National Hatchery Network – Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance Program Leadership and Coordination
This project provides the resources for ASSA to lead the NHN Program to help grow the Australian seaweed industry over the next 2 years (until 31 March 2025) which is the stipulated grant duration.
The FRDC project will provide the funding for ASSA to engage key program and technical capability to manage and deliver the activities required to conduct the following key activities:
- Finalise assessment of research partners and inform development of contracts between FRDC and research partners
- establish people and technical R&D capability relating to seaweed, especially Asparagopsis
- conduct due diligence and develop agreements with intellectual property holders of existing Asparagopsis hatchery techniques
- further develop hatchery and breeding techniques and technology
- production of hatchery protocols and manuals
- training and knowledge sharing activities
- undertake necessary governance, finance, HR, communications and stakeholder engagement activities associated with the national hatchery network
Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance strategic management and delivery of the Australian Government grant 'Developing Australia's seaweed farming'- RDE Coordination and Extension- Policy Reform Working Group- ASSA Program Governance, Reporting, Communications and Stakeholders Engagement
This project provides the resources for ASSA to undertake key, critical path activities to help grow the Australian seaweed industry over the next 2 years (until 31 March 2025), which is the stipulated grant duration. The project will provide the funding for ASSA to engage key personnel to manage and deliver the activities required in three core areas:
- Governance, Reporting, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
- Seaweed Policy Reform, including coordination and participation in a Working Group
- R&D Coordination and Optimisation, including maintaining a programmatic view of the R&D landscape, identifying and optimising extension opportunities and working with industry stakeholders and funding bodies to help ensure investment is optimised
Asparagopsis R&D review and implementation plan for a national seaweed hatchery network
The project provides support for ASSA to undertake preparation activities in advance of receiving an $8.0m grant from the Federal government (late May/early June 2023). The duration of the grant is approximately 2 years and includes $6.18 million expenditure aligned to the NHN. Given the tight time frames for what is expected to be a relatively complex capital and human resource intensive NHN build, the earlier the consultation and planning phase can be completed the better. Currently there are a number of public and private research organisations conducting research on Asparagopsis aquaculture and the application of Asparagopsis derived products for methane reduction. In order to maximise the industry development impact of grant funding may have, it is imperative that the current research initiatives are compiled and reviewed to identify potential information and opportunity gaps prior to the grant being issued. Engaging a SME to review Asparagopsis R&D and provide expert consultation on the conceptualisation and NHN will improve the prospects for the eligible grant activities to be achieved within the stipulated grant duration (until 31 March 2025).