News: Active projects
Evaluating an alternative approach to sector development in Pacific island countries
Australia's development assistance program aims to drive economic prosperity by supporting key sectors to transition into innovative and high-value industries, promoting collaboration, commercialisation, stakeholder engagement, capacity building and training. The tilapia and beekeeping sectors are important income-generating livelihood activities for smallholder farmers in Fiji and other PIC's that have unrealised potential to grow and develop into innovative high-value agribusiness industries that are inclusive and contribute significantly to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This project will support the transitioning of these sectors in Fiji through market-oriented development and sector strengthening, by supporting industry associations to become effective agents of industry progress, driving, and facilitating sector development, attaining stronger financial and operational stability post-donor funding. The project will grow partnerships between key industry and government departments for continued industry growth.
Livelihoods in Forest Ecosystem Recovery (LIFER)
This project is aimed at learning how to efficiently restore forests to meet critical needs of rural Solomon Islanders, accelerating and channelling forest development to support livelihoods. The LIFER project also aims to support positive leadership in forest governance to secure remaining forests and those restored. The consultative committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Forestry and including officials from Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, the National Council of Women, other ministries, Church and civic leaders, and the private sector will be an important forum in which to debate and collaborate for sustainable forestry. LIFER addresses the urgent need for forest restoration to rebuild livelihoods in the Solomon Islands and it is a first step to develop enabling forest management technologies, so that as opportunities arise, local people and forest authorities have options to restore forests as they see fit. The project will cultivate social capital to enable those directly dependent upon forests to influence their use and management and will generate some of the scientific and social building blocks for the top-down reform that is needed.
[Read more about Livelihoods in Forest Ecosystem Recovery (LIFER)]
Food Loss in the Pangasius Catfish Value Chain of the Mekong River Basin
Globally, fisheries and aquaculture contribute to food security, nutrition, income, and livelihoods. Farmed and wild-caught catfish (Pangasius) generate incomes for smallholder farmers in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam across the Mekong River Basin. The fish also provide an important source of dietary protein and essential nutrients. Fluctuating commodity prices, climate change, COVID-19, consumer perceptions on food and health safety, socio-environmental and technological issues, and political changes have enormous impacts on the continued availability of catfish for human consumption. Reducing food loss and waste along the catfish value chain is critical to farmers, the private sector including agribusiness, government agencies, and all actors involved along the value chain to the consumer. Currently, there are gaps in knowledge of food loss and waste along the catfish value chain. This project will build capacity and strengthen understanding of possible interventions that would improve industrial processes to decrease food loss and waste in this value chain. This project is part of the Food Loss Research Program—a partnership between ACIAR and Canada’s International Research Development Centre. The program works with partners in developing countries to address food loss through innovative, locally driven solutions.
[Read more about Food Loss in the Pangasius Catfish Value Chain of the Mekong River Basin]
Developing Nut Industries in Bougainville
This project aims to diversify and expand smallholder incomes in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) by participating in sustainable, indigenous nut industries. The research will assess ARoB nut supply, explore opportunities for smallholders and small-to-medium enterprises (SME), and identify successful interventions for developing nut products and linking to markets. The region heavily relies on smallholder agriculture, with two-thirds of its population being smallholder farmers. The Bougainville Government aims to diversify and increase cash crop exports by developing downstream cash-crop processing, entrepreneurial skills, and SME support. The research will contribute to global scientific knowledge by answering questions about nut processing methods, preserving nutritional values, and food safety. The project will build ARoB capacity in value-adding for smallholders, microenterprises, processors, and the government, ultimately achieving market access for nut products for ARoB stakeholders.
Recovering declining birds in Australian landscapes
The Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) of South Australia is nationally recognised as one of Australia’s biodiversity hotspots. Over 90% of native vegetation in the MLR was cleared by the mid-1800s and this clearing continued into the 1980’s resulting in only fragmented patches of native vegetation throughout the region. The region itself has become, through land-clearing, a remote island of native woodland 100’s of kilometres from similar habitat.
[Read more about Recovering declining birds in Australian landscapes]
Consumer Perceptions of Food Safety and Handling Practices of Chicken Meat
The consumer survey is designed to examine current usage, handling practices, and perceptions of chicken meat safety.
[Read more about Consumer Perceptions of Food Safety and Handling Practices of Chicken Meat]
Enhancing Agricultural Traceability for Market Sustainability: A Southeast Asian Perspective
This project aims to deepen our understanding of the vital credentials necessary for enhanced traceability within export market channels, while also exploring barriers to adoption and avenues for improving Australia's agrifood traceability systems. These improvements are essential for reinforcing Australia's competitive position in Southeast Asian markets. With a primary focus on four key trading partners in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), the project will investigate crucial elements including origin verification, food safety, sustainability, and digitally specialised requirements.
Building the evidence base on the impacts of mobile financial services for women & men in farming households in Laos & Cambodia
While great claims are made about mobile finance as a critical enabling factor for agricultural development, little is known about how it affects the livelihoods and well-being of women and men in farming households. This project aims to develop an evidence base on the economic and social impacts of mobile financial services for women and men in farming households with a particular focus on Laos and Cambodia.
Strengthening small-scale agricultural exports to China: Evaluation of two innovative marketing channels
China is Australia’s top market for agricultural exports, yet benefits to small exporters have been limited. This project explores two innovative marketing channels to help small exporters: agritourism and corporate gifting. It will rigorously evaluate the potential impacts of agritourism and corporate gifting on small-scale exports to China, and the effectiveness of established and emerging Chinese e-commerce platforms facilitating these exports.
Enhancing private sector-led development of the canarium industry in PNG Phase 2
Research under the ACIAR/TADEP project FST/2014/099 (Phase 1) has piloted semi-commercial processing of galip products and has already given over 1000 smallholder farmers in East New Britain access to new markets. The project has also supported small-scale female entrepreneurs to make their own value-added canarium products. There is great potential for galip processing to scale out to other areas such as Bougainville, New Ireland, Sepik and Madang.
[Read more about Enhancing private sector-led development of the canarium industry in PNG Phase 2]
