data collation needed to characterise genetic relationships among germplasm collected from China and other parts of the world has been completed, with reporting and manuscript writing progressing. A paper on characterisation of the diversity within S. spontaneum was presented at the ISSCT Sugarcane Breeding and Germplasm conference in Ecuador in May 2006. A manuscript for submission to a journal on these data is also being prepared. In summary, the results highlighted extremely high genetic diversity within S. spontaneum (in relation to S. officinarum and commercial sugarcane), and also showed two general groupings corresponding to clones collected in Southern India and Indonesia on the one hand, and northern India and China on the other.

A manuscript on characterisation of the genetic diversity within Erianthus arundinaceus is still in the early stages. As indicated in the previous annual report, the results from the Erianthus study showed that the Chinese representatives of this species are genetically diverse compared with material in the Australian collection; the latter material being mostly sourced from Indonesia. Within China, there is a clear general difference between clones collected in eastern versus western regions. A paper on the relationship of the Chinese species Erianthus rockii in relation to other species in the Saccharum was published.

Following an agreement for exchange of basic germplasm clones between China (YSRI) and Australia (BSES-CSIRO) made in 2004, a selection of clones for exchange has been made and these have been placed in quarantine.

(ii) To develop improved clones derived from wild germplasm.

As indicated in the previous annual report, this component of the project has been successful in producing a wide range of clones derived from wild germplasm, which are now being further evaluated and used within sugarcane breeding programs in China and Australia. This includes the first reports in the world of introgression of Erianthus spp. into sugarcane, which opens up new diversity to sugarcane breeding programs.

Field trials in China and Australia to evaluate progeny from S. officinarum/commercial sugarcane x S. spontaneum developed in this project were sampled and measured in 2006. These experiments have been successful, and the better clones from these trials will be evaluated further and used in further crosses with elite sugarcane parents. High correlations between families in the trials in Australia and China for stalk weight and sucrose content were observed. This result is important. Apart from being the first report of genetic x country interactions in sugarcane, it also indicates that selection trial results in either country will be useful for predicting performance in the other, and has important implications for planning further cooperation to maximise mutual benefits from joint exploitation of the germplasm resources generated in this project in future years.

The evaluation, further breeding, and commercial extension of progeny from component 2 in this project is required to realise commercial and social benefits from the success achieved in this area in the project. In both China and Australia but particularly the former, there is rapidly emerging interest in producing energy sources (especially ethanol) from sugarcane: this is emerging as a major national goal in China, for economic, environmental and national security reasons. Possible characteristics of some clones developed in this project (high dry matter yields, drought tolerance, strong ratooning ability, and other traits) means there may be significant opportunities arising from this project in this regard. Further discussions within the project team and with other parties will occur soon in relation to this, aiming to establish if any mutually beneficial R&D opportunities exist. It is worth noting that many poor regions in western China could benefit strongly from the emerging opportunities to produce ethanol from crops.

(iii) To evaluate DNA marker assisted introgression of exotic germplasm in sugarcane improvement.

This component aims to assess and develop methods for marker assisted introgression in sugarcane through several case study breeding populations. Populations have been produced in prior years and were successfully established in replicated field trials in Yunnan, Guangzhou and Australia in 2004/2005. In Yunnan, two populations derived from a S. spontaneum clone are being grown. One of these populations is also being evaluated in Australia. In Guangzhou, two populations derived from an Erianthus arundinceus clone are being evaluated.

These populations were sampled in November to December, 2005, in China, and in July 2006 in Australia. Analysis of variance of the results from China indicate that the data obtained is of good quality (high broad-sense heritabilities for key traits) and will provide a good basis for subsequent QTL analysis when collection of marker data is completed in 2007. Results from the Australian sampled trial are still being processed at the time of writing this report.Marker characterisation on these populations is well underway in YSRI and GSIRI, and will shortly commence in CSIRO.

(iv) To undertake GxE studies between China and Australia.

Following transfer through quarantine, and two cycles of propagation in previous years in the project, clones selected for this component of the project were successfully established in five field trials in China in early 2006. The same clones were previously evaluated extensively in Australia. Comparison of results (to be obtained next year) will provide information about the usefulness of data collected in both countries for predicting performance in the other.

(v) To develop capability in YSRI and GSIRI in application of molecular marker technology and sugarcane breeding.

As indicated in prior annual reports, molecular marker laboratories at both YSRI and GSIRI have been developed with assistance from Australian staff in this project, with both micro-satellite (SSR) and AFLP markers being run. Training of staff in China on in-situ hybridisation methodology also occurred in 2006.

The project consists of a number of training activities designed to improve both diagnostic skills and capability for Plant Quarantine in Thailand. Areas of focus include 1. Targeted taxonomic training, 2. Molecular training and the establishment of a molecular diagnostic laboratory in Bangkok, 3. Remote Microscope Diagnostics and the use of web-based, diagnostic information databases for the identification of pests and 4. Some general surveillance training. Most of the activities consist of Thai scientists training in Australia with an expert which is followed by a workshop in Thailand.
In the case of taxonomic training, two Thai scientists have trained in Australia in areas of specific interest to Plant Quarantine - the identification of exotic nematodes and the identification of exotic fungi and bacteria associated with export seed. A follow-up workshop will take place in Thailand later this year in these two areas of interest. The follow-up workshops will help reinforce skills by allowing Thai scientists to apply techniques in their own laboratories. This reciprocal training process will be repeated each year of the project, with the Thai scientists visiting different laboratories and training with different experts in Australia each year.
Molecular training is the most intensive component of the project, with four Thai scientists being trained for a period of three months in Australian laboratories each year. Again, training is in specific areas that relate to pests of important industries in Thailand. These include molecular diagnostics for fruit fly, citrus canker, black spot, potato spindle tuber viroid and general virus detection. Each training period in Australia will be followed with a workshop in Thailand to reinforce skills. During the first of these follow-up workshops, a molecular diagnostics lab was established in Bangkok with new equipment purchased with project funds. Under supervision from Australian scientists, the trainees repeated tests learned in Australia under their new laboratory conditions. We expect that this program will greatly increase the molecular capability of Plant Quarantine as the same four scientists will be trained throughout the project and each should attain a high level of skill, with the expectation that they will be capable of developing their own diagnostic protocols within the three years. At the same time, they are building close relationships with Australian scientists which are likely to continue beyond the life of the project.
The concept of Remote Microscope Diagnostics (RMDs) is attractive because it allows non-experts in remote locations, to interact with diagnostic experts in real time, to identify a pest specimen. Of immediate application to insect identifications, RMDs use the internet to connect a microscope to a computer in another location. Specimens placed under the microscope can be viewed by an expert anywhere else in the world and both the non-expert and the expert can communicate with each other to establish an identification. This means that identifications can be fast and accurate, with the non-expert gaining some specific diagnostic training from the expert during the process. This system has the power to amplify the diagnostic capacity at remote ports of entry where staff may have only general diagnostic skills. It can be used in conjunction with web-based diagnostic tools such as the Plant and Disease Image Library (PaDIL) and the Plant Biosecurity Toolbox (PBT). As well as specific identifications, RMDs can be used as a training tool where an expert can connect to several remote computers simultaneously and provide taxonomic instruction using specimens as examples.
Microscope equipment and RM hardware has been purchased, assembled and tested in Australia prior to being installed in Thailand. Instruction manuals have been produced to provide a reference for Thai scientists. A workshop will be held later this year to install the equipment and to train Thai staff in its use. Additional training in the use of PaDIL and the PBT will be provided as well as training for the capture and storage of images to create a diagnostic library relevant to Thailand. We will install equipment and train staff in Bangkok and at the northern border port of Chiang Rai, so that an RMD network is established within the country.
The final aspect of the project is surveillance training in Australia to be conducted later this year. The form this training will take may be modified following recent discussions with the PC, who have instead expressed a desire for some training in the development of incursion management plans, as they currently do not have any contingency plans in the event of an exotic incursion. I believe that it is important that we are open and flexible to the needs of the PC and are willing to alter the activities of the project as they require.
Despite delays in completing some scheduled activities (see 8. Problems and Opportunities), good progress has been made in taxonomic and molecular diagnostic training, and strong relationships have been formed between Australian and Thai scientists. Much groundwork has been laid for future activities, including the purchase of capital equipment, the development of training manuals and planned dates for training workshops both here and in Thailand. The Australian project leader, Dr Gary Kong recently spent a week with Thai project leaders, Mr Udorn Unahawutti and Dr Walaikorn Rattanadechakul, discussing the project and planning for future activities. The discussions were very productive and established a good working relationship for future planning and execution of project activities.

The project consists of a number of training activities designed to improve both diagnostic skills and capability for Plant Quarantine in Thailand. Areas of focus include 1. Targeted taxonomic training, 2. Molecular training and the establishment of a molecular diagnostic laboratory in Bangkok, 3. Remote Microscope Diagnostics and the use of web-based, diagnostic information databases for the identification of pests and 4. Some general surveillance training. Most of the activities consist of Thai scientists training in Australia with an expert which is followed by a workshop in Thailand.
In the case of taxonomic training, two Thai scientists have trained in Australia in areas of specific interest to Plant Quarantine - the identification of exotic nematodes and the identification of exotic fungi and bacteria associated with export seed. A follow-up workshop took place in Thailand in these two areas of interest. The follow-up workshops are designed to reinforce skills by allowing Thai scientists to apply techniques in their own laboratories. This reciprocal training process will be repeated each year of the project, and where appropriate, Thai scientists will visit different laboratories and train with different experts in Australia each year.
Molecular training is the most intensive component of the project, with four Thai scientists being trained for a period of two months in Australian laboratories each year. Again, training is in specific areas that relate to pests of important industries in Thailand. These include molecular diagnostics for fruit fly, citrus canker, black spot, potato spindle tuber viroid and general virus detection. Each training period in Australia will be followed with a workshop in Thailand to reinforce skills. During the first of these follow-up workshops, a molecular diagnostics lab was established in Bangkok with new equipment purchased with project funds. Under supervision from Australian scientists, the trainees repeated tests learned in Australia under their new laboratory conditions. In this current year, Australian scientists facilitated a workshop in which the Thai trainees developed their own molecular training course and trained their own staff. This workshop was highly successful and demonstrated the level of proficiency attained by the Thai molecular biologists during the project. This program has greatly increased the molecular capability of Plant Quarantine and we expect that these scientists will be capable of developing their own diagnostic protocols within the next year of the project. At the same time, they are building close relationships with Australian scientists which are likely to continue beyond the life of the project.
The concept of Remote Microscope Diagnostics (RMDs) is attractive because it allows non-experts in remote locations, to interact with diagnostic experts in real time, to identify a pest specimen. Of immediate application to insect identifications, RMDs use the internet to connect a microscope to a computer in another location. Specimens placed under the microscope can be viewed by an expert anywhere else in the world and both the non-expert and the expert can communicate with each other to establish an identification. This means that identifications can be fast and accurate, with the non-expert gaining some specific diagnostic training from the expert during the process. This system has the power to amplify the diagnostic capacity at remote ports of entry where staff may have only general diagnostic skills. It can be used in conjunction with web-based diagnostic tools such as the Plant and Disease Image Library (PaDIL) and the Plant Biosecurity Toolbox (PBT). As well as specific identifications, RMDs can be used as a training tool where an expert can connect to several remote computers simultaneously and provide taxonomic instruction using specimens as examples.
Microscope equipment and RM hardware was purchased, assembled and tested in Australia prior to being installed in Thailand during this past year. Instruction manuals were produced to provide a reference for Thai scientists and workshops were held in Bangkok and Chiang Rai this year to install the equipment and to train Thai staff in its use. Additional training in the use of PaDIL and the PBT was provided as well as training for the capture and storage of images to create a diagnostic library relevant to Thailand. In addition, RM equipment provided by AusAid was installed in the DOA entomology lab and entomology staff attended the workshops that were conducted. By the end of the workshop, Thai staff were capable of conducting RM, capturing and processing images and authoring pages in PaDIL.
Since we installed the RM equipment, we have engaged the PQ scientists in Bangkok in RM sessions with ourselves at ANIC in Canberra and with staff in Vientianne, in the Laos PDR where we have also installed equipment. Our aim is to ensure proficiency in the use of RM technology and to encourage user networks in the region to enhance diagnostic capability.
The final aspect of the project is surveillance training in Australia , however, following further discussions with Mr Udorn Unahawatti this training will proceed as a variety of activities including instruction in the development of Contingency Plans, diagnostic processes in quarantine facilities and border surveillance activities. I believe that it is important that we are open and flexible to the needs of the PQ and are willing to alter the activities of the project as they require.
Despite delays in completing some scheduled activities (see 8. Problems and Opportunities), good progress has been made in taxonomic and molecular diagnostic training, and strong relationships have been formed between Australian and Thai scientists. Thai staff have shown excellent progress and proficiency in all aspects of the diagnostic training that we are providing, particularly in molecular diagnostics. There has been a concerted effort on behalf of the DOA to capitalise on project activities, by investing in better facilities for both molecular diagnostics and RM.
Finally, project leader Dr Gary Kong has participated in several training workshops in Thailand and taken every opportunity to discuss progress and plan future training with both DOA managers ( Mr Udorn Unahawutti and Dr Walaikorn Rattanadechakul), and Australain scientists involved in training. Feedback is an important aspect delivering relevant information to ensure success of future training activities. Despite delays in completion of activities due to civil unrest in Thailand, we have made significant progress in meeting the objectives of this project, and this is reflected in both the improved facilities and proficiency of staff in PQ, Bangkok.

This program builds on research and extension activities started in an AusAID ACNRS project Management of potato late blight in PNG (2004). The objectives of the current project are to introduce, multiply, evaluate and deploy late blight resistant clonal material into PNG and to develop safe, cost effective integrated late blight management strategies for existing and new potato cultivars and ultimately to rehabilitate potato production for smallholders.

Thirty-six International Potato Centre (CIP) potato clones, introduced into PNG in 2003, were resurrected from tissue culture in Kerevat and propagated to seed tubers in National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) facilities in Aiyura and Tambul. In field trials without fungicide sprays, 12 of these clones survived late blight disease several weeks longer than more susceptible clones, which died before reaching maturity. Four of 12 cultivars from Australia that were screened in 3 field trials proved to be significantly less susceptible than the standard Sequoia and will be further evaluated in under a fungicide spray regime.

Ten 'best bet' late blight resistant CIP potato clones were propagated as minitubers by Lima, Peru and will be shipped to PNG in December/January to boost seed supplies for trials. Tissues culture plantlets of the 10 clones will be also be sent to PNG from Peru to refresh current stocks, as well as to Australia as back-up tissue culture stocks.

Lack of seed potatoes is a critical factor preventing farmers from participating in potato production. A potato production specialist, Corina Horstra from Department of Primary Industries Victoria, reviewed propagation and multiplication capability in PNG during a visit to the tissue culture and seed tuber production facilities at Aiyura and Tambul, respectively, in June 2005. It was concluded that both NARI (tissue culture production) and Fresh Produce Development Agency (seed potato production) have the technical capability to produce high quality seed potatoes for PNG. A number of technical problems at the tissue culture facility at Aiyura, which were identified as hampering the consistent supply of tissue culture plantlets to stock the FPDA screen houses in Tambul, are being rectified. FPDA has built additional screen houses at Tambul to increase their minituber production capability for the seed program.

Availability of fungicides in PNG is limited to copper and chlorothalonil based products. Preliminary fungicide evaluation trials had demonstrated that weekly sprays with copper based products provided sufficient control of late blight to allow the susceptible cultivar Sequoia to be grown to maturity. In further trials, weekly sprays of chlorothalonil proved to be superior to copper sprays in protecting plants from late blight. However, chlorothalonil is significantly more expensive than copper and the challenge is to determine whether the integration of the two fungicides can provide sufficient protection of Sequoia crop but at a reduced cost.

FPDA, with input from NARI, have been successful in laying the foundation for rebuilding PNG potato industry through the delivery of supplies of quality seed and through village extension worker training activities which have involved 2500 smallholders. However, at present potato production in PNG is generally limited to a relatively small number of 'commercial' growers who have access to land, backpack sprayers, chemicals, seed potatoes and labour and based on the highly susceptible cultivar Sequoia.

There is renewed confidence in potato production in PNG following the epidemic of potato late blight that wiped out potato production in 2003. Quantities of locally grown potatoes of the favoured variety Sequoia can be found in the market places of major centres in PNG. For the moment it seems that potatoes are grown mostly by a small number of 'commercial' farmers who can afford the seed, chemicals and labour. They have learnt from the results of field trials conducted through this project, and from their own experience, how to manage late blight in the highly susceptible Sequoia. In order to keep the plants alive until maturity, the crop must be sprayed every 3 to 5 days with fungicides. The average crop receives 12 to 20 fungicide sprays throughout its lifetime, an intensive regime that may be too much for 'subsistence' farmers who once relied on potatoes as a valuable cash crop. This situation will not change unless late blight resistant varieties are made available.

One of the objectives of the project is to establish late blight resistant cultivars in PNG. It should be possible to grow resistant cultivars with significantly less chemical treatments than the current variety. Several potato varieties developed by the International Potato Centre in Peru (CIP) were tested in the field by National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) scientists and proved to be very resistant to potato late blight. In these trials, a number of varieties showed no sign of disease throughout the life of the crop, whereas the susceptible Sequoia died within weeks of planting. A selection of these varieties is now being multiplied in tissue culture by NARI and will be grown on as seed potatoes by the Fresh Produce Development Agency for distribution to selected growers for further testing. In the meantime, several additional CIP varieties will be screened for disease resistance so that further selections can be made. This will ensure the availability of several varieties in the market place over the next few years.

Potatoes cannot be grown in PNG without fungicide treatments. An objective of the project is to identify cost effective and safe chemical treatments for control late blight. Fungicide products containing copper or chlorothalonil are being currently by farmers. In recent trials, spray treatments with chlorothalonil were superior to treatments with copper and significantly delayed the onset of late blight in the crop. In trials that tested how often a crop needed to treated for effective disease control, chlorothalonil treatments applied no less than every 7 days resulted in the best yields. In contrast, crops sprayed with copper every 7 days did not reach maturity.

Reliance on one fungicide for potato late blight control is not sustainable. The systemic fungicide potassium phosphonate, which has shown promise in controlling late blight in a number of countries around the world. It is available in PNG (Agri Phos 600) and has registration for potato late blight control. This fungicide is relatively cost effective and safe to use. It will be trialled in the field and integrated with the protectant fungicide chlorothalonil.

An important project objective is the consistent and assured supply of seed potatoes of current and new varieties into the market place. The tissue culture laboratory at Aiyura is critical to this process. Several changes to operational protocols over the past year resulted in significant improvements in the quality and throughput of potato plantlets from this laboratory. These plantlets are used by FPDA to produce minituber and the subsequent field grown generations of Certified Seed Potatoes in PNG.

At a meeting late in 2006, the project team selected four CIP clones that had looked promising in field trials for fast track multiplication for farmer trials. The clones were selected on the basis of their resistance to potato late blight and favourable agronomic, cooking and flavour traits. Twelve hundred tissue culture plantlets of each clone were multiplied at the tissue culture facility in Aiyura (Coffee Industry Council) and planted in screenhouses at Tambul in early June to be grown-on to produce minitubers. This material will be multiplied in the field to Generation 2 and distributed to selected commercial and smallholder farmers for evaluation by the end of 2008. In the meantime, the performance of other CIP clones is being evaluated in a series of field trials at Tambul and Mt Hagen. Although many of these clones are resistant or moderately resistant to potato late blight, some have proved to be highly susceptible to the intractable disease bacterial wilt, which is more difficult to manage than blight.

The effectiveness of the systemic fungicide potassium phosphonate in controlling potato late blight was evaluated in field trials at two different locations. Different rates and intervals of application of the fungicides were compared with an untreated control and a standard chlorothalonil treatment (applied every 7 days). The phosphonate treatments provided some measure of protection against potato late blight on the susceptible variety Sequoia but were not as effective as the standard chlorothalonil treatment. Experience in South America indicates that this fungicide is likely to be more effective when used on potato cultivars that have some resistance to potato late blight. Further trials will test whether there are any benefits in integrating the phosphonate and chlorothalonil treatments, since the optimum spray interval for phosphonate was 14 days compared with 7 days for the standard treatment.

There is currently a serious shortage of seed potatoes in PNG due to a shortage of supply of tissue culture plantlets of the cultivar Sequoia over the past few years. Production of plantlets has been scaled in the past 12 months and the tissue culture laboratory has been producing nearly 6000 plantlets per month. However, it will take two years to produce stocks of Certified Seed (generation 4) from each batch of plantlets.

Whilst this project is focused on potato late blight, a number of other diseases are posing significant challenges for potato seed and ware production. These include the potato leaf-roll virus, Rhizoctonia stem canker, bacterial wilt and target spot (Alternaria solani), which appear to have become more prevalent in commercial scale production of potatoes.

Late blight disease prevents smallholder farmers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from growing the popular but highly susceptible potato variety Sequoia, which needs weekly fungicide sprays to be productive. The aim of the project is to introduce late blight resistant varieties, backed up with integrated disease management strategies, and the capacity to produce consistent quantities of quality seed potatoes of the new varieties for smallholder farmers.
The first field generation of four late blight resistant clones, bred by the International Potato Centre (CIP) and selected for farmer evaluation trials, has been harvested and will be grown on for a second generation before distribution. Selection of these clones was based on late blight resistance and favourable agronomic, cooking and flavour traits in field trials. A smaller quantity of seed of these clones is currently being multiplied for preliminary release to farmers for evaluation. Of the 59 CIP clones available, 29 have been screened so far and a further 21 as yet untested clones will undergo preliminary screening in field trials over the next 6 months. Further selections for farmer evaluation will be made when analysis of this year's trial data is completed.
Trials to date have demonstrated the effectiveness of the contact fungicide chlorothalonil in controlling late blight in Sequoia potato crops. However, additional fungicides, which have systemic and curative properties, are needed to improve late blight control, particularly in the young, rapidly growing crop. Protecting the young crop for as long as possible is critical in minimising disease spread and yield loss. Advice on the most appropriate chemicals for PNG is being sought from European experts and chemical companies.
Seed potatoes of the variety Sequoia are currently in short supply in PNG because of limited supplies of tissue culture plants in the past. The output of plantlets has increased significantly over the past 12 months resulting in a steady supply of tubers being multiplied at Tambul. As a result, new supplies of commercial seed stocks will steadily increase from June this year.
Abstracts and posters of the results of fungicide and CIP clone evaluation trials in PNG were presented at the Third International Late Blight Conference in Beijing in April 2008. Dolf de Boer and Andr Drenth attended the conference, along with 152 other delegates from 34 countries. The CIP clone trial data from PNG will prove to be very relevant to potato production in tropical highland environments in other countries, such as Indonesia and East Timor. The pre conference workshop provided valuable information on standardised international procedures for research into late blight including fungicide and variety evaluation. A CIP training manual for Training of Trainers in the management of late blight presented at the workshop and can be adapted for training Village Extension Workers in PNG. Access to world experts on late blight management was invaluable in helping to focus project activities in PNG.
The Fresh Produce Development Agency has recently employed a full-time extension officer who will facilitate a farmer survey to identify constraints to growing potatoes, conduct farmer field school activities on late blight management using the CIP training modules, and assist with farmer evaluation trials of the selected CIP clones.

The devastating late blight disease caused by Phytophthora infestans has prevented smallholder farmers in Papua New Guinea from growing the popular potato variety Sequoia. Seed potatoes, fertiliser and chemicals are expensive and weekly fungicide sprays are now needed to make this variety productive.
A major milestone for the project was achieved with the release of late blight resistant varieties for farmer trials. In December 2008, small quantities of seed potatoes of four late blight resistant clones were given to nine potato farmers in the Eastern and Western Highlands Provinces for evaluation alongside Sequoia. The farmers were Village Extension Workers and seed potato growers for the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA).
The clones are part of a collection that was bred by the International Potato Centre (CIP) for tropical highland environments. The four clones selected had a high level of resistance to late blight and favourable agronomic, cooking and flavour traits in trials conducted by the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI).
Unsprayed Sequoia plants were destroyed by late blight within nine weeks of planting in the farmers fields. A low level of late blight developed in two of the four clones as the crops began to mature. The yields of the unsprayed CIP clones were comparable to the yields of the sprayed Sequoia. However, all CIP clones were affected by low levels of early blight disease (Alternaria solani) after crop flowering. The CIP clones, in general, are susceptible to this disease, particularly under conditions of poor nutrition.
The growers rated the four clones favourably against the Sequoia on the basis of growth, tuber characteristics, cooking (frying and boiling) and taste. Field days were held at two sites at the crop flowering stage and at harvest time. Additional field days were held in the Eastern and Western Highlands Provinces where the clones were on display in field plots. More seed lots of the four clones will be released to farmers for evaluation in the coming months.
An additional four clones with good disease resistance and agronomic traits are currently being multiplied for farmer trials. In the meantime, clones from later CIP breeding populations, which have multiple, rather than single gene resistance to late blight, are being screened for resistance.
Further testing of potato late blight disease samples by the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) has confirmed that the PNG population of Phytophthora infestans is made up of only one strain, designated 2_A1. So far, a total of 130 isolates have been tested for strain type in samples taken throughout the Highland Provinces.
A restructure of work processes in the tissue culture laboratory at Aiyura resulted in significant improvements in the numbers and quality of Sequoia plantlets being delivered to the FPDA for further multiplication. Monthly targets of 12,000 plantlets have recently been achieved. However, the flow-on supply of certified seed potato stocks to farmers was slowed by crop health problems (disease and/or nutritional disorders). DNA from potato leaf samples will be sent to Australia for virus testing to help seed potato certification officers distinguish symptoms of virus infection from nutritional disorders.
The adoption of new potato cultivars by farmers depends on the availability of a consistent supply of quality seed potatoes. Eight staff from FPDA, six of whom were sponsored by the Crawford Foundation, attended the Victorian Certified Seed Potato Authority Seed Potato Certification Officers Biennial Workshop in Victoria, Australia in December 2008. The skills and knowledge acquired at the workshop will help delegate's improve their competencies in seed potato certification and improve seed potato quality in PNG.

The devastating late blight disease caused by Phytophthora infestans, which first occurred in Papua New Guinea in 2003, has made it difficult for all but the farmers who can afford seed potatoes, fertiliser, fungicides and labour to grow the popular but highly susceptible variety Sequoia.
The main strategy of this project has been to find late blight resistant varieties to replace Sequoia. Field evaluation of all of 55 potato clones imported from Peru is now complete. These clones are part of a collection that was breed by the International Potato Centre (CIP) for short day, tropical highland environments. Twelve clones, which consistently exhibited resistance to late blight and favourable agronomic, flavour and cooking traits in a series of field trials conducted by the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), have been selected for evaluation in farmer and market chain participatory trials.
A second series of farmer trials of four CIP clones first tested in December 2008, were established in December 09 in eight different locations representing four micro environments across four highlands provinces. The clones were planted in plots alongside the Sequoia variety, which were either sprayed with fungicide or not treated at all. Unfortunately, the two trials in one province were terminated due to tribal fights and logistical problems. The NARI and Fresh Produce Develop Agency (FPDA) team collected data on disease severity, yield and cost of production. Two of the clones (unsprayed) produced marketable yields comparable to that of the sprayed Sequoia, averaging 12 to 26 tonnes per hectare. The yields of unsprayed Sequoia averaged less than 5 tonnes per hectare because of severe late blight infection.
One or two field days were held at each site with attendances of between 25 to 100 farmers being recorded. Based on farmer and visitor preferences and overall performance in trials, further testing of two of the four clones will cease. Seed potato stocks for farmer trials of the remaining 10 clones are at various stages of multiplication. Potatoes will also be distributed to chicken and chip shops for an assessment of retailer and consumer responses. Most clones are much better suited to frying than Sequoia.
The adoption of new potato cultivars by farmers depends on the availability of a consistent supply of quality seed potatoes. The Aiyura tissue culture lab output averages 12,000 plantlets per month (mostly Sequoia at this stage), which fills 6 of 24 the FPDA screenhouses at Tambul each month for minituber production. FPDA now faces the inevitable challenge of finding enough suitable land and qualified and competent seed growers for multiplication of the field generations.
Late blight has now been found on tomato plants in Eastern Highlands Province of PNG. The disease symptoms were severe enough to defoliate the plants and cause serious fruit rots. Farmers are faced with prospect of regular applications of fungicides to prevent foliage and fruit blight. Tomatoes are the second most important host of the Phytophthora infestans pathogen world wide next to potatoes. Samples of diseased plants have been sent to the Scottish Crop Research Institute for identification of the pathogen strain.
DNA extracts taken from seed potato plants in PNG, which were suspected of being affected by the potato leaf roll virus, have returned positive in tests conducted in Australia. A NARI scientist based at Aiyura, and currently engaged in a virus testing of sweet potatoes, recently undertook intensive training in Australia (sponsored by the Crawford Fund) to develop competency in the virus detection so that potato and sweet potato viruses can be tested in PNG and thereby providing an important service for certified seed potato program.

The project commenced in 2010 with a series of inception workshops held in all four partner countries. The five main domains of activity in the first year comprised:
1. Assessments of adaptive capacity and household surveys to determine farming systems typologies
2. Refinement of APSIM-ORYZA to improve modelling of rice-based farming systems
3. Training of research teams in project research methodologies
4. Establishment a range of on-farm experiments to validate APSIM-ORYZA and to evaluate adaptation options
5. Engagement with key stakeholders and policy makers
Good progress was achieved in the development and application of the project methodological framework that links social research with biophysical research. This has fostered a number of science impacts. Presentation of the integration framework in invited papers at two international conferences generated positive reactions and discussions with a number of institutions engaged in adaptation research and development.
The project's significant effort in social research over the past year has prepared a robust base from which we will develop more effective adaptation strategies that take into consideration the broader livelihoods context of smallholder households. The livelihoods trajectories research carried out in India has highlighted the need to differentially engage with different household types to tailor information to their specific needs (e.g. large farmers may likely be seeking advice on labour saving management options; small farmer tend to place a stronger emphasis on reducing risk associated with use of inputs). This research also has further sensitised the project on the issues of equitable access to information, e.g. engaging with women.
Research results from all four countries are illustrating major, rapid change in rural communities, driven more by other drivers of global change (markets, urban migration, resource depletion) than climate change per se. Two of the many facets of this dynamic are the increasing 'feminisation' of agriculture and the increasing shortage of labour in rural communities. These changes will have profound effects on which types of farming households we should select as target groups, and what might constitute feasible adaptation options.
Work on refining APSIM has established that APSIM-ORYZA is now sufficiently robust to start modelling rice cropping systems with a high degree of confidence. This has spurred renewed interest in APSIM as a platform of choice for crop systems modelling in Asia (as opposed to single crop modelling) and a journal paper describing APSIM-ORYZA's performance has been prepared for submission to the European Journal of Agronomy.
Training in a range of methodologies has been a major emphasis of the project team's activities in the first year. Apart from the immediate application of these methods in the project, there are already examples of capacity building enabling some partners to apply newly acquired skills in other domains of their work. For example the three week intensive training course in farming systems and modelling in April 2011 has provided a sound modelling capability in three of the four partner countries. Feedback from the course was very encouraging and it is very likely that the capabilities developed will find applications beyond the project.
Despite delays in the project start, on-farm experimental plots were established in all four countries in time for the 2010 wet season and during the dry season 2010-2011. In some cases these plots were designed to initiate on-farm testing of adaptation options (India, Cambodia and Bangladesh); in some cases the primary purpose was to collect local APSIM benchmarking datasets (Lao PDR).
To maximise the project's future impact in the policy domain, the project team has developed stakeholder engagement plans in each country. Team members are regularly engaging with a range of critical stakeholders. Key institutions have been briefed on the project and invited to provide input into project directions on policy input and advice.
Early community impacts can be expected in India and Cambodia. There is evidence that Indian farmers accessing the agro-met advisories have started to make changes to farm management practices associated with crop protection and fertilisation (i.e. short term, tactical management decisions, commensurate with the 3-5 day forecast timeframe). In Cambodia, the 2010 wet season has provided evidence of the superior performance of a range of improved rice management options, including use of improved (shorter duration) varieties and changed N-fertilisation regime (deep-placed urea pellets). The Cambodian NGO partner IDE will start incorporating these options in its training program of Farmer Business Advisors, who will then become potential agents of change in villages other than the project study villages.
Exposure of UNDP stakeholders to the project's adaptation research approach has resulted in the UNDP inviting the project to contribute to the Technical Background Report underpinning the next Human Development Report. This as an important entry point into further discussions with organisations like UNDP on better design principles of donor-funded adaptation programs, specifically in Cambodia, but potentially also in Lao PDR and Bangladesh.

1/6/2010 - 31/5/2011

Activities during this period included literature reviews, field work in oil palm fields and associated landscapes, data assessment for modelling, and communication and training.
For the soil health, nutrient and carbon balance components of the project, field work was carried out in the 'SCAN' and 'Allometrics' experiments. In the 'SCAN' experiment, soil and plant samples were taken at 15 sites in Oro Province (smallholder oil palm planted on grassland at various times in the past) and 2 sites in Hoskins (oil palm planted on ex-forest land). The samples are being prepared for assessment of soil health using analysis of carbon isotopes, nutrient content, pH and microbial diversity. In the 'Allometrics' experiment, relationships between simply measured growth parameters and biomass (above- and below-ground) are being determined so that nutrient and carbon budgets can be estimated during the life of a plantation using the simple measurements. Field data collection was completed for 6-year old palms and is underway for 20-year old palms. An experiment has been planned to quantify nutrient and carbon cycling during the felling-replanting phase of a plantation in Milne Bay, and measurements of 15N natural abundance are underway to estimate N fixation by legume cover crops sampled in Oro and West New Britain.
For the aquatic ecosystem health component of the project, potential study sites were selected; 126 in the Kimbe Bay/Bialla areas and 54 in the Milne Bay/Mullins Harbour areas. Initial impact evaluations were conducted for each study site to support final selection of sites so that they represent the full available range of natural and impact conditions. Key potential sources of impact identified were: riparian forest loss and damage, gravel extraction causing turbidity in rivers, degraded water quality from mill effluent discharge, wastes from small-holder settlement, and direct entry into streams of fertilizer spread on adjacent oil palm. Field studies are now underway at these sites.
For the crop system modelling component of the project, the availability and suitability of oil palm growth data collected by the PNG Oil Palm Research Association (PNGOPRA) in their field trials was assessed. Data chosen for use in model development and testing covers a range of climate, soil and nutrient supply situations. The collection of weather data, an important input into the model, has also commenced. The allometric work described above is also important to the model development as it is required to convert the large datasets of non-destructive measurements into standing biomass and nutrient balances, and to parameterise the various growth processes within the model.
Several scientific and capacity impacts occurred during this period. The project is informing the sustainability-related activities of New Britain Palm Oil Ltd, especially with respect to carbon cycling. The work so far has included extensive involvement of PNGOPRA and Oil Palm Industry Corporation staff as the first stage of their training for the future monitoring work. In addition, Dr Murom Banabas benefitted from leadership training under a John Dillon Fellowship and training in scenario modelling under a Crawford Training Award.
Project activities were communicated to PNG oil palm growers and the wider community through several avenues. Communication with the industry occurred through smallholder 42 field days and several meetings with company and advisory staff. Project staff published 6 scientific papers on sustainability issues in the PNG oil palm industry, and gave 5 interviews published in the media.
Three postgraduate students have been enrolled to contribute to the aims of the project; Rachel Pipai, who is working on nitrogen fixation by legume cover crops (MSc, Uni of Adelaide, John Allwright Fellowship funding); Murray Bower, working on aquatic ecosystem impacts (PhD, James Cook Uni); and Iain Goodrick, working on soil carbon cycling (MSc, James Cook Uni.).
1/1/2010 - 31/5/2010
The project commenced in January 2010, with a workshop in Townsville in which the conceptual basis of the project activities was discussed. Potential indicators have been identified and research activities planned. Field work in PNG commenced in May 2010, when most Australian project staff travelled to PNG. Most of the project work will be carried out in West New Britain (WNB) and Oro Provinces. During the initial field work, staff from the PNG Oil Palm Research Association (OPRA), National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) helped develop new methods of sampling plants and soil for carbon balance, nutrient cycling and nitrogen fixation. Through involvement in project meetings, approximately 20 plantation company staff, 35 OPIC officers and 10 smallholder growers became more aware of environmental issues and the project objectives. In addition, through OPRA/OPIC field days, more than 570 smallholder growers became more aware of environmental sustainability issues, together with productivity and social issues.

The project inception meeting was held at CIC, Goroka on 24 February 2010, where the work plan for Year One of the project was presented, discussed and accepted.
Following the project inception meeting the research team visited several potential field sites and chose the following core field sites for the research:
1. Asaro area (high accessibility site). Mateyufa Village where one project member from NARI has been involved in soil nutrition studies for some time. High level of livelihood diversification and some famers leaving coffee. Nahoma and Kenenba are two villages near Mateyufa which have been receiving CIC PRAP extension. They will be part of the Asaro investigation.
2. Bena area (relatively accessible site). Fumali and Kokiniga villages/hamlets. Have a very good service provider who appears to be having some success in raising productivity amongst his farmer group.
3. Marawaka site (remote site). There are several villages in close proximity and it is likely that sample households will be drawn from at least three of the following villages: Garipmei, Marawaka Station, Kwasilo, Marawaka Village, Managiri, Jomuru and Wauko. Farmers in this area practice a complex nutrient management system with pig husbandry an important component of the farming system.
4. Baira Village (remote site). Monpi Sustainable Services are working with growers in this area and have obtained coffee certification for groups of farmers. Coffee farmers have two types of coffee gardens - high altitude gardens in forested areas and lower altitude and more productive coffee gardens in Imperata dominated vegetation. There are very few pigs in Baira, but large numbers of goats thereby providing important contrasts with the Marawaka farming system.
On a second field trip in the last two weeks of May, the project team designed and field tested the survey instrument for the 100 household survey in each of the core field sites. The questionnaire incorporates sections on household livelihood strategies, an assessment of farmer technical knowledge of coffee and NRM practices of farm families.
The first round of surveys is to be carried out in June.

The project has three broad objectives:
Identify the main socio-economic factors affecting the productivity of smallholders, including how they interact with nutrient management strategies and the uptake of extension and new technologies to design better targeted intervention strategies to strengthen smallholder livelihoods.
Document the current status of soil fertility and the pathways of nutrient movement into, through, and out of smallholder coffee and food gardens to identify points of vulnerability to nutrient loss and points of intervention to maximise nutrient retention or accumulation.
Design and test farmer-driven extension initiatives for mobilising labour and improving nutrient acquisition, retention and use in coffee and food gardens to improve the uptake of technologies and extension strategies.
Four core field sites have been selected for the study:
1. Asaro area, Daulo District (high accessibility site). From 26 September to 10 October, 2010, a socio-economic survey of 103 households and 103 coffee gardens was conducted in Kenemba and Nahoma villages. The villages have relatively high levels of livelihood diversification with many farmers engaged in vegetable production (carrots, broccoli, cabbage, bulb onion and potato) for the Goroka, Lae and Madang markets. At the time of fieldwork vegetable production was severely affected by an extended drought. The primary coffee gardens were inspected for coffee health, shade and ground cover condition, and a selection of coffee trees were measured for height and trunk diameter. Coffee garden boundaries were recorded.
From 9th to 23rd May, a more intensive survey was conducted. A subset of the above households (24) was selected and all coffee gardens (42) located and boundaries recorded. Farmers were interviewed about daily activities over a period of 10 days. Where such activities involved gardens; a further set of questions relating to nutrient management were invoked. A smaller subset of these gardens (26) was chosen for soil, leaf and berry sampling from all coffee gardens. Samples are being processed for analysis.
2. Bena area, Bena District (relatively accessible site). The original field sites of Fumali and Kokiniga village/hamlet were not able to be visited because of an outbreak of tribal war in the area. The research was moved to the new site of Sogomi Village. Sogomi consists of five large hamlets and several smaller ones, and the area is renowned for its pineapples and many farmers also produce vegetables for the Goroka, Lae and Madang markets. From 15-27 November, 2010, a socio-economic survey of 91 households and 91 coffee gardens was conducted in the hamlets of Kayufa, Sapanaga, Gelehi, Kopona and Meiyawe. Like the Asaro site, Bena was badly affected by a prolonged drought and people were dependent on store foods and their distant 'bush' gardens near the rain forest (their village gardens were severely drought affected). The primary coffee gardens were inspected for coffee health, shade and ground cover condition, and a selection of coffee trees were measured for height and trunk diameter. Coffee garden boundaries were recorded.
Tribal fighting is a major problem in Bena District, but Sogomi Village has a reputation as a model community that promotes peace amongst the Bena tribes.
3. Marawaka area, Obura-Wonenara District (remote site). From 10-25 August, 2010, a socio-economic survey of 96 households and 96 coffee gardens was conducted in the hamlets of Garipmei (Ward 1), Marawaka station (Ward 2), Kwasilo (Ward 3), Marawaka (Ward 4), Maningiri (Ward 4) and Jomuru (Ward 8). Families have very limited access to markets and are highly dependent on coffee for cash income. Farmers practise a complex nutrient management system, with pig husbandry an important component of the farming system. Incomes are very low relative to the Asaro and Bena farmers. The primary coffee gardens were inspected for coffee health, shade and ground cover condition, and a selection of coffee trees were measured for height and trunk diameter. Coffee garden boundaries were recorded.
4. Baira area, Obura-Wonenara District (remote site). Fieldwork at this site has been postponed twice because of accessibility problems. The airstrip was not usable because of very wet conditions, and the site is currently not accessible by walking because rivers are swollen and dangerous to cross. The first round of fieldwork already carried out at the other three sites has been deferred. Coffee farmers have two types of coffee gardens - high altitude gardens in forested areas and lower altitude and more productive coffee gardens in Imperata dominated vegetation. Some of these farmers are producing certified coffee in association with Monpi Sustainable Services.
There are few pigs in Baira, but large numbers of goats thereby providing important contrasts with the Marawaka farming system.
With the deferment of the first round of research at Baira, the second stage of research involving a 30 household subsample of the 100 household survey has been brought forward for Asaro (May 2011) and Bena (June 2011). Second round surveys include semi-structured interviews, labour allocation surveys and soil and leaf sampling of coffee gardens.
The project is also investigating the effectiveness of CIC and private sector extension strategies. Detailed surveys have been undertaken of 85 farmers from 9 farmer groups, 15 extension service providers and 14 extension officers. These data are currently being analysed.

A project initiation and planning meeting was held in Nha Trang in August 2009, where all project participants attended and discussed implementation of the project. Following the project planning meeting, the first of a planned series of annual Regional Aquafeed Forums was held at the University of NhaTrang.
Follow-up visits by Dr Brett Glencross and Dr David Smith have taken place in November 2009 and March 2010, respectively, to address any arising concerns of the project partner participants.
During the November 2009 visit Dr Glencross was joined by a leading Australian feed extrusion consultant to begin the planning process for a series of training workshops to be held in Vietnam in 2010 and 2011. This opportunity was also used to provide direct extrusion advice on processing and feed formulation to Vietnamese feed companies.
Consistent with the project objectives, protocols have been developed for a series of information gathering exercises:
- Socioeconomic surveys of marine-fish, Mudcrab and Spiny Lobster farmers to understand the real and perceived limitations to the adoption of pelleted feeds.
- Feed mill survey to characterize the feed production industry and raw material options available locally in Vietnam
- Production survey and sample collections to underpin the development of growth models for each of the project core species (Asian seabass, Cobia, Grouper - Epinephelus coioidies and E. fuscoguttatus, Mudcrab and Spiny Lobster).
The protocols have been developed by the leader of the socio-economics component of the project (Dr Elizabeth Petersen) in close consultation with each of the collaborating partner country institutes. These protocols/survey forms have then been translated from English into Vietnamese by the lead institution (Mr Dinh Van Trung).
Progress in Vietnam in implementing these surveys has been delayed due to the late signoff of the project, but began in May 2010.
Work has begun on each of the components of the project that have been earmarked activity in Australia:
- To identify barriers to feed technology uptake by aquaculture sectors
- To define the protein and energy digestibility of suite of locally available and/or key raw materials
- To explore mechanistic elements of fish nutritional modelling systems
Several fish farmers and feed manufacturers have already been canvassed regarding the issues affecting fishmeal replacement technology in Australia for the production of diets for marine species. The outcomes of this survey will be used to guide the research priorities to address the issues that are most pertinent to each sector.
Two experiments have been conducted already to evaluate the nutrient and energy digestibilities of a suite of raw materials. The acquisition of digestibility data for these ingredients was identified as being highly desirable by the feed production sector in Australia during discussions with the Project Leader. These studies have also been used to add additional data and strength to NIRS calibrations so as to be able to use NIRS to estimate protein and energy digestibility of both ingredients and feeds.
The basis for a mechanistic model, that represents actual discrete biochemical processes in fish, is in the process of being constructed. This component of the project will require a range of empirical experiments to measure critical growth parameters of barramundi . The first of these experiments is due to begin in late 2010.

The project was initiated on 1st January 2010 after a delay due to documentation issues in Indonesia. Clive Jones travelled to Indonesia and Vietnam in January and again to Indonesia in April/May to coordinate project activities and ensure all components were activated. Although progress has been slower than anticipated all components of the project have now been started and are meeting the milestone schedule.
The projects first priority in Indonesia is to assess puerulus resources in NTB, NTT, Sulsel and Aceh. A supply of lobster seed must be confirmed in areas other than Lombok, before other project activities will follow. To that end, the standardised puerulus assessment tool, the tripod collector, will be deployed in numerous locations, each site having 4 replicate tripods for robust data. These are in place in Lombok, and have now been deployed at two sites in West Timor, near Tablolong. In South Sulawesi and Sumbawa, sites are yet to be determined. Three locations at Pulau Simeulue in Aceh have been identified and deployment will occur shortly.
Project leader Clive Jones attended inception workshop for FIS/2007/124 which is linked to the lobster project. The linkage provides opportunity to extend the puerulus assessment activities to Aceh province, which would otherwise not fit to the scope of the SMAR program. Workshop provided clear understanding of the diversification project. Subsequently, that project's leader Mike Rimmer accompanied Clive Jones and Bayu Priyambodo to Simeulue Island in Aceh to establish lobster project activities there.
The first demonstration growout farm (demplot) has been established at the village of Awang in Lombok, and will be fully operational by mid June, including use of pellet feeding. This provides a test for the design and BMP to ensure readiness for other sites where puerulus availability is confirmed.
The experiment program at BBLL has been started with two lobster nursery experiments underway, the first examining density and the second assessing use of pellet food as an alternative to fresh flesh. These experiments are being co-managed by BBLL staff and UNRAM students as described above.
In Vietnam the experimental cage facility for the environmental assessment study by Institute of Oceanography has been built and trial should begin later in May. Supply of Lucky Star lobster feed has been negotiated and importation arrangements finalised.
The assessment of pond-based growout of lobsters by Nha Trang University has been identified as under budgeted, due to higher than anticipated cost of seed and pellet feed, In response the scale of experiments has been adjusted to meet budget available, and two trials will be initiated by June, the first a replicated experiment examining density and a free-range growout trial.
An information audit of lobster disease in Vietnam was completed in September 2009 and a report generated (Appendix 1). MARD organised a workshop in December 2009 to discuss the lobster disease issue and formulate a coordinated response. It was not possible at the time to have Australian ACIAR personnel attend that workshop. Nevertheless, given the coordinated approach to lobster disease from within Vietnam it was deemed unnecessary to hold a second ACIAR sponsored workshop as per this projects objective. We recommend that the lobster disease situation be monitored with a view to future ACIAR response.
In Australia the field program at Pacific Reef Fisheries has been initiated with preliminary assessment of raceway system using juveniles lobsters. The first full replicated experiment will examine shelter and will begin in late May using sub-adult lobsters.
For the scoping study for indigenous lobster aquaculture development, Jaragun Pty Ltd have been engaged, and attempts were made to leverage ACIAR funds to broaden the study. These were unsuccessful and consequently the scope of the assessment was reduced to five communities close to Cairns. Subsequent discussion of the terms of reference for the assessment indicated that proximity to Cairns and particularly to the necessary support from research personnel would be the most significant factor. It was decided therefore to focus the scoping study to Yarrabah where several potential sites for lobster growout are available. These sites are to be assessed in June. The subsequent phase for a lobster pilot growout will be a business planning exercise which is not yet funded. Additional ACIAR funds will be necessary to implement this phase, with a view to use ACIAR funds to leverage additional funds from other stakeholders including the Indigenous units within DAF and DEEWR.
A variation should be considered in the near term for this project to enable:
more effective engagement, training and capacity building in Indonesia, particularly at BBLL Lombok
expansion of the assessment of pond-based lobster production in Vietnam
progress to phase 2 of the Australian Indigenous lobster pilot growout.

The project was initiated on 1st January 2010, and this report represents progress for the first full year of operation. The project is making good progress against all objectives and all milestones are being met.
An annual project meeting was held in Lombok Indonesia on 25th of January 2011 including participation of project team members from Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia. This provided an opportunity to review the past year's progress, discuss issues and plan the activities for 2011. Much of the information reported here has been compiled by the project collaborators based on that presented at the workshop.
Attendant to the project meeting, an industry development workshop was held in Lombok on January 26, 2011 to communicate project objectives and results to industry and prospective lobster farmers. This workshop will be an annual event in Indonesia, supported by the project, with a view to its running being progressively taken on by industry. DGA were well represented at the workshop and have committed to supporting it in future.
Dr Le Lan Huong (Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam), Dr Le Anh Tuan (Nha Trang University, Vietnam), Bayu Priyambodo (BBLL, Indonesia) and Dr Clive Jones (project leader) will all attend the Ninth International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management (ICWL9) in Bergen, Norway from June 19-24. Five papers from project work have been accepted for presentation.
A project variation was approved to improve the experimental program and facilitate increased capacity building / training at Balai Budidaya Laut Lombok (BBLL), the Marine Aquaculture Development Centre in Lombok. Additional funds will enable Australian project staff to travel to Lombok more frequently and for longer duration to assist in experiments and undertake the training. The variation also supports a continuation and expansion of the Indigenous lobster project at Yarrabah in north Queensland.

The capture fisheries within Indonesian waters are among the largest in the world and represent a food and income resource for tens of millions of people. They are a highly diverse and complex set of fisheries, ranging from small artisanal activities undertaken by family groups to highly industrialised and mobile fishing fleets targeting high value products. The collapse of fisheries, which is currently a worldwide phenomenon, could have severe social, economic and environmental impacts in Indonesia. A variety of fisheries assessment and management methods that can be applied in the Indonesian context need to be investigated and trialled.
This study, which commenced in July 2008, is a collaborative research project between the Indonesian Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the University of Wollongong and CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research. The objectives of the research are to:
Develop new, innovative fisheries policy and management frameworks.
Develop new, fishery-specific stock assessment processes.
Develop improved scientific and policy frameworks for sustainable management of Red Snapper stocks within Indonesia waters.
The project has three main streams of activities: in Year 1, an assessment of fish market landings at a selection of seven fishing ports encompassing several provinces (West, Central & East Java, Lombok and Bali); in subsequent years, the detailed analyses of selected fisheries, and development of monitoring programs and of draft management objectives (with stakeholder participation); and, a review of the Red Snapper fisheries in terms of a re-assessment of existing catch data and of existing management practices.
At this stage of the project (Phase 1), the following progress has been made:
A Project Steering Committee has been established and meetings held every 6 months to review project progress and to advise on future activities.
An assessment of the seven fishing ports has been carried out involving rapid market assessments, as well as detailed interviews and the collection of existing fisheries statistics held locally. A summary of this work will be available shortly.
As a result of this new information from the sampling of fish markets, two fisheries have been chosen for more detailed assessment of catches and management opportunities during Phase 2 of the project. The selected fisheries are: the lemuru (sardine) fishery carried out in the Bali Straits (a large fishery for which there exists a good deal of useful data and a draft management plan); and, the painted lobster fisheries of Sadeng and Pacitan (a small fishery where very little information is available). A third fishery will be selected later in 2009.
Two of the planned three Red Snapper Workshops have been completed. The first Red Snapper Workshop dealt with the availability of data for he Red Fisheries within Indonesian waters. As a result of this workshop, a follow-up data analyses meeting was held. The second Red Snapper Workshop dealt with management issues. This workshop identified the complexities of the fisheries capturing Red Snapper within Indonesian waters and the need to re-assess the existing draft management plan. A third workshop is planned in late 2009.
Overall, the project has made good progress and has already produced new information about the fish catches in several fishing ports and a revised approach the data collection for selected fish stocks.

The project commenced in March 2011 with a planning meeting involving the project leader and the partners in SAC (SAARC Agriculture Centre; SAARC being the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). The first activities consisted in appointing project staff (IRRI PostDoc and the SAC project coordinator) and the selection of project trainees from across the six papating SAARC Member States.
An APSIM-ORYZA exposure workshop was held at SAC in Dhaka from the 8-10th August 2011. It involved 31 formal SAARC trainees from Bangladesh (5), Bhutan (3), India (9), Nepal (3), Pakistan (4) and Sri Lanka (7) and three trainers from CSIRO (Don Gaydon, Perry Poulton) and IRRI (Dr Balwinder Singh). The workshop was seen as very successful by the project team, receiving very positive feedback by the trainees and stakeholders from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council.
A formal project launch event preceded the workshop on the 8th August 2011. The event was chaired by the Secretary General of SAARC, Ms Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed, in the presence of about 30 dignitaries, including the HC of Australia to Bangladesh, Mr Justin Lee, alongside ACIAR and AusAID representatives. The launch received a very high profile in the media and within SAARC, this being the first project of its kind to be implemented within SAC.
Workshop participants progressed through a set of prepared APSIM exercises, interspersed with specific presentations on APSIM science component processes. Training certificates were awarded to each of the trainees at the conclusion of the workshop. During the workshop trainees were assessed by the three trainers on their potential for future APSIM training, and a final core set of 21 trainees were selected to continue training activities through the remainder of the project.
Concurrently to the workshop activities, work on compilation of datasets to be used during the training and to test APSIM-ORYZA has commenced.

The project has largely continued to progress as planned, but with a 3-4 month slippage on all milestones due to the late start. The SAARC Agriculture Centre in Dhaka continues to be very efficient at organising the workshops and in supporting the general logistics of the project.
The APSIM parameterisation training workshop was held in Dhaka on during the 20 - 24 November 2011. This was the second in a series of three farming systems research and APSIM training workshops (exposure - August 2011; parameterisation - November 2011; scenario analysis - May 2012). Like the exposure workshop in August 2011, this workshop was also seen as very successful by the project team, receiving very positive feedback by the collaborating trainees. Workshop participants progressed through a number of prepared APSIM exercises over the 5 days, interspersed with a field demonstration day at Gazipur. The main outcome of the workshop was that all collaborating trainees were able to parameterise APSIM for one of their own datasets and start simulations reflecting their farming system. In some cases, parameterisations were already enabling a close matching between observed and predicted data, with little additional data or parameterisation likely to be required. The parameterisation also enabled collaborating trainees to clearly identify data gaps and formulate activities over the coming months to fill data gaps in time for the next workshop.
Since the workshop, collaborating trainees have initiated a number of additional field measurements aimed at completing the datasets being used for modelling. Work has also continued on refining the APSIM parameterisations, in preparation for the next planned training workshop. This workshop is due to take place 28-31 June in Kandy, Sri Lanka, and will focus on conducting a series of scenario analyses, to identify options to improve water productivity of key rice-based cropping systems being investigated by the collaborating trainees.
In parallel, CSIRO and IRRI have continued to further test and refine APSIM-ORYZA utilising a number of high quality datasets generated in previous ACIAR-funded projects in India, and from elsewhere. This work has yielded papers describing the application of a new routine to estimate soil evaporation that seems to be more efficient than the ones used in most current models, including APSIM. This provides the base for scenario analysis to investigate options to improve water productivity in rice-wheat systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and to investigate the efficiency of mulching in cropping systems.
The project has also formed a number of promising linkages to several other international modelling initiatives (e.g. the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Program - AgMIP; the Global Yield Gap Analysis project) that are likely to generate significant science impacts. We anticipate that these links will also strengthen the initial capacity building impacts the project has achieved so far by forming modelling networks in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as a means of building critical mass.

The project was initiated on 1st January 2010 after a delay due to documentation issues in Indonesia. Clive Jones travelled to Indonesia and Vietnam in January and again to Indonesia in April/May to coordinate project activities and ensure all components were activated. Although progress has been slower than anticipated all components of the project have now been started and are meeting the milestone schedule.
The projects first priority in Indonesia is to assess puerulus resources in NTB, NTT, Sulsel and Aceh. A supply of lobster seed must be confirmed in areas other than Lombok, before other project activities will follow. To that end, the standardised puerulus assessment tool, the tripod collector, will be deployed in numerous locations, each site having 4 replicate tripods for robust data. These are in place in Lombok, and have now been deployed at two sites in West Timor, near Tablolong. In South Sulawesi and Sumbawa, sites are yet to be determined. Three locations at Pulau Simeulue in Aceh have been identified and deployment will occur shortly.
Project leader Clive Jones attended inception workshop for FIS/2007/124 which is linked to the lobster project. The linkage provides opportunity to extend the puerulus assessment activities to Aceh province, which would otherwise not fit to the scope of the SMAR program. Workshop provided clear understanding of the diversification project. Subsequently, that project's leader Mike Rimmer accompanied Clive Jones and Bayu Priyambodo to Simeulue Island in Aceh to establish lobster project activities there.
The first demonstration growout farm (demplot) has been established at the village of Awang in Lombok, and will be fully operational by mid June, including use of pellet feeding. This provides a test for the design and BMP to ensure readiness for other sites where puerulus availability is confirmed.
The experiment program at BBLL has been started with two lobster nursery experiments underway, the first examining density and the second assessing use of pellet food as an alternative to fresh flesh. These experiments are being co-managed by BBLL staff and UNRAM students as described above.
In Vietnam the experimental cage facility for the environmental assessment study by Institute of Oceanography has been built and trial should begin later in May. Supply of Lucky Star lobster feed has been negotiated and importation arrangements finalised.
The assessment of pond-based growout of lobsters by Nha Trang University has been identified as under budgeted, due to higher than anticipated cost of seed and pellet feed, In response the scale of experiments has been adjusted to meet budget available, and two trials will be initiated by June, the first a replicated experiment examining density and a free-range growout trial.
An information audit of lobster disease in Vietnam was completed in September 2009 and a report generated (Appendix 1). MARD organised a workshop in December 2009 to discuss the lobster disease issue and formulate a coordinated response. It was not possible at the time to have Australian ACIAR personnel attend that workshop. Nevertheless, given the coordinated approach to lobster disease from within Vietnam it was deemed unnecessary to hold a second ACIAR sponsored workshop as per this projects objective. We recommend that the lobster disease situation be monitored with a view to future ACIAR response.
In Australia the field program at Pacific Reef Fisheries has been initiated with preliminary assessment of raceway system using juveniles lobsters. The first full replicated experiment will examine shelter and will begin in late May using sub-adult lobsters.
For the scoping study for indigenous lobster aquaculture development, Jaragun Pty Ltd have been engaged, and attempts were made to leverage ACIAR funds to broaden the study. These were unsuccessful and consequently the scope of the assessment was reduced to five communities close to Cairns. Subsequent discussion of the terms of reference for the assessment indicated that proximity to Cairns and particularly to the necessary support from research personnel would be the most significant factor. It was decided therefore to focus the scoping study to Yarrabah where several potential sites for lobster growout are available. These sites are to be assessed in June. The subsequent phase for a lobster pilot growout will be a business planning exercise which is not yet funded. Additional ACIAR funds will be necessary to implement this phase, with a view to use ACIAR funds to leverage additional funds from other stakeholders including the Indigenous units within DAF and DEEWR.
A variation should be considered in the near term for this project to enable:
more effective engagement, training and capacity building in Indonesia, particularly at BBLL Lombok
expansion of the assessment of pond-based lobster production in Vietnam
progress to phase 2 of the Australian Indigenous lobster pilot growout.

The project was initiated on 1st January 2010, and this report represents progress for the first full year of operation. The project is making good progress against all objectives and all milestones are being met.
An annual project meeting was held in Lombok Indonesia on 25th of January 2011 including participation of project team members from Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia. This provided an opportunity to review the past year's progress, discuss issues and plan the activities for 2011. Much of the information reported here has been compiled by the project collaborators based on that presented at the workshop.
Attendant to the project meeting, an industry development workshop was held in Lombok on January 26, 2011 to communicate project objectives and results to industry and prospective lobster farmers. This workshop will be an annual event in Indonesia, supported by the project, with a view to its running being progressively taken on by industry. DGA were well represented at the workshop and have committed to supporting it in future.
Dr Le Lan Huong (Institute of Oceanography, Vietnam), Dr Le Anh Tuan (Nha Trang University, Vietnam), Bayu Priyambodo (BBLL, Indonesia) and Dr Clive Jones (project leader) will all attend the Ninth International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management (ICWL9) in Bergen, Norway from June 19-24. Five papers from project work have been accepted for presentation.
A project variation was approved to improve the experimental program and facilitate increased capacity building / training at Balai Budidaya Laut Lombok (BBLL), the Marine Aquaculture Development Centre in Lombok. Additional funds will enable Australian project staff to travel to Lombok more frequently and for longer duration to assist in experiments and undertake the training. The variation also supports a continuation and expansion of the Indigenous lobster project at Yarrabah in north Queensland.

The project Improving Rainfed Rice/Livestock Farming Systems in Northeast Thailand focuses on improving the reliability of rice-based farming systems in Mahasarakham Province in Northeast Thailand, one of the poorest parts of Thailand. In a region that suffers from low soil fertility, salinity and acidity, the major sources of income are rice grown under rain-fed lowland conditions and cattle rearing.
Labour constraints (a combination of a lack of labour and the associated increase cost in hiring labour) have caused a shift from transplanted rice to rice grown by direct seeding; leading to difficulties in the control of weeds and the management of the crop and soil. Grain yields in much of NE Thailand are well below their potential yields. In relation to helping improve cattle production, World Vision's ADPs (Area Development Programs) have provided support for financial systems to assist smallholders purchase beef cattle and better utilise areas that are unsuitable for rice production. However, the potential to improve incomes through increased cattle production has not been fully tapped due to failure to exploit the potential to enhance nutrition through the full utilization of improved forages, combined with a poor understanding of improved livestock management practices tailored to the poor soils that prevail in much of NE Thailand.
Through a partnership between World Vision (WV), Khon Kaen University (KKU) and strategic inputs from international scientists, this project aims to better utilise and, in some instances refine, the knowledge gained in earlier ACIAR supported projects with a focus on agricultural production in NE Thailand. The project aims to further develop the capacity of World Vision agriculturalists to work within the context of a participatory research paradigm with farmer groups. It will also provide opportunities for postgraduate students attached to the Faculty of Agriculture within KKU, to undertake the research component of their degree studies on problems in the project target area, work more closely with communities and thereby foster the development of their extension and community participatory skills. Within the context of the project, farmers will be assisted in exploring a range of options for improving rice and cattle production through existing associations and marketing cooperatives established under the ADP.
Project activities have initially centred around five sub-districts (Na Si Nuan, Mek Dam, Nong Bua, Lan Sa Ka and Pa La Ane) that comprise the Na Si Nuan World Vision Area Development Program (ADP) in Payakhamphun-Pisai District of Mahasarakham Province in Northeast Thailand.
Since commencement in March 2008, the project team has worked closely with target farmers to introduce and demonstrate new agro-technologies application and practices. It has focused on improving the reliability of the rice-based farming system and improving incomes by increasing cattle production through improvement of livestock management practices.
Given the problems associated with broadcast seeding, work has centered around establishing models on row seeding in order to demonstrate its effectiveness in terms of greater yield, weed management, and reduced seed requirement for planting. Some early trials have also been undertaken to assess the potential for second cropping with grain legumes early and late in the wet-season (before and after the main wet-season rice crop).planting as an extra source of income as well as a means of replenishing nitrogen levels in the soil. An improved blast resistant non-glutinous aromatic rice variety (RD33) developed by the Thai Rice Development is also being assessed in the project area in the 2009 wet-season.
With regard to livestock production, a number of forages were trialled in an effort to research and demonstrate the most appropriate forage grasses to be planted in north-eastern Thailand. The project is also in the early stages of comparing the fattening rates of cattle which have been feed with grown forage compared to those which graze on natural grasses.
In April 2008 a benchmark socio-economic survey was conducted in the area of the project, as a basis for measuring the future impact of the project. The survey was undertaken in the five sub-districts that are part of World Vision Foundation of Thailand's Payakhumpun Pisai Area Development Program (ADP). Although the initial focus of the RLFS Project is on four sub-districts, it was agreed that the project survey should cover the five sub-districts of the ADP, to compliment separate surveys of WVFT which generally have a more humanitarian focus. Khon Kaen University had a substantial involvement in the development of the survey questionnaire, while household interviews were primarily conducted by RLFS Project Staff and other WVFT collaborators.
Four recently-recruited World Vision project staff who are assisting with the implementation of the project and who are recent graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture in Khon Kaen University (KKU), have been supported for masters degree studies at KKU under the commemorative Jonathan Treagust fellowships being supported through the project.
As it is still in the early stages of implementation, with only one wet-season of farmer collaborative activities, it is still too early to assess the potential longer term impact of project initiatives. However, early evidence indicates that farmers are very interested in the technologies being assessed for improving rice and livestock production in the project area. The very close collaborative links that have been established among the different partners in the project can be expected to maximize the potential for longer-term impact of the project in the immediate project area, and in other parts of northeast Thailand with similar production environments.

Exceptional weather conditions in north-east Thailand during the past 12 months forced the project to make significant adjustments to its planned activities. In particular, the technologies being evaluated for direct seeding and weed management could not be assessed as thoroughly as had been intended.

The bulk of the work on improving livestock production revolved around demonstrating the production of a range of forage grasses. However, some work was also conducted on livestock health and on cattle fattening techniques, such as comparing ad libitum feeding to the conventional practice of cattle fattening. With support from Khon Kaen University and the project advisory team, the project collected data to compare cattle growth using the recommended improved technologies with that of traditional techniques.

For rice production, the project provided two varieties of seed - KDML-105 and RD33 - to enable farmers to compare the two varieties and decide on which of the two were most appropriate to their circumstances. Other activities included the growing of legumes and trials of the effects of a variety of fertilizer on yield. Demonstrations were held to show the impact on yield of incorporating Bentonite clay into sandy soil.

However, work on aligning broadcast seeds into rows to reduce weed ingress was not able to go ahead as planned due to the heavy early rains. High rainfall at beginning of the wet-season made broadcast seeding of crops impractical (usually up to 80% of the area cropped to rice is usually broadcast seeded), and prolonged transplanting (over more than 2 months in most areas) had to be adopted. Further, the high rainfall early in the season resulted in weeds being a less significant problem than in 'average' years (water-filled paddy fields and related saturated soils were unsuited to weed ingress and growth).

Studies on alternative production systems and weed management will need to continue in years with more typical rainfall conditions in order to carry out a proper evaluation of potential improvements to production and management technologies.

The target farmers for this operating year included families of sponsored children in Nasinuan ADP as well as other households expressing an interest in participating in the project. Project implementation has been expanded into 8 target villages of 4 sub-districts and is expected to continue to increase in scale during the final period.

LARF-14: Maize Variety Development for the Lao PDR
Agency: National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI)
Project Leader: Mr Singkham Nephanthala
Project Duration: 3 years commencing May 2007

LARF-15: Development of Gall Midge (GM) Resistant Lowland Rice Varieties
Agency: Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Services Office (PAF0) - Savannakhet Province
Project Leader: Dr Soulaphone Inthavong
Project Duration: 3 years commencing April 2007

LARF-16: Improvement of Frog Strains for Improving Frog Production in Laos
Agency: Living Aquatic Resources Center (LARReC)
Project Leader: Mr Bounsong Vongvichit
Project Duration: 3 years commencing March 2007

LARF-17: Study of fish diseases in fish culture in the Vientiane Capital
Agency: NAFRI - Living Aquatic Resources Center (LARReC)
Project Leader: Mr Saloumphone Changhavong
Project Duration: 2 years commencing May 2007

LARF-18: Study of the growth response of native pigs to Leucaena leaf meal supplements to basal diets of rice bran and maize
Agency: NAFRI - Livestock Research Center (LRC)
Project Leader: Mr Phonepaseuth Phengsavanh
Project Duration: 2 years commencing May 2007

LARF-19: Effects of Erythiana leaf and cassava leaf hay as supplementary feeds on the voluntary intake and growth performance of native cattle
Agency: National University of Laos (NUOL) - Faculty of Agriculture
Project Leader: Mr Viengsakoun Napasirth
Project Duration: 1 year commencing March 2007

In the medium term, it is expected that the CARF will be institutionalised within Cambodia. Other donors will be encouraged to contribute to the trust fund and/or support projects linked to trust fund projects. Proposals must contain a defined research component, and can be of one to three years in duration. The annual funding limit is US $10,000 and the grant moneys are for expenditure only within Cambodia. A selection panel comprising senior Cambodian and international experts in agricultural development has been established to evaluate the proposals. Preference is given to proposals that aim to achieve agricultural diversification and involve multi-disciplinary team approaches to a problem, especially when including socio-economic expertise, extension workers or farmer groups. Although there are no formal international collaboration arrangements embodied as in standard ACIAR projects, many do involve international collaboration and complement funding from other donors.
After discussion with May Sam-Ouen, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in April 2002, it was agreed that he nominated three Cambodians to sit on the selection panel for the Cambodian Agricultural Research Fund. These people were Mr Lord Reasmey (MAFF), Mr Thai Sun Heang (Prek Leap National School of Agriculture), Mr Chan Nareth (Royal University of Agriculture). To ensure objectivity, it has been the practice that committee members do not vote on a particular proposal if their organisation were named as a potential recipient of funding in that proposal.
Twenty-three CARF applications for the first CARF round were received by the 31 July 2002 closing date. Prior to this, information sheets, application forms and scoring sheets had been developed. Successful applications for round 1 (2002 selection round) were:
- Reduction of postharvest losses of rice grain (Meas Pyseth, CARDI, 2 years)
- Enhancement of ecologically-based rodent management (Preap Visarto, CARDI, 2 years)
- Field trial with thermostable Newcastle disease ... (Sorn San, DAHP, 2 years)
- Optimisation of tubular plastic biodigesters in integrated farming systems (San Thy, UTA, 2 years)
- Mulberry and pig production in integrated farming systems (Chiv Phiny, UTA, 2 years)
- Improvement of maize management and production through farmers participatory research (Meng Sokhon, SAPL, 2 years)
- Silage production for small-scale cattle keeping (Ny Dina, SAPL, 1 year)
- Dissemination of knowledge on species preferences and aquaculture constraints in Takeo province (Kong Svansay, RUA, 1 year)
- A preliminary study of the potential of aquaculture development in Svay Chor Cheb ... (Chhim Rumuny, RUA, 6 months)
In March 2001, prior to the start of CARF, ACIAR funded and conducted a training course in on scientific writing in English. There were 22 attendees from different R&D institutes, and several of them subsequently wrote applications for CARF funding. A second course, more specifically focussed on research proposal preparation, provided training in preparation of research applications for this Fund, as well as to other donors. Five one-day training sessions, followed by one-on-one support were provided to over 100 Cambodian scientists in June 2002. The audiences included staff of the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute; representatives of other government and non-government organizations; staff of the Prek Leap School of Agriculture; staff of the National School of Agriculture Kampong Cham and staff of the Royal College of Agriculture.
A formal training course on research problem identification and proposal writing was held for CARF project leaders and selected potential applicants in Phnom Penh from 22-29 January 2003. The course aimed to assist participants in developing and submitting proposals and in publicising the CARF scheme among Cambodian research providers. A joint combination workshop/training exercise was conducted at CARDI during the period 29-31 January 2003.

For the second funding round, the CARF Panel received 17 proposals submitted by different organizations/institutions. The project leader provided help in mentoring Cambodian scientists developing proposals through two visits to Cambodia prior to the project submission date. The following project applications were successful:

- Identification and development of heat tolerant and multiple disease resistant tomato cultivars for Cambodian farmers (Ouk Makara, CARDI, 3 years)

- Development and dissemination of high yielding and locally adapted maize for sustainable food security in Cambodia (Sakhan Sophany, CARDI, 3 years)

- Nutrient and crop residue management for sustainable double-cropping on sandy soils under rainfed lowland conditions of Cambodia (Pheav Sovuthy, CARDI, 3 years)

- Research on feed composition for small-scale aquaculture in Kampong Speu Province (Hok Sen Samphea, RUA, 2 years)

- Assessment of vegetable production potential on Prey Khmer Soil in Kamchai Mear District, Prey Veng Province (Pin Vanarro, MVU, 1 year)

- The use of cassava leaf silage as a potential protein supplement for cattle in smallholder production in Cambodia (Seng Sokerya, UTA, 2 years).

In November 2003, a symposium was held at the Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh. At this symposium, leaders of current CARF projects gave brief presentations in English on the progress and plans of their project. The symposium had the aims of:
- providing an experience for the project leaders in making a presentation on their project in English,
- raising the profile of CARF in senior Cambodian circles and
- attracting the interest of other donors.
There were 53 attendees, including an opening by the Australian Ambassador and the Secretary of State for Agriculture. Steps towards institutionalising CARF have proceeded slower than planned. There is a draft sub-decree establishing a Cambodian Agricultural Research Council in front of the assembly, but with the elections mid-year and the on-going uncertainty about government composition it has not yet been debated.
A course on introduction to experimental design and analysis, modern PC-based data handling and statistical methods was held in Phnom Penh (at CARDI) in early November 2003 by staff from the University of Western Australia and Agriculture WA. There were 23 attendees, and all were from institutions involved in CARF projects.
The third meeting of the CARF project selection committee was held in Phnom Penh on 30 March, 2004. There were 14 applications for this round and applications significantly exceeded funds available, indicating that there is healthy competition for funding. The panel decided to support the following 7 projects:
- Further investigation on the relationship between fertiliser regimes and vegetable production (Pin Vannaro, MVU, one and a half years)
- Crop Management for sustainable upland crop farming (Om Sothy, CARDI, 3 years).
- Identification of second alternative crops following rice using zero tillage (Khim Channy, World Vision Cambodia, with collaboration from CARDI, 3 years).
- Soybean and mungbean improvement for Cambodian farmers (Heang Dany, CARDI, 3 years).
- Fish and rice management system to enable agricultural diversification (Preap Visarto, CARDI, 3 years).
- Ideal Fertilizer rates for soil types in Sre Ambal, Koh Kong Province (Uch Samphan, American Friends Service Committee, with collaboration from CARDI, 2 years).
- Research and extension of Babodes altus, Trigogaster pectoralis, Barbodes gonionotus raising technology. in Kg Thom Province (Chea Mong, RUA, 1 year).
This has continued to enable involvement of a wide range partner organisations in CARF projects, including two NGOs.
The mid-term review of the CARDI-Assistance Project, of which CARF forms a part, was conducted in Phnom Penh between 14 and 25 June 2004. The review team has proposed that aspects of the remainder of the CARDI-AP project be redesigned to enhance CARDI's progress towards financial sustainability. This will be achieved through (CARF-like) projects receiving support having objectives consistent with CARDI-AP's purpose in five Focus Areas that are critical to CARDI. The first one of these will be Research Project Management (based on existing and new CARDI research projects).
A biometrician from CSIRO Plant Industry (Perth) undertook a second visit to Cambodia between 6-18 June 2004 to spend one-on-one time with leaders of all CARF projects as well as selected CARDI project leaders. In an interim report he noted that applying the principles they teach in formal group courses on a one-on-one basis to CARF project leaders own project work made the issues much more real for them and was a very valuable way to augment the formal training. In many cases the course covered areas that were far more advanced than normally discussed in the course because this was demanded by the designs being used, and types of data that are being recorded by the researchers. All CARF project leaders supported the suggestion of the possibility of a second, return visit of a statistician for one-to-one consultations on experimental design and analysis.
CARF project leader, Dr Seng Vang (Manager, Soils and Water Sciences Program), Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute received a prestigious John Dillon Memorial Fellowship to provide training in research management. He spent 6 weeks in Australia in February-March 2004 undertaking formal training in management at Mt Eliza business school, as well as mentoring in research management systems through a structured series of visits to ACIAR, CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, University of Queensland and NSW Agriculture, Tamworth.

The fourth meeting of the CARF project selection committee was held in Phnom Penh on 22 March, 2005 with the biggest pool of applications received (36), which shows that interest in Cambodian-run competitive grants is strong. Because both AusAID and ACIAR offered additional funds for the scheme all of the high quality applications were able to be funded.
Once again the applications came from a wide range of organisations and this has continued to enable involvement of a wide range of partner organisations in CARF projects, including further NGOs. A particular feature of this round was investment in a number of activities at DAALI, building on the FAO and Danida investment in integrated pest management and activities in crops areas at the Royal University, linking to a new GTZ-funded faculty development program.
Projects selected (round 4) were:
- Promotion of Dragon fruit (Red Pitaya: Hylocereus var.) cultivation experiments and sustainable propagation of planting material (Vung Setha, RUA, 3 years).
- The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Cambodian context (Chuong Solphal, RUA, 3 years).
- Experimentation on high nutrition, low cost, fish foods for domestic freshwater pond fish farming (Tauch Chenda, APHEDA, 2 years).
- Improvement of cattle nutrition by the introduction of appropriate forages in Kamchai Mear, Prey Veng Province (Pin Vannaro, MVU, 2 years).
- Study on the Infestation of Coconut Hispine Beetle and its Biological Control (Heng Chhunh Hy, DAALI, 3 years).
- Production and use of local parasites to control Diamondback moth (DBM) on cruciferous crops in Cambodia (Ing Sina, DAALI, 2 years).
- Identification of Banana cultural practices, cultivation management, prospective for production improvement and growers' income (Sakhan Sophany & Chea Sareth, CARDI, 3 years).
- Trends in Productivity and Nutrient Dynamics under Improved Soil Nutrient Management Techniques for Rice in the Rainfed Lowlands of Cambodia (Seng Vang, CARDI, 3 years).
- Improvement of Watermelon for Cambodian Farmers (Pith Khon Hel, CARDI, 3 years).
- Post-harvest losses Reduction Of rice damage due to rats and insect pests in Cambodian Environment (Preap Visarto, CARDI, 3 years).
- Improving rice grain quality by controlled drying of paddy (Som Bunna, CARDI, 2 years).
- Study of women's power in agricultural management in Kg Svay District, Kg Thom Province (student project) (Chhuon Soklang, RUA, 6 months).
- A study of the effect of fruit dropping on postharvest quality of 'Keochen' mango (student project) (Pak Sokbora, RUA, 6 months).
- The promotion of cultivation of saprophytic edible mushroom and the development of sustainable spawn supply (Cheang Hong, RUA, 2.5 years)
- Seed Production by Semi-Artificial Breeding of Snake Skin Gourami (Trichogaster pectoralis) in Svay Rieng Province (Phan Ra, RUA, 1 year).
- Technology transfer to the farming community in Kg Thom Province - breeding and nursery technologies for Babodes altus and Trigogaster petoralis (Chea Mong, RUA, 1 year).
- Banana Improvement for Cambodian Farmers (Sakhan Sophany & Chea Sareth, CARDI, 3 years).
- Extension of technique of fish nutrition utilization for small-scale aquaculture in Kg Speu province (Hok Sen Samphea, RUA, 1 year).
- Assess of improved rice production technology in Stung Trang District of Kg Cham Province (Tich Bunchhoeun, KCNSA, 3 years).
- Improvement of ground pea (groundnut) management and production through farmers participatory research (Men Sokuntheary, PLNSA, 2 years).

In mid-2005 CARDI, with support of other Cambodian R&D agencies, requested that ACIAR support re-starting the Cambodian Journal of Agriculture as a vehicle for publishing results of CARF projects and of other research carried out in Cambodia. It had last been published in 2002 after 5 issues had been produced, starting in 2000. ACIAR agreed to commit to support of publication for 3 years, and to provide training in managing the publication of a scientific journal. CSIRO publish was contracted for the latter task, and the first issue was published in early 2006 after the in-country training had been carried out.

Monitoring of active projects and one-on-one mentoring in research design and analysis of results took place through two visits to Cambodia by consultant Dr John Schiller. A meeting of project leaders and a major symposium on CARF was held in Cambodia in May 2006. It was opened by the Australian Ambassador and Secretary of State.

An external review of CARF took place in Cambodia between May 3 and 12, 2006. Reviewers were Mr Mak Soeun, Deputy Director, Department of Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (who has central policy and donor coordination roles in the agriculture ministry) and Mr Bryan Gorddard, Albany, Western Australia (former senior executive in WA Agriculture and University of WA, extensive experience in research and extension institutional policies and capacity building in SE Asia).

The review concluded that "CARF has delivered a comprehensive training program including the writing of research proposals, problem definition and biometry followed by individual support and coaching for over 100 scientists. CARF has operated with relatively low transaction costs, despite the intensive in-country support provided. The overall administration of the Trust Fund has been of a high order. Projects are chosen against rigorous criteria, and funds are disbursed and acquitted directly to project accounts from ACIAR, Canberra through mandatory six-monthly and completion reports. ACIAR has gone to some lengths to encourage applications from a wide array of Cambodian partners, with projects funded in CARDI (14 projects), four educational institutions (19), two government departments (3) and four NGOs (6). Project documentation has been voluminous and meticulous, and liaison arrangements with Cambodian institutions and scientists have attracted much favourable comment from those institutions. Projects are required to provide six-monthly progress reports and a final report. Only one project has failed to meet these requirements, due to the impacts of avian influenza on collaborating villages.

Most CARF proponents have made serious and commendable efforts to engage with communities, to articulate their proposals with the highest priority needs of farmers and their farming systems. The CARF approach appears to have enjoyed particular success in helping to build research experience and skills in institutions new to research, including several NGO projects. The CARF grants have also helped to build partnerships between scientists and institutions and have shown an important potential to catalyse interest and co-contributions from other donors. Importantly, the competitive nature and small size of the CARF grants provide opportunities for new players to demonstrate their capacity in research, and to identify research talent that may be obscured in a larger project. The importance of CARF in providing a mechanism for institutions and young research staff to access operational funds was stressed by all Cambodian participants.

The overwhelming impression of CARF is the high level of acceptance generated within the institutions of a competitive funding system for research, and the willingness of Cambodian counterparts to meet the stringent standards, comply with external guidelines, and accept the scientific criticisms to which this process has exposed them and to manage the requisite reporting, financial and acquittal processes. This new (for Cambodia) experience has clearly resulted in marked improvements in the competence and confidence of researchers of all ages and levels of experience in translating their ideas and hypotheses into fundable experiments /projects. The reviewers were impressed by the overall standard of the proposals and reporting, with several institutions delivering high quality reports and presentations.

Overall, CARF has demonstrated very clearly the benefits that can be generated through the leverage of a well-managed small grants scheme through quite small amounts of funding. However, most CARF projects will have very great difficulty in maintaining their momentum without ongoing external (donor) support. Even within CARDI, funding for research is quite limited at the margin, and the smaller institutions and NGOs are particularly disadvantaged in this respect. CARF has been attempting to build Cambodian capacity in the formulation of research programs through its training program and general mentoring of applicants. However this remains an area of general weakness, along with experimental design, statistics, basic agricultural economic analysis and marketing.

An important feature of CARF has been an expectation that it would, over time, encourage other donors to contribute to the trust fund, and potentially lead to the institutionalization of the Trust Fund under RGC administration. CARF has been managed very largely within ACIAR, which has been necessary in a low-budget, pilot project of this type. While CARF has developed a cost-effective system for management of the small-grant fund, there has been no capacity built within RGC to take over or continue the administration or funding of the scheme. Nor was this ever the purpose of CARF, but CARF has demonstrated that a competitive research funding system is practical, acceptable and effective in Cambodia. However, if it is to evolve into a national system, the CARF model would need to be further developed to incorporate the lessons from local experience and from similar programs elsewhere. It would also need to become fully institutionalised within RGC as a Cambodian, not an Australian or donor-managed program, and be managed so as to attract government, donor and private-sector funds."

The CARF review was discussed with AusAID who indicated that they were considering inclusion of a major competitive research and extension component within their new Cambodian agricultural program. However, AusAID indicated that significant design work for the program was required so that it was unlikely that a final decision on how a successor funding program fits into such a scheme would be made until late 2007 (and thus it would be unlikely that any scheme, if approved, would be able to start until mid-2008). The possibility of interim ACIAR support for CARF was raised by the Cambodian side in discussions with AusAID staff and the Ambassador during the July 2006 ACIAR Board visit to Cambodia. Following this, ACIAR agreed to fund two further rounds of CARF projects, based on applications submitted in late 2006 and late 2007.

The fifth meeting of the CARF project selection committee was held in Phnom Penh on 12 January 2007 with the biggest pool of applications received (50), which shows that interest in CARF remained very strong. 14 projects were able to be funded, and the projects all started in the March-June 2006 period.
Projects selected (round 5) were:

- Assessment of postharvest loss and its economic significance for non-rice crops in upland areas of Cambodia (Som Bunna, CARDI, 3 years)

- Assessing Nitrogen management options for rice production in the rainfed lowland systems of Cambodia (Seng Vang, CARDI 3 years)

- Reducing the risk of growing rainfed upland crops in Cambodia (Pin Tara, CARDI, 3 years)

- Assessing soil property changes under cassava production in the upland farming systems of Cambodia (Ngeth Sivutha, CARDI, 3 years)

- Enhancement of farmers' knowledge and skill in pest management on leguminous crops in Cambodian upland condition (Pol Chanthy, CARDI, 3 years)

- Minimising water use and labour inputs in dry season and early wet season rice production (Khun Leang Hak, CARDI, 3 years)

- An assessment of production potential (production and economics) of seasonal vegetable production (Ing Sina, DAALI, 3 years)

- Continued studies on the potential of improved pastures for improving the productivity of cattle raising in Prey Veng province (Pin Vannaro, MVU, 3 years)

- Occurrence of cashew pests in Cambodia and their control (Sip Pagnasoley, RUA, 3 years)

- The effect of breed difference on growth performance, carcass traits, and consumer preferences, of pigs slaughtered for Phnom Penh consumers (Vathana Sann, RUA 2 years)

- IPM of citrus in Banorn district, Battambang (student project) (Tho Kim Eang, RUA, 6 months)

- Value-adding to rice for enhancement of agro-enterprise development and poverty reduction in Cambodia (Touch Visalsok, RUA, 3 years)

- Improving seed production capacity and promotion of freshwater prawn farming in Cambodia (Chhouk Borin, RUA, 2 years)

- Small-scale hatchery and aquaculture development in Svay Reing province (Mr Khov Kuong, RUA, one and a half years)

Monitoring of active projects and one-on-one mentoring on the development of proposals continued through three visits to Cambodia by consultant Dr John Schiller. In June 2007, Drs Schiller and Anderson (CSIRO Publishing) visited Cambodia to assist with the Cambodian Journal of Agriculture. As of June 2007, three issues of the re-launched journal had been published. A course on experimental design, data management and analysis conducted by the University of Queensland was held in Cambodia in early February 2007. In Cambodia, the course was held at the Cambodia Agricultural R&D Institute headquarters for 21 attendees.

Financial support for 11 new projects was approved under the CARF-6 round of funding, for a total value of approximately US$230,000:

CARDI's released rice varieties: an assessment of their socio-economic impact and adoption (Dr El Sotheary, CARDI, 2 years)
Evaluation of crop seeding techniques and their economic impact in upland areas of Cambodia (Dr Som Bunna, CARDI, 3 years)
Reduction of losses of rice grain during storage (Dr Meas Pyseth, IRRI/ CARDI, 3 years)
Optimising rice yields by enhancing the adoption of improved soil nutrient management techniques in the rainfed lowlands (Dr Seng Vang, CARDI, 3 years)
Establishment of leucaena as a forage supplement for smallholder cattle production in Kandal province (Dr Seng Mom, RUA, 3 years)
Prolongation of the shelf-life of soya milk produced by small-scale processors by using multiple hurdle technologies (Mr Hout Chanthy, RUA, 2.5 years)
Mushroom production technology dissemination (Dr Chheang Hong, RUA, 2 years)
Reduction of postharvest losses of fresh oranges in Battambang province (Mr Bunthong Borarin, RUA, 2 years)
The production and economics of returns from short duration maize varieties in rice-based production systems (Mr Kong Samoeun, DAALI, 3 years
Improving smallholder cattle production by introducing improved forages in Kandal province (Dr Chan Bory and Mr Din Kimsrean, PLNSA, 3 years)
On-farm assessment of the potential of low cost diets for freshwater pond fish farming (Mr Thai Chheng Mao, APHEDA, 2 years)

CARF consultant, Dr John Schiller visited Cambodia in August 2007, October 2007 and June 2008. The August visit was undertaken to visit and advise Cambodian institutions, of the availability of funding support for a 6th round of CARF and to advise them of the funding guidelines. The October 2007 visit was primarily to provide opportunities for proposed CARF-6 research leaders to discuss aspects of their proposals, before submission (the closing date for the receipt of proposal submissions being 2 December 2007). The June 2008 visit was to monitor the commencement of round 6 projects and progress of active projects from rounds 4 and 5, and to provide technical assistance to groups in data analysis and preparation of papers for publication. Three additional Cambodian universities which have agriculture-related programs (Royal University of Phnom Penh, Mean Chey University (Bantay Mean Chey Province), and Battambang University) were asked to be briefed on the CARF program and on future opportunities for making submissions for CARF funded research proposals.

Three issues of the Cambodian Journal of Agriculture have been published since the commencement of ACIAR support in 2006 while a fourth, containing papers presented at a workshop held in late 2007 on upland crop production and marketing, has been finalised for printing in August 2008. Articles are also on hand for part of the fifth and final issue to be published within the terms of the current agreement on ACIAR support. There is a general consensus among Cambodian institutions that continued Australian (ACIAR and/or AusAID) support for the continued publication of the CJA, is in the interests of Cambodian agricultural research generally. It was also acknowledged by the Cambodians met with that CARDI is still the most appropriate institution to continue to take responsibility for publication of the CJA.

In mid-2007, during a visit to Canberra, Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Chan Tong Yves requested that ACIAR convene a consultation workshop to discuss future priorities for cooperation. Since it has been planned that the future ACIAR and AusAID CAVAC programs be closely linked, the two agencies and the Cambodian government agreed to use the workshop for joint priority setting for the ACIAR and CAVAC research programs (including CARF activities as well as larger projects).

The workshop, which was held on 5-6 February in Phnom Penh was opened by Australian Ambassador Margaret Adamson and Secretary of State Chan Tong Yves. There were about 90 participants, including representatives of the National Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Water Resources and Meteorology and Commerce; Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Water Resources and Meteorology; universities and agricultural colleges; non-government organizations, private sector and other donors.

However, an additionals value of the workshop was the interaction between the different Cambodian groups. The workshop focussed on establishing priorities for research cooperation in field and horticultural crop systems, including production, protection, processing and marketing and related water and soil management issues. Agreed priority areas for the 2008-2013 period are summarized elsewhere on the ACIAR website.
A major ($ 50 m) new Australian-Cambodian Agricultural Value Chain Program (CAVAC) is under development. Although there have been several delays, it is hoped that its design will be completed in September 2008. CAVAC comprises four closely-interlinked programs as follows:
1. Agribusiness Development, which plans to enhance the capacity of agribusiness to support the development of rice-based farming systems, with strengthened partnerships between various value chain participants.
2. Water Management, which plans to improve water management, thus underpinning the ability of farmers to participate in selected value chains.
3. Research & Extension. Planned outcomes are Quality, market-relevant research conducted with results effectively communicated to end-users and improved market-relevant technologies and production practices being applied by farmers.
4. Business Enabling Environment. An improved business enabling environment will facilitate the development of target value chains.
ACIAR has been closely involved in the design of the CAVAC program over the last 18 months. As part of the research and extension component design, it is planned for CARF to continue for a further 4 years, and options for its national institutionalisation to be explored during that time. It is hoped that CAVAC can formally commence before the end of 2008, with a new CARF project selection round opening at that time.

The CARF program continued under the new Cambodian Agricultural Value Chain Program funded by AusAID (CAVAC) which comprises four closely-interlinked programs as follows:
Agribusiness Development, which plans to enhance the capacity of agribusiness to support the development of rice-based farming systems, with strengthened partnerships between various value chain participants.
Water Management, which plans to improve water management, thus underpinning the ability of farmers to participate in selected value chains.
Research & Extension. Planned outcomes are Quality, market-relevant research conducted with results effectively communicated to end-users and improved market-relevant technologies and production practices being applied by farmers.
Business Enabling Environment. An improved business enabling environment will facilitate the development of target value chains.

As part of the research and extension component, it is planned for CARF to continue for a further 4 years, and options for its national institutionalization to be furether explored during that time.
A seventh round of CARF proposals was called for in March 2009, and the selection panel met in late May. Drs John Schiller and Craig Meisner provided advice and some assistance to proponents in drafting the proposals. All proposals were independently reviewed by two anonymous reviewers - generally one of whom was Cambodian and one an international specialist in the field. An expanded CARF panel, comprising agribusiness, extension and research expertise assessed the proposals. This year, there were a total of 26 proposals submitted to CARF. Each proposal was evaluated and scored by independent Cambodian and international reviewers. Scores were given based on quality and merit of each proposal in four different categories, including capacity of the Cambodian scientists and their institutions to implement the project effectively, quality of the proposed project, value for the money and finally project design.
Eleven proposals were selected for funding after modification based on reviewers and panel comments
CEDAC 205 Study on rice market chain in Takeo and Kompot provinces Mr YIM Sok Sophon 1 year
CARDI 206 Participatory Selection of Waxy maize Cultivars for Cambodian Farmers Ms SAKHAN Sophany 3 years
IDE 207 A simple tool for improved on-farm irrigation scheduling Mr SIENG Kan 2 years
CARDI 211 Enhancement of Farmers' knowledge and skill of pest management on Tomato crops in Cambodian. Dr KHAY Sathya 3 years
GDA 212 Study of seed method and seed rate for direct seeded irrigated rice Mr KONG Kea 3 years
GRET 215 Research on Pest Identification and Management on Kampot pepper ("PIM-Pepper") Identify the Harmful Insects and Diseases on Black pepper Plantation and Pest management Mr MEAS Chanty 1 year
RUA 221 Farmer's perspective in using water at Stung Chinit Irrigation Reservoir (SCIR) Mr KAN Ponhrith 1 year
CARDI 222 Increasing banana production in Cambodia through tissue culture Ms THUN Vathany 3 years
GDA 223 The Fruit Flies in Mango Management in Cambodia Mr MEAN Chetna 3.5 years
GDA 224 Research for Best management of BPH in Cambodia Mr LY Sereivuth 3 years
RUA 225 Supplement forage legume to increase pig production of small holder farmer in Takeo Province Dr SENG Mom 2 years
All applicants (successful and unsuccessful) received a letter of feedback from the CARF office (ACIAR-CAVAC), based on the discussions at the panel meeting, referees reports and budget checks. Funding for Round 7 is mainly being provided by CAVAC, with ACIAR providing additional support for ACIAR Canberra staff time in scheme management. ACIAR is additionally providing about $ 650,000 for on-going (CARF 4, 5, 6) projects. Summaries of these projects are available at the ACIAR website and will be posted to the CAVAC website once it is active. The projects are monitored in-country through regular visits of Dr John Schiller, but the Phnom Penh based CAVAC-ACIAR staff have adopted an increasing role.

A project initiation and planning meeting was held in Nha Trang in August 2009, where all project participants attended and discussed implementation of the project. Following the project planning meeting, the first of a planned series of annual Regional Aquafeed Forums was held at the University of NhaTrang.
Follow-up visits by Dr Brett Glencross and Dr David Smith have taken place in November 2009 and March 2010, respectively, to address any arising concerns of the project partner participants.
During the November 2009 visit Dr Glencross was joined by a leading Australian feed extrusion consultant to begin the planning process for a series of training workshops to be held in Vietnam in 2010 and 2011. This opportunity was also used to provide direct extrusion advice on processing and feed formulation to Vietnamese feed companies.
Consistent with the project objectives, protocols have been developed for a series of information gathering exercises:
- Socioeconomic surveys of marine-fish, Mudcrab and Spiny Lobster farmers to understand the real and perceived limitations to the adoption of pelleted feeds.
- Feed mill survey to characterize the feed production industry and raw material options available locally in Vietnam
- Production survey and sample collections to underpin the development of growth models for each of the project core species (Asian seabass, Cobia, Grouper - Epinephelus coioidies and E. fuscoguttatus, Mudcrab and Spiny Lobster).
The protocols have been developed by the leader of the socio-economics component of the project (Dr Elizabeth Petersen) in close consultation with each of the collaborating partner country institutes. These protocols/survey forms have then been translated from English into Vietnamese by the lead institution (Mr Dinh Van Trung).
Progress in Vietnam in implementing these surveys has been delayed due to the late signoff of the project, but began in May 2010.
Work has begun on each of the components of the project that have been earmarked activity in Australia:
- To identify barriers to feed technology uptake by aquaculture sectors
- To define the protein and energy digestibility of suite of locally available and/or key raw materials
- To explore mechanistic elements of fish nutritional modelling systems
Several fish farmers and feed manufacturers have already been canvassed regarding the issues affecting fishmeal replacement technology in Australia for the production of diets for marine species. The outcomes of this survey will be used to guide the research priorities to address the issues that are most pertinent to each sector.
Two experiments have been conducted already to evaluate the nutrient and energy digestibilities of a suite of raw materials. The acquisition of digestibility data for these ingredients was identified as being highly desirable by the feed production sector in Australia during discussions with the Project Leader. These studies have also been used to add additional data and strength to NIRS calibrations so as to be able to use NIRS to estimate protein and energy digestibility of both ingredients and feeds.
The basis for a mechanistic model, that represents actual discrete biochemical processes in fish, is in the process of being constructed. This component of the project will require a range of empirical experiments to measure critical growth parameters of barramundi . The first of these experiments is due to begin in late 2010.

Although the Project start date was 1 January 2008, delays in obtaining signed Project Agreements between the contractual parties meant that research activities of the project did not commence until the end of May 2008.
Village Development Trust (VDT), which was included as one of the partner organisations in the Project Proposal, did not sign the agreement and withdrew from the project.
Good progress has been made in overcoming the delayed start-up of the project and the work is on track for the delivery of the planned outcomes.
The project commencement trip to PNG was undertaken by members of the project team from the University of Melbourne, in October - November 2008, when the following activities were undertaken:
Visits to PNG partner organisations to assess their facilities, discuss the project program and budget.
Visits to selected timber processing and manufacturing companies, small landowners and portable sawmills to develop an understanding of current major issues and strategic directions of PNG forestry and timber sectors.
One day intensive workshop "Project Introduction Workshop" involving all project partners and invited industry members which was organised at the PNG Timber and Forestry Training College. The workshop introduced the project program and detailed activities, and addressed wood processing and manufacturing topics, such as product design and development, portable sawmilling, wood drying, wood preservation, furniture production, OHS and product quality. The workshop allowed its participants to openly discuss the project research program as well as brainstorm various options that should be adopted in order to maximize benefits to PNG timber industry and small communities.
The formation of the Project Steering Committee. The Committee was established at the workshop to represents the interests of all interested parties.
The visits and discussions allowed development of the recommendations on enhancement of PNG education, research and training programs and improvements in forest and wood products industry. The outcomes have been presented in the Project Report No1 "Project commencement visit to PNG and recommendations on improvements in PNG downstream processing forest and wood products industry".
The Steering Group has directed researchers to meet with the Minister of Forests and his staff with the objective of discussing vision statements and recommendations so that they are consistent with the National policy. This will take place during the next planned visit to PNG.
An important part of the project is a research study undertaken by a Master's postgraduate student at the University of Melbourne, Peter Edwin, a staff member of PNG Timber and Forestry Training Centre. The objectives of this research study are:
to develop methods for assessing the PNG timber species for various wood products and wood service conditions (e.g. indoor, outdoor) under different climatic conditions (e.g. tropics, sub-tropics, and dry climate),
to carry out the laboratory tests on PNG timber species to determine their technological characteristics,
to develop protocols for testing of PNG lesser used hardwood timbers.
So far a qualitative analysis of field data was undertaken based on questionnaires, field visits and interviews with three stakeholders namely; training institutions, wood processing industries, and community - based forest resource owners. The field visits and interviews were conducted to collect data on the utilization of forest resources, the processing and manufacturing facilities and types of wood products produced for various markets. This study was conducted in Morobe and Madang provinces in PNG. The selection of timber species for testing was based on the outcomes of the survey that indicated which timber species would be in demand from both the timber millers and the forest resource owners' views. The study will have significant values to the ACIAR project and consequently to the PNG timber industry as knowledge of the species' properties will enable the determination of their potential applications and markets.
The development of a detailed program for enhanced training, education and research to support the development of wood value-added industries is in progress. A detailed inventory and technical status of research equipment available at PNG FRI has been completed. This information will enable the determination of priorities for the equipment that needs to be repaired and renovated as well as for new equipment that needs to be purchased.
PNG partners identified wood bending as the priority value-added technology to be introduced to PNG training and subsequently to the industry production methods. A research study is being carried out by Paul Aoae of TFTC with the aim of investigating the suitability of PNG timbers for wood bending. An intensive program of tuition on the fundamental and practical aspects of wood bending will be provided to Mr Aoae by the researchers at the University of Melbourne in the coming weeks.

The project has been operational since April 2008. The initial phase of the project has been successfully completed with demonstration trials established at three Rural Training Centres (RTCs): Tabaka RTC, Western Province; Airahu RTC, Malaita Province and; St Dominic's RTC, Western Province. These initial demonstration plots will be further expanded in the first half of 2009.
Work has begun on developing curricular materials for use by the RTCs at the curriculum development unit of the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE). This work is being partially funded through the European Union and is a close collaboration with a similar project introducing smallholder timber plantings into the State School system.
Whilst the plan to establish fully-replicated scientific trials at the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education land on Guadalcanal has not gone ahead, an alternative site has been identified and SICHE students and the students from St Josephs School at Tenaru, east Honiara, are working to prepare the site which will be planted in June 2009. Further scientific trials have been established at Poitete and Ringgi Cove on Kolombangara Island in Western Province. The trial at Poitete will be managed by the trainees of the SICHE Forestry Training Institute when the programme re-commences following refurbishment in late 2009. The trial at Ringgi will be under the management of Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd and will receive normal, operational maintenance.
Thinning trials have also been established on community teak plantations in Western Province and Guadalcanal with further trials to be established on Malaita and Kolombangara. These trials have included students from SICHE, trainee extension officers from the Ministry of Forestry and local landholders as part of a larger effort to introduce thinning into the established community plantings throughout the Solomon Islands.
The timber testing programme which will provide information on the timber properties of different age classes of Solomon Islands provenance teak and compare this with Australian-grown teak from north Queensland has commenced with the delivery of the N. Qld teak to the DEEDI (formerly DPI) timber testing facility at Salisbury in Brisbane.
An addition to the original proposal has seen the involvement of the Hopevale Aboriginal Community in Queensland with the identification and clearing of a mixed species trial area which will feature Teak and African Mahogany grown as the high value species with Eucalyptus pellita (red mahogany) grown as the inter planted species. The project is working in conjunction with Mareeba Campus of the Australian Agricultural College to provide training opportunities in forestry and silviculture related activities suitable for the trainees to find employment in the local plantation forestry industry.

A project initiation and planning meeting was held in Nha Trang in August 2009, where all project participants attended and discussed implementation of the project. Following the project planning meeting, the first of a planned series of annual Regional Aquafeed Forums was held at the University of NhaTrang.
Follow-up visits by Dr Brett Glencross and Dr David Smith have taken place in November 2009 and March 2010, respectively, to address any arising concerns of the project partner participants.
During the November 2009 visit Dr Glencross was joined by a leading Australian feed extrusion consultant to begin the planning process for a series of training workshops to be held in Vietnam in 2010 and 2011. This opportunity was also used to provide direct extrusion advice on processing and feed formulation to Vietnamese feed companies.
Consistent with the project objectives, protocols have been developed for a series of information gathering exercises:
- Socioeconomic surveys of marine-fish, Mudcrab and Spiny Lobster farmers to understand the real and perceived limitations to the adoption of pelleted feeds.
- Feed mill survey to characterize the feed production industry and raw material options available locally in Vietnam
- Production survey and sample collections to underpin the development of growth models for each of the project core species (Asian seabass, Cobia, Grouper - Epinephelus coioidies and E. fuscoguttatus, Mudcrab and Spiny Lobster).
The protocols have been developed by the leader of the socio-economics component of the project (Dr Elizabeth Petersen) in close consultation with each of the collaborating partner country institutes. These protocols/survey forms have then been translated from English into Vietnamese by the lead institution (Mr Dinh Van Trung).
Progress in Vietnam in implementing these surveys has been delayed due to the late signoff of the project, but began in May 2010.
Work has begun on each of the components of the project that have been earmarked activity in Australia:
- To identify barriers to feed technology uptake by aquaculture sectors
- To define the protein and energy digestibility of suite of locally available and/or key raw materials
- To explore mechanistic elements of fish nutritional modelling systems
Several fish farmers and feed manufacturers have already been canvassed regarding the issues affecting fishmeal replacement technology in Australia for the production of diets for marine species. The outcomes of this survey will be used to guide the research priorities to address the issues that are most pertinent to each sector.
Two experiments have been conducted already to evaluate the nutrient and energy digestibilities of a suite of raw materials. The acquisition of digestibility data for these ingredients was identified as being highly desirable by the feed production sector in Australia during discussions with the Project Leader. These studies have also been used to add additional data and strength to NIRS calibrations so as to be able to use NIRS to estimate protein and energy digestibility of both ingredients and feeds.
The basis for a mechanistic model, that represents actual discrete biochemical processes in fish, is in the process of being constructed. This component of the project will require a range of empirical experiments to measure critical growth parameters of barramundi . The first of these experiments is due to begin in late 2010.