Research scholarships to help the sugarcane industry

Sugar Research Australia (SRA) is calling for applications for research funding and postgraduate scholarships that will help build the profitability, productivity and sustainability of the Australian sugarcane industry.

Professor Alan Johnson AM, Chair of the SRA Research Funding Panel, said the panel will especially consider applications that address the strategic imperatives outlined in SRA’s Interim Strategic Plan, available to view here.

“It’s important that the research we fund delivers a significant return on the project investment to industry, and practical outcomes that can be easily taken up on the farm and at the mill,” said Professor Johnson.

“I would like to encourage participants from within our industry, and researchers and research organisations from the broader sugar research community and other sectors, to put their best ideas forward.”

The plan outlines four key strategic imperatives - industry growth, cost and profitability, environmental and regulatory pressures, and diversification - which reflect “what our grower and milling businesses and industry representative bodies feel are important”, said Professor Johnson.

Successful applications must clearly outline how they align with strategic imperatives and the industry need that it addresses. The outcomes the research will deliver and how adoption will be maximised must also be explained.

“We are fully committed to only funding research projects that deliver real value to our levy payers and contribute to triple bottom-line results,” said Professor Johnson.

Applications for postgraduate scholarships are open until 18 December 2013, with successful recipients expected to start their studies in early 2014. Applications for research projects are open until 10 January 2014, with successful research projects commencing from 1 July 2014.

For more information, visit www.sugarresearch.com.au.