Value for money

The industry comprises around 970 small owner operator businesses throughout Australia. Each state has an industry council to coordinate a strategic approach to its R&D priorities. The Seafood CRC has provided a unique opportunity for the oyster industry by providing an opportunity for future growth but it is contingent upon coordinated investment in industry development at the whole of industry level.

The oyster consortium is a collegial group of Industry bodies and private companies and represents the cutting edge or Research and development in the oyster industry. By forming the consortium the oyster industry has become a core participant in the Seafood CRC and will deliver a strategic approach to R&D to maximize returns.

This proposal will provide the resources to ensure that the outcomes of the research and development undertaken through the CRC are adopted and commercialised quickly and extensively throughout the Australian Oyster industry. Without this coordination it will be very difficult to achieve the change at the extent and rate necessary to achieve the growth targets for the industry.

Level of Impact

The Oyster Consortium will be pivotal in achieving the CRC objective with respect to the Oyster industry and will be responsible for meeting two distinct needs involved in their national R&D strategy;
1. The strategic issues of R&D prioritization, funding and the linkages to (and support for) both industry development plans and Government objectives of industry development.

2. The operational issues of facilitating effective communication and coordination at all levels (industry/researchers, among researchers, among industry, FRDC/researchers etc).