Young agricultural innovators: Australia needs you

Please see below media release from the The Hon. David Littleproud MP Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.

• 2019 Science and Innovation Awards recognise big ideas to build success of Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry
• Applications now open to young Australian researchers, innovators and scientists
• Chance to share in $286,000 across 13 industry categories​

Australia's young agricultural scientists, innovators and researchers are being invited to submit their agricultural research project ideas for a chance to share in up to $286,000 in grant funding.

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said the Science and Innovation Awards recognised the regional innovation that drives rural industries.

"Research and innovation will help us capitalise on global food demand," Minister Littleproud said.

"Innovation drives productivity in Australian agriculture and helps us push towards the NFF's vision of a $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030.

"Each winner from the 13 industry award categories will receive a grant of up to $22,000 to help with their work or study in Australia's agricultural industries.

"Since 2001 the Science and Innovation Awards have helped more than 230 18-35 year olds turn their ideas into reality.

"Last year's winner of the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources' Award recipient was PhD student Rhys Pirie, who grew up on a cattle farm near Harden, NSW.

"Rhys' project focused on ways to turn organic waste like livestock manure, sugarcane mill mud and cotton gin trash into low cost and efficient fertilisers.

"I encourage passionate young scientists, researchers and innovators to submit the ideas they have to improve the productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of their industries."

Applications close on Friday 12 October 2018. The recipients of the awards will be publicly presented as part of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Outlook 2019 conference in Canberra.

For further information on the awards, and on how to apply, visit agriculture.gov.au/scienceawards.

Fast facts

• 13 industry award categories are available in the 2019 round – cotton, dairy, eggs and poultry (layers), established, new and emerging rural industries, fisheries and aquaculture, forest and wood products, grains, health and biosecurity, meat and livestock, pork, red meat processing, viticulture and oenology, and wool.
• Each award category is supported by the award partners including AgriFutures Australia, Australian Eggs, Australian Meat Processor Corporation, Australian Pork Limited, Australian Wool Innovation, Cotton Research and Development Corporation, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Dairy Australia, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Forest & Wood Products Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Meat & Livestock Australia and Wine Australia.
• Winners of the industry category Science Awards are then invited to apply for the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources' Award, which provides additional funding for an extended research project.