Dr Roger Campbell, CEO, Pork CRC

In the latest issue of the Pork CRC Specials newsletter, CEO Dr Roger Campbell writes:

I'm pleased to advise that our application for a further eight years of funding for the Pork CRC has been invited by the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres Committee to proceed to Stage 2 of the assessment process, which is promising.

The next stage consists of two parts: scientific peer review of research project proposals and an interview.

We submitted an excellent application and I particularly thank Dr Rob van Barneveld and the rebid team, plus all the Pork CRC team, for their professional and tireless efforts in navigating a very strict application route within the prescribed time.

Our rebid comprised 40 participants, all of whom I thank for their enthusiasm and support. These participants have committed A$18.4 million in cash and about $64 million in-kind over the eight years. Our rebid, titled 'High Integrity Australian Pork', comprises four research programmes:

1. Confinement free sow and piglet management
2. New generation health management and antibiotic reduction
3. Healthy pork consumption
4. Carbon-conscious inputs and outputs

Although something of a change in direction from the current Pork CRC, the programmes reflect the current constraints on the Australian pork industry and where the greatest opportunities exist for the industry and producers going forward. At stage 2 of the rebid process, it is very important that all CRC applicants demonstrate how the proposed CRC will significantly contribute to addressing a clear end-user challenge and deliver benefits to Australia.

I will keep you fully informed of our progress.

Moving forward

Having entered the last two years of the current Pork CRC at the August meeting of the R&D Committee, it was decided to review all existing projects and provide additional funds where appropriate and required to ensure research and industry outcomes are achieved. By necessity these will be short term and will require researchers to accurately define where they are at, what the potential and implications are of their research and to have a precise plan for any additional work.

It is essential everyone continues to deliver relevant outcomes to industry and we will do everything we can to assist. Please contact us (Tel 08 8303 7685) or the relevant Sub Program Manager if you believe your project would benefit from additional funding. Projects unlikely to deliver outcome in the timeframe of the current Pork CRC will likely be wound back. Decisions will be made on the basis of the current June 2010 and September 2010 quarterly reports, or lack of them and discussions with researchers and their organisations.

Timely reporting

I anticipate these cases will be minimal, but it is important to deliver the reports on time, while clearly outlining where each project is at, the expected outcomes, what will be needed to deliver them and whether the projections are realistic. Results should be included in, or attached to, the quarterly reports.

Except for outstanding ideas (i.e. those with potential for a quantum leap and we’ve had plenty in this CRC), funding of new projects will be on a as needed basis. Funding will be based on addressing gaps identified in the current program by strategic groups and reviews and where the research might enhance the chances of a successful rebid or contribute significantly to areas addressed by the rebid and identified as industry priorities.

Innovative thinking

So, put your thinking caps on, review your results and continue to deliver innovations, new technologies and new information that will make a difference for industry.