Seafood Trade Advisory Group - Transitioning To A New Communications, Governance And Operating Model
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$444,000.00
Summary
The STAG has been operational since 2013 providing services to Australian abalone and rock lobster exporters to engage with government and to support in market access negotiations with unified and well researched considered input. The STAG has a track record of success based on a collaborative priority setting process and a clear focus on resolving the highest priority issues. While primarily focused on the issues faced by abalone and rock lobster exporters many of the STAG activities have be ....The STAG has been operational since 2013 providing services to Australian abalone and rock lobster exporters to engage with government and to support in market access negotiations with unified and well researched considered input. The STAG has a track record of success based on a collaborative priority setting process and a clear focus on resolving the highest priority issues. While primarily focused on the issues faced by abalone and rock lobster exporters many of the STAG activities have benefited the broader seafood exporter community eg the International Freight Assistance Mechanism, tracking and communicating impacts of the COVID pandemic on markets, facilitating an agreed priority listing for adding new species to the approved import list for China and establishing a market intelligence service has been established and weekly newsletters keep Australian seafood exporters up to date on market trends and consumer insights as well as technical market access issues.
Seafood Industry Australia has recently developed a Seafood Industry Export Plan. As part of that plan SIA is building capability and has received Australian Government funding through the ATMAC funding to deliver trade facilitation services.
There is an opportunity for the STAG to move to a new expanded business model under the auspices of SIA capitalising on the resources and capacities of both organisations. The new model will include communications, governance, operations and funding. What that looks like and how that transition should occur will be addressed through application.
While the transition plan is being developed, agreed and implemented it is important that the STAG to continue operations, providing services as agreed by the Partnership Group. The international trade environment is still extremely volatile, as it has been for the past two years. The STAG provides a valuable early warning and quick response mechanism for dealing with disruptions, a market intelligence service and international seafood trade expertise to support the Abalone and Rock Lobster sectors as they face the challenging task of regaining and maintaining China market access while pursuing market diversification strategies.
There is a need to build additional seafood specific international trade knowledge and capacity so the STAG and SIA will work together to identify opportunities to facilitate this. Objectives: 1. To develop and implement agreed arrangements to transition the STAG to a new business model (communications, governance, operations and funding) within the SIA 2. To deliver agreed trade and market access services according to the agreed Seafood Trade Agenda and Action Plan for Abalone and Rock Lobster Read moreRead less
Impacts Of COVID19 On The Australian Seafood Industry: Extending The Assessment To Prepare For Uncertain Futures
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$179,564.00
Summary
In March 2021 the FRDC published an initial rapid assessment - Impacts of COVID19 on the Australian Seafood Industry: January-June 2020 - of the direct and indirect effects of disruption to seafood production, supply chains and markets caused by the global COVID19 pandemic. That assessment covered the initial period of the shocks wrought by COVID19 and demonstrated the availability of data to support rapid assessment in such conditions.
However gaps remain to be addressed, including: < ....In March 2021 the FRDC published an initial rapid assessment - Impacts of COVID19 on the Australian Seafood Industry: January-June 2020 - of the direct and indirect effects of disruption to seafood production, supply chains and markets caused by the global COVID19 pandemic. That assessment covered the initial period of the shocks wrought by COVID19 and demonstrated the availability of data to support rapid assessment in such conditions.
However gaps remain to be addressed, including: 1. comprehensive coverage of production effects in fishing and aquaculture across all Australian jurisdictions, 2. coverage of impacts on recreational fishing activity and Indigenous commercial seafood activities; 3. assessment of emerging medium-term impacts (such as changes in Australian consumer purchasing behaviours, structural effects in labour markets and export-oriented sectors, effects of alterations in tourism patterns); and the interactions with non-CV-19 impacts (such as trade tensions affecting exports); and 4. the effectiveness of crisis responses. Furthermore, the capacity to access data to support rapid assessment in times of systemic shock needs to be consolidated. Finally, insights from rapid assessments need to be harvested to provide Australia with a framework for assessment of systemic (i.e. large-scale, multi-level) risk to the Australian seafood community.
This project addresses these needs through a follow-up Impact assessment report which is more comprehensive, given data availability. The follow up report will include case studies of crisis responses by key government and industry decision makers, and the lessons learned for preparedness for future shocks. It will develop a Guideline for rapid assessment of economic and social effects in fisheries and aquaculture, which will contribute to FRDC's capacity for rapid appraisal and assessments. The guideline will include quality assurance steps to be applied to rapid assessments. Finally, the project proposes to draw insights from this more comprehensive assessment to identify what risk factors to assess, and how, in order to prepare for systemic shocks in future. Objectives: 1. Complete assessment of impact of COVID-19 on Australia's commercial, recreational and charter fisheries and aquaculture sectors for the period July 2020 to June 2021 2. Determine what were effective responses and interventions using selected case studies to inform preparedness for future shocks 3. Document all data streams and their source (organisation, private data, public domain data) - STOP / GO MILESTONE 4. Develop guidelines for data production, governance and use when rapid situational assessments are required. 5. Develop a framework for systematic risk assessment 6. Develop 'data architecture' for a portal to access live/near-real time data to support early detection and risk assessment of large-scale shocks (architecture to include: data sources, access and permissions; display; outputs) Read moreRead less
Developing Capability And Capacity For Seafood International Trade In New And Existing Markets
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$125,000.00
Summary
The Food and Wine Collaboration project (F&W project) intends to expand trade across agriculture and fisheries sectors into emerging export markets and/or high-growth, high-potential markets. Building existing and developing new markets is a priority for the industry, not only to identify new opportunities beyond China and reduce the reliance on a single market, but also to take a more proactive approach to leverage Australia’s key bilateral relationships and trade partnerships. South Korea, Vie ....The Food and Wine Collaboration project (F&W project) intends to expand trade across agriculture and fisheries sectors into emerging export markets and/or high-growth, high-potential markets. Building existing and developing new markets is a priority for the industry, not only to identify new opportunities beyond China and reduce the reliance on a single market, but also to take a more proactive approach to leverage Australia’s key bilateral relationships and trade partnerships. South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia have significant growth potential. The new Federal government has identified market diversification as a priority area for R&D.
South Korea is one of Australia’s largest trading partners and we have had favourable trading and bilateral relationships for a long time, made stronger when the Korea Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) which came into force in 2014. Recent technical market access wins – in particular, for lobster at the end of 2021, continues to make South Korea an active market for seafood exporters. South Korea is a stable, advanced, and growing economy and while COVID-19 reduced consumption and business activity, food and beverage consumption hit record double digit, year-on-year growth during the pandemic – driven by e-commerce. Koreans are high consumers of seafood and import more than 70 per cent of their food and agriculture products, with demand for high-end, niche premium food including seafood such as (but not limited to) lobster, sea urchin and yellowtail kingfish is increasing.
Vietnam has one of the fastest growing economies and the World Bank predicts a GDP growth of more than 5.5% pa in 2022. Australian exports during the pandemic rose to $9.7 billion – an increase of 61 percent in 2021. Vietnam’s strong growth and expanding middle-class has increased demand for imported goods including premium food and beverage products such as seafood. Australia and Vietnam have strong trading relationships and have had a long alliance. It has a commitment to global economic integration and a rules based trading process with a growing amount of free trade agreements including ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
With 100 million people and a growing economy, it is expected to surpass Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines over the coming years. Vietnam is a strong relationship-based society and being in country and building personal relationships and trust are key pillars for doing business in Vietnam.
Indonesia is one of the fastest growing economies and with strong bilateral relationships supported through favourable trade agreements such as Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IACEPA and ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), this is a strong potential market for the seafood industry. According to Euromonitor Consulting (2021), Australia has a good reputation for providing premium products, however recognition of Australian seafood brands overall is relatively low and there is a need to increase awareness and exposure of our products. Establishing and building relationships across retail and food service, supported through embassy representation will help expand market presence. Also, as the market sees strong growth of modern grocery outlets, high-end supermarkets, e-commerce platforms and food service outlets; consumer demand and reach is growing including wealthy Chinese expats seeking premium ‘status’ products such as abalone and lobster. This market represents long-term trading opportunities for the industry.
Succeeding in business across any Asian market – including South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia involves developing strong business relationships, and a clear understanding of the market and the environment. The F&W project provides an opportunity for SIA and industry to develop this understanding and to build capacity and capabilities across these markets. There is also the opportunity to engage with and learn from other agriculture sectors, Australian representatives, and in-country staff to help build capable leaders in the international trade space and develop long-term beneficial trading opportunities for the industry.
Objectives: 1. Develop collaboration with agricultural sectors (wine, dairy, horticulture and red meat) to expand seafood export opportunities 2. To develop capability and capacity in seafood market research and development across the seafood sector. 3. Build key international trade connections to support market access and market diversification initiatives for the seafood industry. 4. To facilitate leadership exchange in conjunction with international seafood trade shows with the USA and UK 5. To provide capability opportunities for seafood industry peak and sector bodies that are not eligible for industry international trade bursaries Read moreRead less
Structural And Functional Analysis Of A Cancer-linked Co-regulator Complex
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,571.00
Summary
We seek to understand the mechanisms by which genes are switched on and off throughout our lifetime. A number of multi-component protein machines are involved in this process but their make-up and mechanism of action is not understood. We will investigate the structure and function of one of these machines that has been strongly linked to cancer.
Platelet Glycoprotein Proteolysis: Novel Mechanisms And Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$441,473.00
Summary
Platelets are the richest source of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the body. Platelet ADAM10 regulates both the expression and function of the major platelet collagen receptor GPVI, and protective APP processing. Coagulation protein Factor X has a role in activation of ADAM10. This activation is disrupted in blood that has been treated with direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) rivaroxaban. This grant will investigate the implications for people taking rivaroxaban on regulation of APP and GPVI.
Pathogen recognition and plant-defence activation by a novel Fusarium wilt-resistance protein from tomato. The devastating effects of Fusarium wilt disease of tomato is a threat to one of Australia's most economically important horticultural crops. Resistant tomato varieties offer the most effective means of control but the fundamental mechanisms underlying this resistance are yet to be understood. This research will increase our understanding of resistance to Fusarium wilt disease. The knowledg ....Pathogen recognition and plant-defence activation by a novel Fusarium wilt-resistance protein from tomato. The devastating effects of Fusarium wilt disease of tomato is a threat to one of Australia's most economically important horticultural crops. Resistant tomato varieties offer the most effective means of control but the fundamental mechanisms underlying this resistance are yet to be understood. This research will increase our understanding of resistance to Fusarium wilt disease. The knowledge gained will assist in the development of new robust, sustainable approaches to disease control, as well as the development of pre-emptive strategies to avert major outbreaks, which will ensure reliable productivity and minimal economic losses into the future.Read moreRead less
Translocation of secreted effector proteins from fungal pathogens into host plant cells. Every year, fungal diseases of plants cause huge losses in agricultural productivity and extensive environmental damage in Australia. Disease control in major crops, like wheat, currently relies heavily on breeding for disease resistance. However, fungal pathogens continually adapt to overcome plant defences, necessitating identification of new sources of resistance. The research in this project will eluc ....Translocation of secreted effector proteins from fungal pathogens into host plant cells. Every year, fungal diseases of plants cause huge losses in agricultural productivity and extensive environmental damage in Australia. Disease control in major crops, like wheat, currently relies heavily on breeding for disease resistance. However, fungal pathogens continually adapt to overcome plant defences, necessitating identification of new sources of resistance. The research in this project will elucidate the molecular basis of a new aspect of the establishment of plant infection by fungi, and in so doing will provide new avenues for the development of novel disease resistance strategies, with relevance in particular to devastating cereal diseases like wheat rust.Read moreRead less
Role of fungal secreted proteins as plant disease effectors. Many crop diseases are economically significant threats to agricultural productivity in Australia, with rust fungi in particular being a major problem for cereal grain production. Current methods of rust disease control are based on breeding for resistance but continued adaption by rust fungi to overcome plant defences means there is an urgent need for new methods of crop protection. This project will investigate molecular processes ....Role of fungal secreted proteins as plant disease effectors. Many crop diseases are economically significant threats to agricultural productivity in Australia, with rust fungi in particular being a major problem for cereal grain production. Current methods of rust disease control are based on breeding for resistance but continued adaption by rust fungi to overcome plant defences means there is an urgent need for new methods of crop protection. This project will investigate molecular processes underlying fungal infection of plants, focusing on mechanisms that enable fungi to take over the metabolism of infected cells. The research will provide basic knowledge for development of novel and durable disease resistance strategies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100157
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Confocal and single molecule microscopes for systems microscopy. This project aims to establish Australia’s first system microscopy facility with dedicated live-cell confocal and single-molecule fluorescence microscopes. In systems microscopy, the imaging workflow is automated so that large and unbiased data sets of the spatiotemporal organisation of molecules and cells can be generated. Combined with statistical and bioinformatics analyses, image-derived data provides system-wide information th ....Confocal and single molecule microscopes for systems microscopy. This project aims to establish Australia’s first system microscopy facility with dedicated live-cell confocal and single-molecule fluorescence microscopes. In systems microscopy, the imaging workflow is automated so that large and unbiased data sets of the spatiotemporal organisation of molecules and cells can be generated. Combined with statistical and bioinformatics analyses, image-derived data provides system-wide information that is not easily obtainable with other approaches. The project will enable Australian researchers to image and analyse the full complexity of biological systems, potentially transforming cell biology, drug development and understanding the molecular basis of disease. It will also demonstrate how the capacity of microscopy facilities can be enhanced and bias in imaging data reduced by automating data acquisition and mining of image-based data.Read moreRead less