15 November 2013
SRA Media Release

Sugar Research Australia Ltd (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.

Applications that address the strategic imperatives outlined in SRA’s Interim Strategic Plan will be considered highly said Professor Alan Johnson AM, Chair, Research Funding Panel, SRA.

“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 four key strategic imperatives are:

Strategic Imperative 1: Industry growth
Strategic Imperative 2: Cost and profitability
Strategic Imperative 3: Environmental and regulatory pressures
Strategic Imperative 4: Diversification

“These imperatives were identified through consultation with industry. They reflect what our grower and milling businesses, and industry representative bodies feel are important,” he said.

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.

“This is a new era of investing in our industry’s knowledge where every dollar counts.”

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

Further information:

Applications for postgraduate scholarships are open until Wednesday 18 December 2013 with successful recipients expected to start their studies in early 2014.

Applications for research projects are open until Friday 10 January 2014 with successful research projects commencing from 1 July 2014.

All applications are to be lodged through SugarNet – a new online research project management tool.

To view the Interim Strategic Plan Summary, find out more about the research call, and lodge an application visit the SRA website www.sugarresearch.com.au