Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Biological control of Eucalypt pests overseas and in Australia

Project Leader

Dr Simon Lawson

Email

simon.lawson@deedi.qld.gov.au

Fax

07 3844 9716

Phone

07 3255 4380

Project Country

Project Coordinator Phone

0419 496 579
02 6217 0549

Project ID: 

FST/2011/028

Start Date

27/06/2011

Project Coordinator Fax

02 6217 0501

Reference Number

RW-202006-42975

Project Type

Other

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

26/06/2012

Commissioned Organisation: 

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Project Coordinator Email

bartlett@aciar.gov.au

Commissioned Organisation

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • Private Consultant, Australia
  • University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Depto. Produo Vegetal, FCA/UNESP - Campus de Botucatu, Brazil
  • Forest Research and Development Agency, Indonesia

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Mr Tony Bartlett

Collaborating Institutions

Private Consultant, Australia
University of Pretoria, South Africa
Depto. Produção Vegetal, FCA/UNESP - Campus de Botucatu, Brazil
Forest Research and Development Agency, Indonesia

Program Areas

Project Budget

$82,220.00

Grant Report Value

$90442.00

Grant Report Recipient

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4068

Grant Report Finish Date

26/06/2012

Grant Report Start Date

28/06/2011

Mariculture development in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea

Project Leader

Professor Paul Southgate

Email

paul.southgate@jcu.edu.au

Fax

(07) 3408 3535

Phone

(07) 3400 2055

Project Country

Project ID: 

FIS/2010/054

Start Date

01/05/2012

Reference Number

CH-202510-57539

Project Type

Bilateral

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

30/04/2016

Commissioned Organisation: 

James Cook University, Australia

Commissioned Organisation

James Cook University, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • National Fisheries Authority, Papua New Guinea
  • Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia
  • University of Natural Resources and Environment, Papua New Guinea
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Chris Barlow

Collaborating Institutions

National Fisheries Authority, Papua New Guinea
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia
University of Natural Resources and Environment, Papua New Guinea
Secretariat of the Pacific Community, New Caledonia

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

The recently completed NFA Nago Island marine hatchery and training facility at Kavieng, New Ireland can now support development of mariculture opportunities in PNG. The facility is also intended as a training centre for students from the National Fisheries College - located in Kavieng and affiliated with the University of Natural Resources and Environment. This project will help to address the need for capacity building at the facility by developing a strategy to strengthen institutional mariculture training in PNG. It will also identify local species with potential to support viable, sustainable mariculture industries for coastal communities.

Project Budget

$1,823,409.00

Grant Report Value

$2005750.00

Grant Report Recipient

James Cook University

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4811

Grant Report Finish Date

30/04/2016

Grant Report Start Date

03/04/2012

Development of land-based lobster production systems in Vietnam and Australia

Project Leader

Dr Clive Jones

Email

clive.jones@daff.qld.gov.au

Fax

07 4057 3813

Phone

07 4057 3782

Project Country

Project ID: 

FIS/2011/008

Start Date

25/04/2011

Reference Number

SB-200102-57268

Project Type

Other

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

24/10/2012

Commissioned Organisation: 

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Commissioned Organisation

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • Nha Trang University, Vietnam

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Chris Barlow

Collaborating Institutions

Nha Trang University, Bac Binh Area Development Program, Vietnam

Program Areas

Project Budget

$140,000.00

Grant Report Value

$154000.00

Grant Report Recipient

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4870

Grant Report Finish Date

24/10/2012

Grant Report Start Date

28/03/2011

Identifying pilot sites and research methods for soil health research in the Pacific

Project Leader

Dr Mike Smith

Email

mike.smith@daff.qld.gov.au

Fax

07 5441 2235

Phone

07 5441 2211

Project Country

Project ID: 

PC/2010/038

Start Date

19/07/2010

Reference Number

BR-200607-48978

Project Type

Other

Project Status

Concluded

Final Progress Report

Declining soil fertility and biological soil health are thought to represent a major threat to sustainable agricultural development in the Pacific, as smallholders respond to economic incentives to supply growing urban and export markets, while lacking the technologies and knowledge to underpin the sustainability of these newly intensified production systems. This situation led the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation (DEEDI) to propose to ACIAR a project (PC/2009/003) on Improving Soil Health in Support of Sustainable Development in the Pacific. The proposed project builds on an EU-funded and SPC-implemented program, Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific (DSAP). The new project focuses on testing, with farmers, best-bet strategies for increasing soil organic matter, supported by developing research-based indicators that growers and extension officers can use to assess soil health status (including key chemical, physical and biological variables), as well as extension approaches to communicate soil health concepts and methods to growers. Internal review by ACIAR recognised the merit of the proposal and approved its further development but asked for further clarification of the cropping systems and pilot sites to be targeted, the research questions to be addressed, and the methods to be used. The present small research activity (SRA), PC/2010/038, was designed to supply this information over a six-month period.
Within the broader development goal of improving the economic and environmental sustainability of intensive smallholder crop production in the Pacific Region by developing strategies for improving soil health, the purpose of this SRA was to identify the cropping systems to be targeted, the sites for participatory research work and the indicators of soil health to be monitored. Specific objectives of the SRA were to:
1. Develop a research strategy for soil health in the Pacific.
This objective was achieved through an initial planning meeting held in Suva from 27-28 July 2010. The workshop reviewed previous soil health experiences from potential project partners and focussed on developing a more comprehensive research and extension plan for the project. These plans were further strengthened through dialogue with partners during country visits to identify pilot sites. The strategy is outlined in Appendix 1 and this report explains how the proposed project both tests some aspects of the strategy and contributes to its longer-term development.
2. Identify pilot sites for participatory research.
This objective was achieved by visiting potential pilot sites and discussing with the key stakeholders the cropping systems under threat, the main concerns of producers, and the flow-on effects of declining productivity and profitability to others in the broader community. These visits to Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati from 31 October to 18 November 2010, with follow-up communications, provided baseline data on the current situation in each country, identified experimental sites and local project champions, as well as agreeing on 'best bet' options for soil health improvement to be further evaluated through participatory research.
This SRA has already contributed to the understanding of production problems in the target systems. Its main impact will be achieved, however, via the improved design of project PC/2009/003 which is expected to have positive economic, social and environmental impacts through sustainable improvements in the productivity of the export taro industries (Fiji and Samoa) and vegetable production on atolls (Kiribati), as well as the banana industry in north Queensland.
The SRA concludes that soil health issues are at the root of production problems in these cropping systems and recommends an 'action-research' approach to tackling them.

Finish Date

19/01/2011

Commissioned Organisation: 

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Commissioned Organisation

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland Horticulture Institute, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Fiji
  • Ministry of Primary Industries, Fiji
  • University of the South Pacific, Samoa
  • Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Development, Kiribati

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Richard Markham

Collaborating Institutions

Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Fiji
Ministry of Primary Industries, Fiji
University of the South Pacific, Samoa
Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Development, Kiribati

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

Smallholder production of horticultural crops is the main source of staple food throughout much of the Pacific region. Traditional cropping systems in the Pacific Islands have relied on either fallow periods between crops, or in the case of atolls the recycling of large amounts of organic material in pits or heaps, for use as a fertiliser. Population growth has changed these traditional cycles, with smallholders intensifying cropping rotations to supply both urban and export markets. The intensification of these systems has been matched by increased efforts to replenish soil nutrients and organic matter, resulting in declining soil fertility and biological soil health. In addition increased levels of soil erosion, which threatens freshwater and marine systems is also being reported. These issues are being investigated, including through the Development of Sustainable Agriculture in the Pacific initiative, implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, in consultation with governments and research and extension services of Pacific Island countries. Support for this initiative from ACIAR is being developed, by identifying appropriate cropping systems for investigation, and establishment of pilot participatory research sites to develop baseline data, identify 'best bet' options for improving soil health and the indicators most appropriate to determining overall soil health. These outcomes will be fed into other ACIAR project work, to increase the productivity of key staple crops such as taro and banana.

Project Budget

$109,951.00

Grant Report Value

$120946.00

Grant Report Recipient

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4560

Grant Report Finish Date

19/01/2011

Grant Report Start Date

21/07/2010

Development of fish passage technology to increase fisheries production on floodplains in the lower Mekong and Murray - Darling River basins

Project Leader

Dr Lee Baumgartner

Email

lee.baumgartner@industry.nsw.gov.au

Fax

02 6959 2935

Phone

02 6958 8200

Project Country

Project ID: 

FIS/2009/041

Start Date

01/10/2010

Reference Number

JM-200107-40967

Project Type

Bilateral

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

30/09/2015

Commissioned Organisation: 

Industry & Investment NSW, Australia

Commissioned Organisation

Industry & Investment NSW, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia
  • National University of Laos, Laos
  • Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre, Laos

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Chris Barlow

Collaborating Institutions

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia
National University of Laos, Laos
Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre, Laos

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

The catchments of the Murray-Darling Basin and the Mekong drain similar areas. Both systems contain unique fish communities that are important sources of biodiversity, food security and recreational opportunities. But irrigation development in both Australia and Lao PDR has led to construction of numerous water regulation devices that limit migratory fish movement, and in many areas this has led to severe declines in fish production. Previous research in Australia and Lao PDR has demonstrated that there are fish-passage technologies with the potential to aid the movement of migratory fish past low-level (less than 6-metre) barriers. Fisheries agencies in both countries are thus interested in increasing capacity to design, manage and operate fish passage facilities on new and existing low-level water control structures. This project will identify and prioritise water infrastructure that creates migration barriers to lateral fish migrations between the Mekong River, its tributaries and floodplain habitat and undertake research to determine the effectiveness of low-cost fishways for widespread application at floodplain barriers in the lower Mekong basin. The researchers will also quantify the biological, ecological and socio-economic benefits of floodplain rehabilitation using fish passage technology to increase awareness and uptake of low-cost mitigation measures.

Project Budget

$1,837,814.00

Grant Report Value

$2021595.00

Grant Report Recipient

Industry & Investment NSW

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

2700

Grant Report Finish Date

30/09/2015

Grant Report Start Date

19/08/2010

Validating and documenting a strategy for producing virus-free sweetpotato planting material in Papua New Guinea

Project Leader

Mr Michael Hughes

Email

michael.hughes@daff.qld.gov.au

Fax

0740958258

Phone

0740918700

Project Country

Project ID: 

PC/2010/026

Start Date

01/06/2010

Reference Number

BR-200705-36695

Project Type

Other

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

30/11/2010

Extension Start Date

01/12/2010

Commissioned Organisation: 

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Commissioned Organisation

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Extension Finish Date

30/11/2011

Overview Collaborators

  • National Agricultural Research Institute, Papua New Guinea
  • International Potato Center, Peru

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Richard Markham

Collaborating Institutions

National Agricultural Research Institute, Papua New Guinea
International Potato Center, Peru

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

PC/2010/026 Validating and documenting a strategy for producing virus-free sweetpotato planting material in Papua New Guinea

Pests and diseases, especially a poorly defined complex of viruses, are thought to have led to the decline in productivity of sweetpotato crops in Papua New Guinea (PNG). An earlier project set out to characterise virus problems, estimate yield losses associated with them and test the deployment of pathogen-treated (PT) planting material. But the PNG varieties proved easily damaged by the heat treatment used (in Australia) to eliminate viruses, and it was only towards the end of the project that a thermotherapy system in a new laboratory at the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in PNG yielded promising results. This small research activity (SRA) is taking the work a step further to provide a foundation for a national 'clean seed system' for sweetpotato in PNG. Its objectives are to complete the validation and documentation of the protocol for thermotherapy of viruses and to establish trials to estimate the rate of virus re-infection under farm conditions. The work will also build skills in virus thermotherapy and indexing techniques within a NARI team.

Project Budget

$99,997.00

Grant Report Value

$109997.00

Grant Report Recipient

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4872

Grant Report Finish Date

30/11/2011

Grant Report Start Date

17/06/2010

Samal Island mango growers R&D study tour to Australia

Project Leader

Mr Rowland Holmes

Email

rholmes@hortvcgroup.com.au

Fax

07 4783 3139

Phone

Mobile 0438 176 235

Project Country

Project Coordinator Phone

(02) 6217 0553

Project ID: 

HORT/2010/030

Start Date

15/06/2010

Project Coordinator Fax

(02) 6217 0501

Reference Number

BR-202805-34188

Project Type

Other

Project Status

Concluded

Final Progress Report

This is a Final Trip Report for a Short Research Activity (SRA) involving a study tour for mango growers from Samal Island in the Philippines who visited Queensland to study the Queensland mango industry from 5 to 18 November 2010.
The Study Tour used the "Walking the Chain" approach, where participants went through the mango supply chain from markets back to the fields. This started from the exports markets in Singapore to see what quality of fruits end up in these markets, then proceeded to the domestic markets in Brisbane to learn from key stakeholders the processes involved in fruit handling from growers to consumers in both domestic and export markets
Visits were also made to key processing and fruit handling outlets within the metropolitan area of the Brisbane market and to some key supermarkets to learn first hand the handling and retailing of mango fruits.
The tour then proceeded to some mango farms in the key production regions of north Queensland that account for more than half of the Australian mango production. In these farms, participants interacted with growers and learnt first hand from them what it takes to grow mangoes, how the commodity is harvested, processed in the shed, and packaged for the various markets.
Visit were also made to key research stations of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) where research experts at the stations working on various aspects of mango improvements, presented their research processes and some of the key research findings in recent years.
The study tour ended with the participants having a concluding briefing session during which they reflected on all the learnings from the tour and agreed on a re-entry plan of action to put into practice some of the key things they had learnt from the tour.

http://aciar.gov.au/publication/FR2011-25

Finish Date

30/06/2011

Commissioned Organisation: 

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Project Coordinator Email

baxter@aciar.gov.au

Commissioned Organisation

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • Davao del Norte Provincial Agricultural Office, Philippines

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Mr Les Baxter

Collaborating Institutions

Davao del Norte Provincial Agricultural Office, Philippines

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

HORT/2010/030 Samal Island R&D Mango Study Tour 2010

Samal Island near Mindanao in the Philippines has a developing mango industry that is currently part of the ACIAR Fruit Value Chains Program. The island is being developed as a mango value chain model for use in HORT/2007/067- Component 4 and as a 'best practice' demonstration and vehicle for technology dissemination to other mango growers and groups in the southern Philippines. The growers have formed into an association - the Samal Island Mango Growers Association (SIMAGA) - that is taking a cooperative approach to production, marketing and research. They have obtained land and resources for a research centre and are looking to develop co-operative facilities for the disinfestation and marketing of mangoes. Growers, industry leaders and R&E staff are rapidly taking up the technologies emerging from the ACIAR research. This small project will support a tour for Samal mango growers to visit Queensland to study technologies used by Australian growers. They will learn about best practices in Australian operations, observe and learn from cooperative approaches to production and marketing, observe Australian harvesting practices, study mango nursery propagation, and develop skills and expertise to equip them as a resource for other growers groups.

Project Budget

$60,000.00

Grant Report Value

$66000.00

Grant Report Recipient

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4807

Grant Report Finish Date

30/06/2011

Grant Report Start Date

11/06/2010

Integrated crop management practices to enhance value chain outcomes for the mango industry in Pakistan and Australia - ASLP Phase 2

Project Leader

Dr Chrys Akem

Email

Chrys.Akem@daff.qld.gov.au

Fax

0747205198

Phone

0747205106

Project Country

Project Coordinator Phone

(02) 6217 0553

Project ID: 

HORT/2010/006

Start Date

01/12/2010

Project Coordinator Fax

(02) 6217 0501

Reference Number

BR-202101-27550

Project Type

Bilateral

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

30/11/2014

Commissioned Organisation: 

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia

Project Coordinator Email

baxter@aciar.gov.au

Commissioned Organisation

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • National Agriculture Research Centre, Pakistan
  • National Integrated Pest Management Programme, Pakistan
  • Sindh Agricultural University, Pakistan
  • Punjab Fruit and Vegetable Development Project, Pakistan
  • Sindh Horticulture Research Institute, Mirpurkhas, Pakistan

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Mr Les Baxter

Collaborating Institutions

National Agriculture Research Centre, Pakistan
National Integrated Pest Management Programme, Pakistan
Sindh Agricultural University, Pakistan
Punjab Fruit and Vegetable Development Project, Pakistan
Sindh Horticulture Research Institute, Mirpurkhas, Pakistan

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

The horticulture sector in Pakistan is significant both domestically and for export production. The mango and citrus industries in Pakistan are the country's most important horticultural tree crops, with Pakistan a significant global producer and increasingly, exporter. Despite considerable plantings, however, productivity levels are low, and post-harvest losses are estimated at 40 per cent. Key issues impacting on yield and quality include inadequate irrigation and drainage, poor canopy management and the incidence of major pests and disease. In both Pakistan and Australia, significant scope exists for the further development of the mango industries, and considerable opportunity exists to target enhanced benefits to Pakistan's poor and marginalised.

HORT/2010/006 builds on the knowledge obtained from two previous ACIAR projects in Pakistan, which focused on the potential markets, supply chains and post-harvest quality of mangoes, and the development of disease free nurseries through integrated orchard and disease management approaches. The objectives of HORT/2010/006 include the establishment and spread of 'clean' mango nurseries, the development of improved orchard management practices and the facilitation of capacity building capabilities in the industry to improve value chain benefit flows. In economic terms, this project is estimated to increase gross revenue of US$1.8m per annum at a farm level. For Australia, benefits will primarily be realised through a reduction of yield losses due to postharvest disease, currently estimated at $14m annually.

Project Budget

$1,301,467.00

Grant Report Value

$1431614.00

Grant Report Recipient

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4807

Grant Report Finish Date

30/11/2014

Grant Report Start Date

23/11/2010

Mango value chain improvement

Project Leader

Associate Professor Ray Collins

Email

ray.collins@uq.edu.au

Fax

(07) 5460 1324

Phone

(07) 5460 1328

Project Country

Project Coordinator Phone

(02) 6217 0553

Project ID: 

HORT/2010/001

Start Date

01/12/2010

Project Coordinator Fax

(02) 6217 0501

Reference Number

BR-202001-53723

Project Type

Bilateral

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

30/11/2014

Commissioned Organisation: 

University of Queensland, Australia

Project Coordinator Email

baxter@aciar.gov.au

Commissioned Organisation

University of Queensland, School of Natural and Rural Systems Management, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia
  • WA Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia
  • University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board, Pakistan

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Mr Les Baxter

Collaborating Institutions

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia
WA Department of Agriculture and Food, Australia
University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board, Pakistan

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

Mangoes are one of Pakistan's most important fruit crops, constituting 4 per cent of the world's annual production. Until 2008, however, Pakistan received the lowest average price per kilogram of any major mango exporting country in the world, largely due to the poor quality of its fruit, inadequate postharvest technologies and ineffective marketing practices. Despite this, Pakistan mango varieties have great potential to satisfy consumers, boasting sweet, smooth flesh and thin skin. Significant scope therefore exists for the further development of the mango industry.

Building on a number of ACIAR mango projects in Pakistan, the primary aim of HORT/2010/001 is to continue to develop and improve domestic and export value chains, focusing on delivering better quality fruit to consumers, developing and improving markets, and demonstrating value chain principles through capacity building. Domestically, growth in export markets will relieve oversupply pressures on local markets, and add pressure on smallholders to increase the quality of their yield. From an R&D perspective, this project also offers opportunities to build capacity in both biophysical and social sciences within Pakistan universities and government agencies.

Project Budget

$1,953,560.00

Grant Report Value

$2148916.00

Grant Report Recipient

University of Queensland

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4343

Grant Report Finish Date

30/11/2014

Grant Report Start Date

06/12/2010

Improved investigation, diagnosis and technical support for the control of respiratory diseases of pigs in the Philippines and Australia

Project Leader

Dr Patrick Blackall

Email

pat.blackall@deedi.qld.gov.au

Fax

07 3362 9530

Phone

07 3362 9498

Project Country

Project ID: 

AH/2009/022

Start Date

01/07/2010

Reference Number

FM-202201-50086

Project Type

Bilateral

Project Status

Active

Finish Date

30/06/2013

Commissioned Organisation: 

University of Queensland, Australia

Commissioned Organisation

University of Queensland, Australia

Overview Collaborators

  • University of Queensland, Australia
  • Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippines
  • Department of Agriculture, Philippines
  • Bureau of Animal Industry, Philippines

ACIAR Research Program Manager

Dr Doug Gray

Progress Reports (Year 1, 2, 3 etc)

Year 1

Progress on this project has continued to address the problems caused by respiratory diseases of pigs, a major cause of economic losses to the pig industries of both the Philippines and Australia.
Over the period covered by this report, there have been activities that have involved the selected front-line Philippine diagnostic laboratory (the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory RADDL, San Fernando in Pampanga province), the field disease investigation staff in two Philippine provinces (Pampanga and Bulacan), the Philippine central reference laboratory (Philippine Animal Health Center), the regional University providing novel diagnostic technologies (Central Luzon State University) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (the group providing epidemiological expertise) with these activities being co-ordinated by the Philippines Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). These Philippine based activities have been both supported and extended by the initiation of a detailed research program at the EcoSciences Precinct (Brisbane) that houses the laboratory shared by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) of the University of Queensland. Additional key expertise has been provided by staff from the Veterinary School at the Gatton Campus of University of Queensland (specifically in the areas of clinical medicine, epidemiology and virology).
Considerable activity and progress has been achieved in terms of setting up enhanced disease investigation procedures in the Philippines. These activities have involved strong collaborative links with the field staff from the Bulacan and Pampanga Provincial Veterinary Offices and the Australian team. New protocols for farm-based investigations, post mortems and lung scoring at slaughter have been established and training actively pursued (both in the Philippines and in Australia). The Philippines team has visited 17 farms (eight in Pampanga and nine in Bulacan) and 18 visits to slaughterhouses (eight in Pampanga and 10 in Bulacan). Training has also been extended to meat inspectors in the Pampanga area. Initial laboratory activities in the RADDL have also commenced with samples collected during the slaughterhouse visits being examined (three sites in Pampanga and four sites in Bulacan).
The important communication aspects of the project have also been a centre of activity in this period. A Project Advisory Committee has been formed and has already met. The Committee was formed after a stakeholder analysis had been completed. The Philippines team has been actively making stakeholders aware of the project - presentations have been made to the National Advisory Committee on Animal Disease Control and Emergencies and the annual consultation meeting of the Swine Prodcution Performance Project (a PCARRD project). As well, articles on the project have appeared in the PCARRD MONITOR newsletter as well as the PROPORK SWINE newsletter (an industry based newsletter). As well, fact sheets and brochures about the Project are currently being developed for dissemination to the commercial and backyard farms in the pilot areas. These materials will be produced in the English and Filipino languages. Other materials for the industry will be developed alongside the Project communication plan.

Collaborating Institutions

University of Queensland, Australia
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippines
Department of Agriculture, Philippines
Bureau of Animal Industry, Philippines

Program Areas

Overview Objectives

Pork is an important meat in the Philippines, with an estimated 98 million Filipinos relying on the meat as their main source of dietary protein. Around 60% of all meat consumed and produced in the country is pork. In Australia the pig industry has an annual production value of $1.24 billion, with around 17% of total production exported.
A major constraint common to pig industries in both countries is respiratory disease. In the Philippines an estimated 50% of all pig mortalities are caused by respiratory disease, while in Australia estimates provided to Australian Pork Limited are that these diseases cost between $30 to $100 per sow annually.
Although the underlying disease agents differ, the scientific skills and technologies to diagnose, control and protect pigs are the same. A recent outbreak in Luzon in the Philippines of a pathogenic strain of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus prompted the Philippines Government to request collaboration from Australia on field investigations and laboratory diagnosis to support ongoing control programs.
The scale and structure of the pork industry differs significantly between the two countries. In the Philippines the industry is highly diverse, dominated by smallholder farmers relying on pork for income and food security. The industry is also an interdependent commercial mix of breeding companies and those smallholders who grow or fatten pigs. Exports of pork have only recently commenced. Australias industry is large scale with a peak body (Australian Pork Limited) and a relatively high herd health status. Australian producers export around 17% of total production, with an estimated value of around $130 million.
The potential incursion of PRRS and disease outbreaks is a cause of concern for Australian pork producers and industry bodies. This project is working to identify technical gaps in field outbreaks and surveillance, develop cost-effective laboratory tests for bacterial and viral agents for respiratory diseases, implement systems in both countries and develop mechanisms to communicate the results throughout the Philippines industry. The result will be a strengthened industry in both countries, through effective surveillance and controls against respiratory diseases.

Project Budget

$1,330,861.00

Grant Report Value

$1463947.00

Grant Report Recipient

University of Queensland

Grant Report Recipient Post Code

4105

Grant Report Finish Date

30/06/2013

Grant Report Start Date

29/07/2010