Up to $22,000 is available to help young scientists, researchers and innovators with projects that will benefit Australia’s primary industries.
Overview
The 2016 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is a competitive grants programme that aims to support young people to undertake a project on an innovative or emerging scientific issue, including biophysical and social sciences, that will contribute to the ongoing success and sustainability of Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries.
The programme is coordinated by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture.
Objective
The 2016 Science and Innovation Awards aim to encourage science, innovation and technology in rural industries and help to advance the careers of young scientists, researchers and innovators through national recognition of their research ideas.
Funding
The maximum value of the grant is $22,000 inc GST for each successful award recipient’s research project.
Eligible Projects
An eligible project is defined as a specific body of work, which is an innovative scientific or technological innovation or process and:
- is related to a significant, long standing or emerging issue in an agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industry (including food and sustainable natural resource management)
- demonstrates dedication to the future of rural and regional industries with a commitment to promoting science and innovation as an integral part of that future.
Applicants must submit a written proposal to undertake a specific project, for a period of up to 12 months.
Eligible Applicants
Applications are open to young people between 18 and 35 years, who are working, employed or studying in agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industries.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- be between the ages of 18 and 35 (inclusive) on Friday 09 October 2015.
- be Australian citizens or permanent residents (proof required) by the closing date.
- be working, employed or studying in an agriculture, fisheries or forestry related industry (including food and sustainable natural resource management). Proof such as a letter of employment, scholarship or pay slip may be requested.
- not be employed by a sponsoring organisation in the award category they are applying for, and not have an immediate family member (eg a sibling or parent) who is employed by a sponsoring organisation in their selected award category.
- not be employed by an agency classified as a Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application for grant funding by December 2015. Details of the successful applicants will be published on the Science Awards website. Unsuccessful applicants can request feedback on their application.
Timing
Application closes 09 October 2015
Award Categories
The following awards will be offered in 2016:
A. Industry category Science Awards
There is one Award (grant) available in each industry category. Applicants can apply in more than one category but only one Award will be made. The maximum support is $22,000 inc GST. The relevant judging panels will be advised if an applicant has applied for more than one category.
Each industry category Science Award is sponsored by a research and development corporation or industry association.
The 2016 categories and associated sponsors are:
| Viticulture and oenology | Australian Grape and Wine Authority |
| Red meat processing | Australian Meat Processor Corporation |
| Pork | Australian Pork Ltd |
| Wool | Australian Wool Innovation |
| Cotton | Cotton Research and Development Corporation |
| Biosecurity | CSIRO Health and Biosecurity |
| Dairy | Dairy Australia |
| Fisheries and aquaculture | Fisheries Research and Development Corporation |
| Grains | Grains Research and Development Corporation |
| Meat and livestock | Meat & Livestock Australia |
| Established, new and emerging rural industries | Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation |
Successful applicants will be expected to complete their project within 12 months of receiving an industry category ScienceAward and the execution of the funding deed.
B. Minister for Agriculture’s Award
One individual industry category Science Award recipient will also receive the Minister for Agriculture’s Award, with additional funding to undertake an extended research project.
Only Science Award winners in each industry category are eligible for this Award. If you are successful you will be invited to apply for the Minister’s Award. A separate application form will be provided with additional time to complete it. Note that you are not obliged to apply for the Minister’s Award. The successful applicant will be expected to complete their extended research project within the same 12 month period.
Media Release
Young Australian researchers, innovators and scientists involved in the agriculture sector are invited to apply for a share of $240,000 in grants as part of the 2016 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, said the Awards encouraged young rural innovators to think big and contribute to the future success of Australian agriculture through funding for their innovative research projects.
“Young people studying and working in this area are passionate about the future of agriculture in Australia, and these awards help them bring their ideas to life and advance their careers,” Minister Joyce said.
“There is a wealth of talent and enthusiasm among young Australians for the future of farming in Australia, and an understanding that agriculture represents an increasingly valuable and diverse career pathway with exciting new technologies and innovation.”
The Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is a competitive grants programme targeted at young Australians aged 18-35 to undertake innovative research projects that will benefit Australia’s agricultural industries.
Minister Joyce said the 2015 projects included research into an early warning system to help farmers protect their livestock from wild dog attacks; sequencing the avocado genome – a world-first draft genome for a plant and the first step towards the next-generation of crop improvement; identifying herbicide resistance in significant agricultural weeds; and researching how to farm prize-winning Sydney rock oysters so they sit on the plate in the shape most sought after by restaurants and processors.
“There is a strong link between R&D and agricultural productivity growth, and research is fundamental to the continued success of Australian agricultural industries and farmgate profitability,” Minister Joyce said.
“That is why it’s so important to recognise young people who choose to devote their careers and talents to progressing Australian agriculture.
“It’s also why as part of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper an additional $100 million will be invested in rural Research and Development (R&D) to extend the Rural R&D for Profit programme until 2021–22.”
There are 11 industry award categories available in the 2016 round. One recipient of an industry category Award will also receive the Minister for Agriculture’s Award, with additional project funding.
Since the Science and Innovation Awards commenced in 2001, more than 200 young researchers, innovators and scientists have shared in over $3 million in grant funding for their projects.
The Science and Innovation Awards are open for people aged 18–35 and provide a grant of up to $22,000 (including GST) for each successful award recipient’s research project.
Applications close on 9 October 2015. The recipients of the Awards will be publicly presented as part of the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Outlook 2016 conference in Canberra.
The 2016 Science and Innovation Award partners include:
Australian Grape and Wine Authority
Australian Meat Processor Corporation
Australian Pork Ltd
Australian Wool Innovation
Cotton Research and Development Corporation
CSIRO Health and Biosecurity
Dairy Australia
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Meat & Livestock Australia
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
For further information, including application form and profiles of the Award partners, visit agriculture.gov.au/abares/conferences-events/scienceawards.
