Australian sugar industry participants encouraged to apply for new travel and learning awards

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sra30 September 2014

Sugar Research Australia Limited (SRA) is inviting applications for its new Sugar Industry Travel and Learning Awards valued at up to $5,000 for an individual award or up to $10,000 for a group award or workshop event.

Dr Michael O’Shea, General Manager Research Funding Unit SRA, said that anyone who is actively involved in the Australian sugar industry can put forward an innovative learning idea for investment, to help build industry’s knowledge and capability.

“The awards are available for a diverse range of activities – from funding a person to present a paper at a national or international conference; to paying a researcher to visit another research institute to learn new techniques or trial new technology; to inviting a well-recognised expert to speak at a field day or workshop event,” Dr O’Shea said.

“In line with SRA’s strategy of investing in research that can be adopted on farm or in the mill, all applications will be assessed on the likelihood of the award benefitting the industry.”

Applications must address one or more of the key focus areas identified in SRA’s five year Strategic Plan:

  1. Optimally adapted varieties, plant breeding and release
  2. Soil health and nutrient management
  3. Pest, disease and weed management
  4. Farming systems and production management
  5. Milling efficiency and technology
  6. Product diversification and value addition
  7. Knowledge and technology transfer and adoption
  8. Capability development, attraction and retention

“There will be a great deal of excitement about these awards and the fresh ideas that they are likely to attract, particularly for ideas which might lead to future research applications to deliver even greater industry value,” said Dr O’Shea.

“This type of investment is just one of the ways in which SRA is helping to develop a highly-skilled industry workforce with the knowledge and capability to meet the current and future needs of industry.”

Further information:

Applications for the awards close on 7 November 2015. More information about the awards and application guidelines are available on the SRA website www.sugarresearch.com.au

Media contacts: Vanessa Sandhu, Communications Manager, Sugar Research Australia, 0419 175 815.