People Development Program: Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators And Scientists Awards
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$261,024.34
Summary
This project addresses the need to encourage and support early career researchers and innovation, as identified in the FRDC people development strategy Objectives: 1. To award one scholarship annually
Sailing The Marine Knowledge Landscape: Enhancing The Discoverability, Accessibility, And Usability Of FRDC Investment
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$80,000.00
Summary
Currently, there are only few mechanisms in place that attempt to synthesise the vast amount of research funded by Australia’s Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) in the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors and organisations outside the RDC space. Even fewer mechanisms exist that attempt to synthesise research from across the marine science space specifically, wherein which the Fisheries RDC (FRDC) operates.
The aim of this project is to input FRDC research into the RL ....Currently, there are only few mechanisms in place that attempt to synthesise the vast amount of research funded by Australia’s Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) in the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors and organisations outside the RDC space. Even fewer mechanisms exist that attempt to synthesise research from across the marine science space specifically, wherein which the Fisheries RDC (FRDC) operates.
The aim of this project is to input FRDC research into the RLA platform, thereby making it more discoverable, accessible, and usable. The RLA service offers various knowledge tools, which intend to be explored as part of this project also, to allow the FRDC to explore and better understand the marine science and agricultural innovation landscape. Furthermore, the project aims to make the RLA platform known within the wider marine science community and across different RDCs and encourage the adoption of the new capability to link industry and research.
This project expects to yield several benefits for actors both within and outside the fishing and aquaculture community. The RLA platform acts as a link between government, business, and research sectors. Inputting FRDC research into the RLA platform encourages collaboration and innovation between actors both within and outside the marine science space and facilitates knowledge transfer between these currently disconnected actors.
Objectives: 1. To share Fisheries Research and Development Corporation research project data to be made available on the Research Link Australia platform, thereby making it more discoverable, accessible, and usable. 2. To explore different knowledge tools (i.e., Research Link Australia-generated dashboards or applications of Large Language Models) to better understand the marine science space and explore the agricultural innovation landscape. 3. To make the Research Link Australia platform known within the wider marine science community and across different Research and Development Corporations and encourage the adoption of the tool. Read moreRead less
Removal Of Microalgae And Total Nitrogen In Effluent Water From Prawn Farms Using Electrocoagulation (EC) Water Treatment Technology
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$191,642.00
Summary
The reduction of total nitrogenous output remains a significant challenge in the pond culture of prawns. The majority of total nitrogen (TN) output from the Australian prawn industry is organic nitrogen, of which microalgae assimilate a large proportion. In response to the industry’s need to remove or reduce microalgae and TN from large quantities of release water, our team proposes a project that would investigate the use of electro-coagulation (EC) technology to remove microalgae and TN from s ....The reduction of total nitrogenous output remains a significant challenge in the pond culture of prawns. The majority of total nitrogen (TN) output from the Australian prawn industry is organic nitrogen, of which microalgae assimilate a large proportion. In response to the industry’s need to remove or reduce microalgae and TN from large quantities of release water, our team proposes a project that would investigate the use of electro-coagulation (EC) technology to remove microalgae and TN from settlement pond discharge. EC is a highly effective electrochemical approach to wastewater treatment, and has been successfully used to assist in the removal of both organic and inorganic contaminants from wastewater (Moussa et al., 2017). This technology works by applying an electrical current through the water, destabilizing/neutralizing the repulsive forces that keep particles suspended, causing these particles to form larger particles that settle for easier separation from water. This method of coagulation has a significant advantage over chemical coagulation/flocculation: coagulants are formed in-situ by electrolytic oxidation of an anode, and therefore additional chemicals, metal salts or polyelectrolytes do not need to be added to the system. This results in less sludge generation as a bi-product of the filtration process (Moussa et al., 2017). NaturalShrimp has spent many years developing, patenting, and commercializing the EC technology for use specifically for aquaculture that not only helps with coagulation but also removes pathogens and ammonia. The proposed project will be undertaken by Nautilus Collaboration (primary investigators: C van Rijn and C Huynh), Natural Aquatic Solutions (technology supplier – Rep: Tom Untermeyer) and Fresh By Design (installation and maintenance – Lachlan Bassett). The proprietary EC technology developed by Natural Aquatic Solutions has the capacity to treat around 20.5 m3/hr of water. The electrical current passing between the plates removes chlorine from the saltwater as it passes between the plates. The chlorine then combines with the ammonia to form chloramine which is then removed by a carbon filter downstream from the EC. The current is manually adjusted as the ammonia changes to effectively remove the ammonia in one pass through the EC. The ammonia removed by the EC prevents it from further converting to nitrite or nitrate. This controls the level of bacteria, removes ammonia, greatly reduces nitrate output and produces an anti-oxidative water chemistry beneficial to the health of the receiving ecosystem (T Untermeyer, pers. comm.).
Objectives: 1. Assess technical feasibility of electrocoagulation unit for wastewater remediation. To achieve this objective the project will collect comprehensive data on relevant water quality and other parameters (i.e., salinity, pH, organic/inorganic particle load, microalgae composition, microalgae concentration, ammonia, chloramine, TKN, total P, TSS, turbidity, free chlorine, total chlorine, bacterial colony counts, thermotolerant coliforms, vibrio sp.) in prawn farm discharge water before and after EC treatment over the production cycle encompassed by this project. 2. Assess the economic feasibility of electrocoagulation for wastewater treatment. To achieve this the project will collect data to determine costs of the EC system including capital and installation costs, daily volume of water treated, daily power consumption, and ongoing maintenance requirements. 3. Determine any bottlenecks for application for prawn effluent treatment. To inform future consideration of subsequent particle removal treatment options that are not part of this project, particle aggregates (density/size) will be characterised over time post EC treatment, including settlement or flotation velocity, and cohesiveness under mechanical stress. Read moreRead less
Assessing The Effectiveness Of LEDs, T90 Cod-end/grid Trawl Systems And Net Modifications For Reducing Bycatch And Improving Efficiency And Selectivity Of Catches In South Australian Prawn Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$965,454.00
Summary
There are three commercial Prawn fisheries in South Australia: Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (SGPF); Gulf St Vincent Prawn Fishery (GSVPF); and West Coast Prawn Fishery (WCPF). All exclusively target the Western King Prawn (Penaeus (Melicertus) latisulcatus). The SGPF is the largest in terms of total area (22,367 km2), production (latest 10-year mean: 1,853 t p.a.), and number of licence holders / vessels (39). The WCPF is the smallest of the prawn fisheries with three licences (68 t in 2021). Ther ....There are three commercial Prawn fisheries in South Australia: Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (SGPF); Gulf St Vincent Prawn Fishery (GSVPF); and West Coast Prawn Fishery (WCPF). All exclusively target the Western King Prawn (Penaeus (Melicertus) latisulcatus). The SGPF is the largest in terms of total area (22,367 km2), production (latest 10-year mean: 1,853 t p.a.), and number of licence holders / vessels (39). The WCPF is the smallest of the prawn fisheries with three licences (68 t in 2021). There are currently 10 commercial fishing licences issued for the GSVPF with production in 2021/22 at 138.5 t. Balmain Bugs (Ibacus spp.) and Southern Calamari (Sepioteuthis australis) may be retained as byproduct in each fishery.
There is ongoing interest in maintaining a program that assesses, refines and ultimately adopts bycatch mitigation strategies. Steps taken to reduce bycatch and / or discard mortalities in South Australia include avoidance (i.e. spatial and temporal closures and reduced trawl footprint), changes to on-board handling (i.e. ‘crab bag’, sorting grid, hopper with water flow-through system), and trialling and / or use of bycatch reduction devices (i.e. Nordmøre grid, Tom's fisheye, T90 cod-end / grid design modifications) and tools (i.e. LEDs). However, the benefits of some of these bycatch mitigation strategies are not fully understood (e.g. LEDs, Tom’s fisheye) and further development is needed to achieve optimum outcomes for the resource, industry, and the environment. There is a genuine interest from industry to assess catch efficiency and selectivity of different trawl systems (e.g. quad versus double rig) and net configurations (e.g changes to cod-end and trawl body) in GSVPF and LED configurations / colours in SGPF to determine impacts on prawn catch and bycatch.
Our study aims to 1) Assess the effectiveness of LEDs in reducing bycatch, while minimizing prawn loss, in the SGPF; 2) Test the effects of trawl systems (e.g. quad vs double rig) and net configurations (e.g. changes to cod-end and trawl body) on trawl efficiency and catch selectivity in the GSVPF; and 3) Build on existing cost-benefit analysis knowledge and tools (i.e. FRDC 2011-209 , FRDC 2011-750 and FRDC 2016-213) to quantify the economic / productivity outcomes of prawn trawl modifications.
This project directly addresses South Australian Prawn Fishery’s research needs (i.e. research plans proposed by the GSVPFMAC and SGPF RSC) and will showcase the potential for further bycatch mitigation to increase fishing yield, value, and profitability while reducing bycatch. Furthermore, the outputs can be extended through the Australian Council of Prawn Fisheries (ACPF) to other Australian prawn trawl fisheries that have similar needs to mitigate and monitor bycatch. Objectives: 1. Assess the effectiveness of LEDs in reducing bycatch, while minimizing prawn loss, in the SGPF 2. Test the effects of trawl systems (e.g. quad versus double rig) and net configurations (e.g. changes to the cod-end and trawl body) on trawl efficiency and catch selectivity in the GSVPF 3. Build on existing cost-benefit analysis knowledge and tools (i.e. FRDC 2011-209 , FRDC 2011-750 and FRDC 2016-213) to quantify the economic / productivity outcomes of prawn trawl gear modifications Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101364
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,591.00
Summary
Governing Industrial Data Ecosystems: Open Innovation in a Digital Economy. This project aims to investigate how governance mechanisms incentivise multilateral data-sharing to enable open innovation in industrial data ecosystems. Based on a rigorous multi-method study at ecosystem, firm and managerial levels, a framework of generative open innovation to govern multilateral data sharing will be developed. By addressing data-sharing barriers at all levels, the framework helps create collective val ....Governing Industrial Data Ecosystems: Open Innovation in a Digital Economy. This project aims to investigate how governance mechanisms incentivise multilateral data-sharing to enable open innovation in industrial data ecosystems. Based on a rigorous multi-method study at ecosystem, firm and managerial levels, a framework of generative open innovation to govern multilateral data sharing will be developed. By addressing data-sharing barriers at all levels, the framework helps create collective value at the ecosystem level and capture a portion of that value at the firm and managerial levels. This should enable participants in industrial data ecosystems to share data confidently and unlock the full potential of open innovation for Australia’s digital economy, with estimated benefits of $315bn over the next decade. Read moreRead less
Academic Entrepreneurship in Australian Universities. ITRHs & ITTCs are a major funding sources to mentor future graduates that drive growth and innovation in today’s economy. However, changes based on evidence based research are needed to ensure that they are adapted to the task of creating entrepreneurial thinking, stimulating business creation and exploiting ideas in society. Multiple-case studies are generally regarded as more robust than single-case studies, providing the observation and an ....Academic Entrepreneurship in Australian Universities. ITRHs & ITTCs are a major funding sources to mentor future graduates that drive growth and innovation in today’s economy. However, changes based on evidence based research are needed to ensure that they are adapted to the task of creating entrepreneurial thinking, stimulating business creation and exploiting ideas in society. Multiple-case studies are generally regarded as more robust than single-case studies, providing the observation and analysis of a phenomenon in several settings. In order to satisfy the requirements of the replication strategy we analyze all funded ITRHs & ITTCs from 2012 to 2024.
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Capability And Capacity: Innovation Bursaries And Conference Sponsorship (Evoke Ag) 2023-2026
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$154,000.00
Summary
This project provides opportunities to be exposed to innovation, build and develop capability and capacity, connect with innovation networks and generate new contacts. These opportunities will demonstrate benefits of being in innovation space for new entrants from fishing and aquaculture through encourage and enabling participation. The project aims to stimulate collaboration and increase the visibility of "getting into innovation", potentially increasing ideas to feed into future investment lan ....This project provides opportunities to be exposed to innovation, build and develop capability and capacity, connect with innovation networks and generate new contacts. These opportunities will demonstrate benefits of being in innovation space for new entrants from fishing and aquaculture through encourage and enabling participation. The project aims to stimulate collaboration and increase the visibility of "getting into innovation", potentially increasing ideas to feed into future investment lanes and possibly more adoption. This includes exposing fresh minds to spark novel ideas who are unaware of opportunities and/or may experience barriers to participate.
The skills and capabilities required to intervene in complex systems need to be developed to capitalise on new systems and processes. This includes mechanisms to engage stakeholders to focus, priorities and invest in capability and capacity development locally and nationally. EvokeAg is a flagship event, focused on showcasing and stimulating innovation through connecting people with each other and to knowledge, information and
$75,000 sponsorship (includes exhibition stand and furniture, printing and 5 x 2024 tickets (2025 & 2026 details tbc) over 3 years $110,000 bursaries ($6k - conference and side event tickets, flights, accommodation, travel incidentals) - allows for 18 full bursaries over 3 years OR a mixed level of support (e.g. partial bursary, alternative innovation event) Objectives: 1. Support up to 16 people to attend EvokeAg (or similar) during the project 2. Enable global, local, connection and collaboration across innovation and emerging sectors 3. Increase FRDC's visibility of providing capability and capacity development enabling innovation Read moreRead less