James Cook University

PARDI commenced in February 2010 and is currently on-track against project milestones.
To date, nine rapid supply chain reviews covering taro, cassava, breadfruit, coconut, pearls, sea cucumber, canarium nut, value added fisheries, and high value timber have been undertaken. A further ten partial reviews have been completed for virgin coconut oil (VCO), sweet potato, vegetables, yam, cocoa, coffee, vanilla, ginger, teak and mahogany.
To ensure integration of consumer and market demands impacting on these chains, we have also undertaken Fiji municipal markets and consumer household surveys, taro consumer preference studies in the Sydney and Auckland markets, and a Vanuatu tourist consumer study on cocoa and canarium nut products.
A further four chains will be assessed over the next few months including; sea cucumber industries (Fiji and Tonga), Mahogany (Fiji), Tamarind (Vanuatu) and participatory based reviews (Vanuatu).
As a consequence of these reviews, an initial four PARDI-funded research projects were commenced in late 2010 and early 2011. Collectively, PARDI now has project-based activities across all target Pacific countries (Fiji [3], Samoa [1], Tonga [3], Solomon Islands [1], Vanuatu [1] and Kiribati [1]). Project details below:
PRA 2010.01 - This James Cook University (JCU) led project is working to increase cultured pearl production capacity and improve quality in the Fiji and Tongan cultured pearl industries.
PRA 2010.02- This University of the South Pacific (USP) led project aims to evaluate and develop new value adding products and technologies for Tilapia and Caulerpa (seaweed spp.) for commercial application in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
PRA 2010.04- This Southern Cross University (SCU) led project is undertaking a scoping study associated with the development of village-based training programmes and information sources for better postharvest handling and processing of sea cucumber in Fiji, Tonga and Kiribati.
PRA 2010.03 - A joint PARDI (Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) and ACIAR funded (PNG) project recently started, that aims to develop consumer-driven value-adding strategies and process techniques to support an emerging Canarium nut industry.
Supporting this portfolio are a series of ongoing small research activities (SRA) that include; consumer acceptance of the new taro cultivars, virgin coconut oil (VCO) chain assessment, PARDI Advisory Group operations, how best to create small-holder impacts from PARDI outputs, cocoa chain business case, and strategies for assessing and transferring capabilities.
The PARDI Advisory Group is currently reviewing a further five proposal, these include:
Creating export-orientated breadfruit production in Fiji
Producing high quality taro material in support of re-building Samoan taro exports
Premium market opportunities for smallholder cocoa producers in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands
Understand the impacts of population dynamics on supply chains
Establishing a series of pilot scale participatory guarantee schemes for vegetables

Much of PARDI's supply-chain driven research projects have only recently commenced. Consequently it is pre-mature to demonstrate research outputs and impacts. Preliminary project-specific activities include:

PRA 2010.01 (Pearls): Pearl farmers and market structure research has been completed for Tonga and Fiji, a project-funded staff (Jamie Whitford) appointed, and initial farmer training commenced. A full-time Fiji-based project scientist was appointed in May 2011.
PRA 2010.02 (value-adding fisheries) Desk-top studies for Fiji, Samoa & Tonga markets, and analysis of chains in Fiji and Samoa have been completed. Work is ongoing for Tonga outer island groups.
PRA 2010.04 (Sea cucumber): Supply and value chains in Fiji and Tonga have been documented. An evaluation of export chains for processed product from Pacific into Asian markets is anticipated shortly. Tonga and Kiribati field trips are ongoing
SRA 2010.01 (Taro consumer study): Taro sensory testing has been completed in Fiji and Auckland markets and a final report completed.

PARDI has completed three training and development initiatives in the Pacific, including a pearl farmer training workshop in Tonga (Nov 2010), survey training for USP students (Dec 2010), and value chain analysis teaching workshop, Vanuatu (May 2011). Further targeted training of fisheries staff is ongoing (PRA 2010.01 and PRA 2010.04).

To ensure effective project communication we have held six coordination workshops, prepared two six-monthly newsletters, and plan to shortly post PARDI research reports on SPC's LRD website.

PARDI has participated in series meetings to establish close links with other current ACIAR and donor-funded activities in the region. Through the assistance of SPC and ACIAR, strong engagement with other ACIAR and EU-funded projects particularly in taro and cocoa are emerging; and with PHAMA in cocoa and canarium nut.
Finally, over the last 6 months the PARDI team has increased by 30 staff. There are presently 51 PARDI research staff; with the possibility of a further 19 staff dependant on the outcome of research proposals reviews.
To ensure pending commissioned projects have sufficient operational time, PARDI has requested and been granted a variation to extend the project completion date to January 2015.

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 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.

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.