SCRC: Seafood CRC Program 1 - Projects Officer
SCRC: Seafood Executive Program Bursaries, Gail Thiele,Barramundi Gardens; Mark Boulter ,SFM;Stefan Diacos,Raptis
SCRC: Visiting Expert: Dr Ben Madin and Ms Rachel Gordon, AusVet Animal Health Services
Final report
Over the last ten years the South Australia (SA) Oyster Industry has nearly doubled its output, and now contributes nearly one hundred million dollars annually to the Gross State Product (GSP). Coincident with this growth has been an increasing sense within the industry that the mortality rates of juvenile oysters during the late autumn/winter period has been increasing and has now become a significant impediment to increasing production. This increase in mortality has been labelled South Australian Mortality Syndrome (SAMS).
In September 2012 a workshop was held for producers in Port Lincoln, with the intention of describing and evaluating the mortality being experienced across the SA growing zones. The input from a large number of producers was assessed and a report of this meeting produced for the South Australian Oyster Research Council (SAORC) and distributed to the industry.
Two very clear messages emerged from the presentations given by subject experts: the importance of normal, and the availability of information. A process of identifying the gaps and possible research to help overcome the deficits were identified for the development and appraisal of any future research. These themes were:
- Better understanding of the normal oyster
- The nutritional requirements of SA Oysters
- Information management
- Information extension
Ensuring that producers are aware of these themes will help to develop understanding of the decisions that are made in funding research, and ensure the successful extension and integration of research findings into the industry.
SCRC: To build leadership capacity within the senior members of the Seafood CRC Legacy Post Harvest Research Hub, Peak Performance Development, Sydney
SCRC: RTG: To gain hands on experience to determine GSM/MIB (taint causing agents) in Barramundi, The University of Ave, Clarksville, USA
Final report
This short-term internship was undertaken at two Universities in Canada over 22 days, commencing 18 November, 2013. The first phase of the program was based at Laval University, Quebec and the second phase was based at The University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
The training at Laval University involved hands-on experience of preparation and analysing off-flavour compounds in fish-flesh. In addition, it covered the mandatory Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System course, visiting the Recirculated Aquaculture Facilities and becoming familiar with the state-of–the-art instrument for quantifying the off-flavour molecules.
Quantitative and careful analysis of taint molecules is critical to the testing of a predictive model for taint which can be used to assist the recirculated aquaculture system Barramundi farming industry in Australia.
SCRC: RTG:To learn practical skills in conducting viral disease challenge techniques in Penaeid prawn species using white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV) as a model virus to be conducted at Shrimp Biotechnology Business Unit (BIOTEC), Pathumthani, Thailand.
Final report
Due to the nature of commercial prawn farming, constraints within the industry such as disease management will always pose problems from managing endemic diseases; such as gill-associated virus in Australia, to exotic diseases including Yellow Head Virus and White Spot Syndrome Virus. The need to conduct this research outside of Australia is important due to the model virus being of ‘exotic’ nature and importing the virus is not possible. The aim of this research travel grant was to allow the researcher to learn practical skills in conducting viral disease challenge techniques in Penaeid prawn species using white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV) as a model virus to be conducted at Shrimp Biotechnology Business Unit (BIOTEC), Pathumthani, Thailand.
During his time at the unit, Dan worked with NSTDA employees to conduct routine duties such as feeding the prawns four times daily, undertaking water quality analysis and tank cleaning. He also visited a commercial shrimp farm (Litopenaeus vannamei) located in the Phetchaburi province of Thailand which allowed him to get first-hand experience of the current problems that Thailand farmers experience and learn how they overcome the problems of viral outbreaks to ensure they stay competitive in the shrimp farming industry. >
SCRC: Developing a (Sea)Food Marketing Course
A strong Australian food industry is vital to both food security and a strong economy, with the food industry currently worth over A$110 billion annually and over 15% of Australians employed throughout the food value chain. As stated in the National Food Plan ‘Growing international and domestic food markets will create substantial opportunities for competitive and productive food businesses in Australia.’ And further ‘Global food demand will shift in coming years to higher value and more protein rich foods like meat.’
For the Australian Seafood industry to remain competitive and grow, seafood industry marketers not only need to know how to market seafood but will benefit from a broader understanding of how to market food more generally and an understanding of where seafood ‘sits’ in food marketing. By addressing food more broadly and covering a wide range of food sectors (including meat, dairy, horticulture etc) seafood marketers will be able to identify strategies and tactics used by other food industries globally and in Australia that may be applied to seafood marketing. The purpose of the proposed (Sea)Food Marketing course is to build on the knowledge and expertise gained throughout the ASCRC to develop a University accredited course in Food Marketing with specialised content in seafood marketing. It is estimated that seafood specific content would be between 20 to 30 percent of the course.
The proposed course will be available in postgraduate business programs (MBA, Master of Management, Master of International Business and nested graduated certificates and graduate diplomas); as a single course for credit; and in addition a not for credit version of the course will be developed.
At undergraduate level, introductory marketing courses focus on descriptions of theory and application and it is not until advanced level marketing courses that the focus changes to look at strategy and its implementation. At postgraduate business level, given the work experience requirements of many programs, a greater focus on applying theory to real world situations at higher levels is evident. The proposed course is at postgraduate level and will have a strong focus on strategy and decision making and the allocation of resources across the elements of the marketing mix, with the ultimate aim of having students develop a strategy and an implementation plan for a food product (with the formal assessment focussing on these outcomes).
The proposed course will include a series of case studies and lessons learnt vignettes (as per the attached table) that will address two of the extension opportunities identified by Jayne Gallagher and Emily Mantilla at the Seafood Hub meeting in April. These resources will be designed so that they can be used as 'stand alone' for other purposes (eg short courses, VET training).
As part of the formal university accreditation process for a new course, a rationale including evidence of demand must be presented and is considered by committes at both Faculty and Univeristy level before a course can be approved. Hence formal university approval of the course is based on the rational and so is a Go/ NO GO point for the project. For this proposal the formal pathway is the end of September (so aligned with the first Milestone).
SCRC: Seafood Post Harvest Research Innovation Hub
The Seafood CRC has supported the development of seafood post harvest research capacity in SARDI, CESSH, QDAFF, UTas, Uni SA and USC. This capacity will be a key part of the Program 2 CRC legacy. At the end of 2012 PM2 organsied for a meeting of researchers from CESSH, SARDI and QDAFF to explore opportunities for collaboration in developing legacy projects. At that meeting it was clear that there was not enough interaction between the three centers and that they were largely unaware of each others capabilities, industry linkages and facility capacity. It was also obvious that there were opportunities for learning from each other that were not being capitalised upon. It was agreed to hold meetings every 2 months at each of the organisations and to invite other organisations to participate (UTas, USC, Uni SA). All participants would fund their own attendance costs and where possible would send 2 people.
A second meeting was held in February 2013 at QDAFF. At that meeting PM 3 attended together with Fuller Communications and work has commenced on creating a capabilities document. There was also some discussion about how best to communicate and extend research results to industry end users. The role of the CRC's SeaFOOD magazine was brought up in that context and it was agreed that the Hub would provide input to the planning of each issue and actively engage in identifying and preparing stories for it. Participants at that meeting included several researchers who were not at the first meeting. Again the participants found the meeting valuable and a third meeting is sheduled for 27/3/2013 at SARDI.
There is an opportunity to grow and expand this hub to include more researchers. This will provide opportunities for
a) better collaboration between researchers
b) improved research responses to industry needs
c) further development of the researcher capabilities
d) coordinating communication and extension of results.
There is also potential for engaging with non CRC researchers and for facilitating international collaboration and engagement. As the next bid is primarily focused on post harvest research there is a need to provide support to this group of researchers and expand the membership of the hub.
SCRC: Post Doctoral Research Scientist - University of the Sunshine Coast
The University of the Sunshine Coast has expertise in Supply Chain, Business, Marketing, Social Networks and Social Capital. This Post Doc will utilise skills in these areas to support key CRC activities. This application will enable USC to retain a valuable and skilled researcher which the CRC has invested in the development of, and through additional efforts of the Post Doc will enable other CRC participants to capitalise on this knowledge and expertise.
Prawns and Barramundi, soon to be followed by other sectors, are developing & implementing national marketing strategies which will largely rely on having effective relationships with specialist seafood retailers. A separate project (MT040) is being developed to investigate how best to engage with this channel & implement strategies in partnership with these seafood retailers.
This Post Doc will work closely with the CRC Projects Manager and apply research knowledge and skills in relation to business strategy, business models and social networks/capital to project MT040.
Specific Key Project Involvement:
MT040 Know the retailer - strategies for working with specialist seafood retailers:
Work as a Co-Investigator on this project, with specific responsibility for developing and evaluating effective methods for engaging specialist seafood retailers in industry marketing activities, and the sharing of best practice. This concept has been approved by the CRC Board, and full detail will be contained in the Full Proposal currently being developed
2011/736 National Prawn Category Marketing Strategy:
Work with the Marketing Manager (and others) on implementation process with Queensland Prawn Fishers - an area identified as the one of the most difficult to engage with
2010/777 Identification of the core leadership group and network structure of East Coast Trawl to develop, implement and evaluate strategic opportunities:
Implement recommendations coming out of this project
2008/794.20 Repositioning Australian farmed Barramundi in the domestic market:
Assist with implementation of actions coming out of this project.
Other projects identified over the next 14 months.
A current process of harvesting outputs that can be extended is being undertaken within the CRC by the Program Managers for Programs 2 and 3, as well as the Seafood Project Manager. This process will identify 2 priorities for extension via this PDRS.
A Full work plan will be developed with the Program Manager Program 2 and the Seafood Project Manager, and reviewed and updated on a quarterly basis.