Knowledge and technology transfer and adoption

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13847

Research outcomes: Research results and new technologies are communicated and transferred in an appropriate and timely manner across the industry value chain, supporting increased uptake of best-practice and innovative technology. A skilled advisory sector that drives the adoption of new technology. An industry knowledge base that incorporates and makes freely available the most up-to-date production methodologies to industry. Collaborative alliances, partnerships and networks that optimise synergies, integrate knowledge and share best-practices.

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A boiler simulator for improved operator training : final report 2016/001
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2016) Mann, AP
A boiler simulator training package ready for use by industry has been developed during this project. After some fine tuning to accommodate site specific details and interaction with existing factory control systems (if requested by the sites), the simulator will be ready for use by factories for operator training.
A pilot for business planning for young farmers and partner in the sugarcane industry : final report ACF002
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2014) Puglisi, G; Sheppard, A
Through ACFA’s Next Gen program, it was identified that given the aging demographic of cane farmers it is important that young farmers, the future decision makers of the industry, are provided with the tools and skills needed for them to succeed in their farming businesses. This need was echoed through the Next Gen regional representatives and a desire was expressed to ‘up-skill’ to ensure that they have the tools required to run a profitable cane farm business. The Business Planning & Cash Flow Management courses were run in six locations from Mossman in Far North Queensland to Ballina in Northern New South Wales and were open to all young cane farmers looking to create or work on their existing business plan. Other topics included in the workshops were fixed & variable expenses, break-even analysis, insurance requirements, business structures, SWOT analysis as well as income & cash flow projections. The courses were delivered by Ray Dukamp of Basic Training Solutions, who has 15 years’ experience in training in Business Management and had previously successfully run similar programs in the grazing industry.
Adoption of practices to mitigate harvest losses : ASSCT peer reviewed paper
(ASSCT, 2019) Patane, P; Landers, G; Thompson, M; Nothard, B; Norris, CA; Olayemi, M
Harvesting Best Practice (HBP) recommends that harvesters maintain pour rates of 80-90 t/h, depending on make and model, and recommends extractor-fan speed guidelines that ensure minimal cane loss with low extraneous matter (EM). Exceeding the recommended pour rate overloads the cleaning capacity of modern harvesters and increases EM in the cane supply. To attempt to counterbalance the EM issue, it is usual to increase fan speeds above those recommended, resulting in greater cane loss. Use of HBP recommendations across the industry is low and full HBP adoption would substantially increase industry revenue. To address this, 43 replicated harvesting trials and workshops were undertaken in the 2017 harvest season across 12 sugarcane regions between Maryborough and Mossman. The performance of settings recommended by HBP were compared with each harvesting operation’s standard practice by assessing yield, CCS, bin mass, EM, fibre, sugar loss and revenue. To highlight the strong relationship between cane loss and excessive pour rates and fan speeds, treatments with higher pour rates and fan speeds and lower pour rates and fan speeds were also trialled. Results were presented to each harvesting group to inform their decision-making and promote HBP adoption. Cane loss, production and revenue data from 28 replicated and randomised trials were analysed to identify differences between industry standard harvesting practices and those recommended by HBP. We found that harvesters are typically operated at ground and fan speeds that are on average 1 km/h and 95 rpm above those recommended. The higher ground speed delivered an additional 22 t/h of cane into the machine on average but overloaded the cleaning capacity of the harvester. While the higher fan speed helped to remove the additional EM entering the machine, it also removed additional cane through the extractor with most being disintegrated, making it invisible to stakeholders. Testing indicated that mean sugar loss out of the extractor was increased by 0.15 t/ha compared with HBP settings, while there were no significant differences in EM or bin mass. Due to the additional cane being lost, less cane was delivered to the mill per hectare. Mill results across all trials identified that mean cane and sugar yields for the recommended practice were 5 t cane/ha (5.4%) and 0.8 t sugar/ha (5.7%) higher than standard practice. Neither CCS nor fibre levels were significantly different. The increased cane and sugar yields generated by the recommended settings boosted mean total grower revenue by $220/ha, equating to $173/ha after subtracting the additional harvesting costs (including fuel) and levies. Extrapolating these findings across the Australian green-cane-harvested area, full adoption of the recommended practices could deliver an additional 1.3 Mt of cane and 202,000 t of sugar valued at over $86 million for industry ($57 million in additional revenue for growers alone).
Adoption of practices to mitigate harvest losses : final report 2016/955
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2020) Patane, P; Landers, G; Thompson, M; Nothard, B; Norris, C; Olayemi, M
Harvesting Best Practice (HBP) is predicated by two essential objectives: 1. Determining the critical point where harvesting losses can be minimised and delivered yields improved to achieve the best economic return for the grower and harvesting operation; and 2. Improved cane quality, which is determined by sound billet quality with an acceptable level of Extraneous Matter (EM). Despite significant research into the impact on harvested cane yields of higher harvester pour rates and fan speeds, use of HBP recommendations prior to the commencement of the adoption program across the industry was relatively low. Full HBP adoption across the Australian Sugarcane industry could substantially increase industry revenue with no necessity for horizontal expansion (increase in cane land).
An integrated decision support system (DSS) to improve the utilisation of productivity data by extension, research and productivity programs : final report BS182S
(2001) Cox, J
Utilising previous research outcomes, a software application titled SUGARSCAPE was developed to provide extension, research and productivity staff within the Australian sugar industry a means of collating block and farm productivity data.The original concept was to assist extension, research and productivity staff with the production of productivity reports through a suitably designed software application. The application designed by this project increased the scope of previously available productivity report options, and also included a spatial reporting component. Over a period of three years a software application was developed and trialed by a user group. This ensured the end result was derived by the needs of the industry. Towards the end of the project Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (BSES) extension staff participated in training sessions using the software application on their own computers; feedback was documented on evaluation forms and will be used as guidelines for further research. To date the software has been received enthusiastically. To assist users a user manual and on-line help documentation have been created and will be distributed with the software application.With the exception of one objective, all project objectives were met. Most of the recommendations for further research have already been undertaken through another Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC) project titled ?Facilitate the accessibility of productivity data by sugarcane farm managers through the SUGARSCAPE productivity software application.? This project will be completed by July 2001.
Boosting productivity in Maryborough by assisting cane growers to understand their soils : final report MSF007
(2014) Dougall, A; Estbergs, A; Sugars, M
This project was based around producing a soil map of the Bauple area which is south of Maryborough. The soil map will be a valuable tool for improving productivity in the area because it can facilitate better farm management, for example variety selection by soil type and more specific management of different soils. We used this mapping project as an extension tool to teach growers about their soils and how to better manage them, this resulted in four main extension activities:
Building young farmers' capacity for change in the central district : final report BSS271
(2005) Muscat, J
In agriculture, young farmers are rapidly becoming a scarce commodity and any encouragement and assistance for existing young farmers will play an important role in the future of that agricultural industry. The sugar industry is no exception, and must assist in capacity building of its young farmers, as they will be the future managers of this industry. As the sugar industry comes to terms with the challenges that face its growers and their survival, the investment in building young farmers capacity for change will play a vital role in industry sustainability. This study tour allowed 13 young farmers from the Central Region to investigate, observe and discuss issues that the group had highlighted earlier at a group meeting. The young farmers in this group have been active for a number of years, but activity declined in the last two years because the downturn in the sugar industry (low sugar price and droughts) has forced members to seek alternative income for survival. The experiences of the study tour have reinvigorated the members of this group and the group is keen to look at the challenge that confronts this industry with optimism it deserves
Bus tour for southern region growers to contrast grain and sugar industry group dynamics : final report BSS288
(2006) Callow, BG
The grower-group concept in the sugar industry has been constantly enhanced and provides a great opportunity to share information and experience with other growers. This tour saw the enhancement of learning opportunities through the opportunity to meet with growers from other agricultural sectors. The trip visited Moree to learn from grain and cotton growers of their experiences in the implementation of new farming systems, especially of the change process, advantages and disadvantages, and the long-term benefits. The trip then took the participants to visit the cane industry in northern NSW, specifically in the Harwood area and Rocky Point in south eastern Queensland.
Canegrowing and sustainability - a survey of Australian cane growers with particular reference to the Code of Practice for Sustainable Cane Growing in Queensland : final report BSS238
(2000) O'Grady, C; Christiansen, I
The sustainable management of soil and water resources is crucial both for the productivity of sugarcane growing and for the protection of the environment. Canegrowers recognise the importance of maintaining the condition of the natural resource base for farm viability. Community concern over recent years has focused attention on the potential impacts of agricultural practices on the off-farm environment, particularly aquatic and marine ecosystems and regional biodiversity.The Australian sugar industry has responded to these concerns by taking a proactive approach to environmental management. The Code of Practice for Sustainable Cane Growing in Queensland (CANEGROWERS, 1998) and the New South Wales (NSW) sugar industry?s Best Practice Guidelines for Acid Sulfate Soils are examples of the industry?s initiatives towards environmental management and self-regulation.A survey of all cane farmers in Queensland and NSW was carried out in April 2000. The survey had several aims. Firstly, to benchmark awareness and opinions of the Queensland Code of Practice and the NSW Best Practice Guidelines. It also benchmarked current farming practices in relation to industry-accepted best practice, an indication of the level of adoption of the Code. Growers? perceptions of environmental issues in cane farming areas were also sought. Additionally, the survey served as a prompter to cane farmers about the Code and Guidelines.
Changes in summer rainfall and implications for agriculture : final report B.CCH.2111
(Meat and Livestock Australia Limited, 2021) Waha, K
Annual and seasonal rainfall are important drivers of agricultural productivity and profitability in Australian agriculture and various climatological and synoptic drivers influence rainfall patterns in Australia’s diverse climate. This study detects trends in past and future annual, seasonal and extreme rainfall across three important agricultural production regions in the Australian midlatitudes, using station and gridded data for the 1907 to 2018 period. Apart from region-wide changes, we find a positive trend in summer rainfall for two of the seventeen studied locations and a negative trend in winter rainfall for five of the seventeen locations. There is some indication of an increase in the number of very wet days and the number of days with heavy precipitation in the Northern Murray Darling Basin, and a decrease in the number of consecutive wet days in the coastal regions of Queensland and New South Wales and the Western Australia Wheat Belt. These patterns suggest a change of how rainfall is distributed over the year and a potential increase in rainfall intensity between 1907 and 2013.
A Common Approach to Greenhouse-Gas Accounting for Australian Agriculture: Common Terminology for GHG Accounting
(2023-04) Cowie, Annette
This document is an extended glossary of terms used in or relevant to the project A Common Approach to Sector-Level GHG Accounting for Australian Agriculture, including abbreviations. It accompanies the Methods and Data Guidance (Sevenster et al., 2023a) and Project Overview and Non-Technical Summary (Sevenster et al., 2023b) reports. Definitions have been sourced from authoritative literature, particularly the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) glossary, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards, and specific policies and schemes, such as the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Abbreviations are included where in common use. Additional relevant information is included in the glossary entries to aid comprehension and to indicate relevance for Australian agricultural systems.
A Common Approach to Greenhouse-Gas Accounting for Australian Agriculture: Methods and Data Guidance
(2023-04) Cowie, Annette
A common approach for GHG accounting across agricultural sectors is essential to enhance consistency, transparency and confidence in sector-level GHG reporting. Internationally, there are approaches and tools that influence Australian farmers via market access criteria or product labelling, which do not always adequately reflect the reality of Australian farming. A common approach to GHG accounting will allow Australian agriculture to control the representation and communication of climate impacts and mitigation. This Methods and Data Guidance provides a common framework for greenhouse gas (GHG)accounting of Australian agricultural activities at the sector level. The process that was followed to develop this framework is described in the Project Overview and Non-Technical Summary (Sevenster et al., 2023). It describes how GHG accounting can be conducted to generate a transparent and trusted inventory of GHG emissions based on: - a consistent set of principles - a modular approach to account for differences between agricultural sectors - general guidance on data - consistent terminology and language. Agricultural sectors, in the context of this document, refer to individual commodities (or commodity groups such as “grains”), as distinguished by the system of levies applied to primary production. They include forestry and fisheries. No existing standards or protocols exist for this context, which is the reason this guidance document was generated. Nevertheless, where possible and appropriate, the approaches and method choices recommended in this framework draw on relevant guidance from the following frameworks primarily: - Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) - ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines (ISO, 2006) - ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products — Requirements and guidelines for quantification (ISO, 2018) - guidance provided by the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership (FAO, 2016) - sector-specific guidance for product or corporate accounting, such as IDF (2022). In addition, guidance for corporate accounting provided by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG-P)(GHG-P, 2015), guidance for product accounting provided by GHG-P(GHG-P, 2011), the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) scheme (EU, 2021), and guidance from the ILCD Handbook (ILCD, 2010) is referenced for some aspects of the goal and scope principles (2.1).
A Common Approach to Greenhouse-Gas Accounting for Australian Agriculture: Project Overview & Non-Technical Summary
(2023-04) Cowie, Annette
This document accompanies the Methods and Data Guidance (Sevenster et al., 2023) and Common Terminology (Cowie et al., 2023) documents to provide a non-technical description of the project that led to the development of those documents, and an executive summary of the key technical decisions in the Methods and Data Guidance document. It is intended for industry decision makers without expert knowledge of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, and to be read in conjunction with the two technical documents. The need for a common approach to GHG accounting across agricultural sectors was identified in a stakeholder workshop in December 2019 with participants representing most Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs), the National Farmers Federation and sector-level peak bodies, federal and state government, AFI, Rabobank and expert consultants. As sector-level reporting was starting to become important (e.g. Mayberry et al. 2018), the lack of clear methodological guidance for this type of GHG accounting was clear. A collaborative project was developed, initially by the Climate Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CRSPI) collaboration and then by Agricultural Innovation Australia (AIA), who commissioned CSIRO and a large team of subcontractors to conduct an interactive, collaborative process to develop such guidance with broad support from both agricultural sectors and technical experts. The scope of the project was to develop a consistent common framework for agriculture GHG baseline accounting at sector level (i.e. a Common Approach). Implementation of the framework was not part of the project and is up to each sector individually. While many stakeholders contributed to the development of the Common Approach there is no obligation or commitment on any party to implement it. The Common Approach is a state-of-the-art, best practice guidance for sector-level GHG accounting and can be seen as aspirational; guiding improvements in data collection and GHG reporting over time across Australia’s agricultural sectors.
Constraints to the adoption of Green Cane Trash Blanketing (GCTB) in central and southern districts : final report BS109S
(1996) Norrish, SA
Ten focus group meeting were held with sugarcane growers from Proserpine to the New South Wales border to discuss their experiences with green cane trash blanketing (GCTB). The meetings were conducted by the Rural Extension Centre, UQ-Gatton in conjunction with the BSES. The meetings were held between 1 and 3 February 1994, and each was attended by 8 to 16 growers. An additional four focus groups were convened by BSES for representative of the mills and harvesting contractors in Mackay and Bundaberg. Results across all groups were reasonably consistent.
Developing a new approach to extension for widespread adoption of Best Management Practice
(2002)
MUL001 has sought to improve the uptake of research outcomes by the sugar industry’s growing sector. It is recognised that the traditional one-to-one extension approach is no longer affordable and the current system was not adequately facilitating the uptake of research at a time when the industry needed to make every post a winner. This project developed a group extension program in the Mulgrave region to promote the development and adoption of best management practice. 13 productivity groups were established which sought to involve 100% of growers. These groups utilise discussion type meetings and field demonstrations in order to enhance the individual knowledge and understanding of various aspects of sugarcane production, which are relevant to the management decisions faced at the time. Typically each group would meet 4 to 5 times each year. Emphasis is placed on learning from other growers as well as people with specialist knowledge in each particular field. Monitoring programs were also utilised to enhance the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes of individuals. Monitoring harnesses the power of learning-by-doing and has proven very effective. Monitoring programs for production constraints such as canegrubs, rats and weevil borer were coordinated by this project and strategically timed to enhance the effectiveness of group activities. The group extension program has been in operation since March 2000 and continues to improve in effectiveness and grower participation. Throughout the project 89% of growers participated in the extension program and on average, 63% of cane production areas were represented at each group activity. Although it is difficult to objectively measure change in knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes, there are numerous examples of subtle but visible change in the behaviour of farm managers, which could be attributed to the extension program. An important output of the project has been the development of a communication structure. This structure has proven invaluable to maintain information flow throughout all sectors of the industry and maintain a dialogue in an age of continuous change and uncertainty. This structure will be necessary to drive real and sustained change in the industry.
Developing an integrated cropping-systems RD&E program for the sugar industry
(2008) Allsopp, PG
Sugarcane trash is used extensively as garden mulch in an industry with a value in excess of $20 million per annum. The incursion of sugarcane smut has complicated the movement of trash by companies that provide sugarcane mulch products,this assessment considers the survival of smut spores in relation to the proposal to store baled trash until there was a low risk of viable spores being present.The project aimed to develop industry-wide integration of cropping-systems RD&E to maximise effectiveness and efficiency of RD&E expenditure and expertise.
Developing marketing skills for sugar industry technology transfer personnel : final report BSS193
(2001) McMahon, GG
The role of technology transfer and research in the sugar industry is changing rapidly. Industry needs and priorities have to be developed. Many of the service organisations are now voluntary funded. Solutions to industry problems are becoming more complex and difficult to implement. There are significantly more issues confronting the industry and the capacity of the industry to respond has decreased. Most of the funding organisations are now requiring projects to incorporate a technology transfer plan within the proposal.As a result, the complexity of technology transfer within the sugar industry is increasing dramatically. Technology transfer professionals within the industry receive little formal training within their discipline, because there are very few quality providers of such training. BSES felt that it was necessary for staff in this profession to receive some marketing training to become better equipped to deliver the products and services that sugar industry participants wanted and needed. SRDC funded the project in 1997 and a training program was developed and delivered to sugar industry technology transfer personnel from a number of organisations within the industry.
Development of an Educational Package for Canegrowers on Efficient Nutrient Management : final report BSS204
(1999) Webster, K; Willcox, T
The aim of this project was to facilitate responsible nutrient management for the sugar industry by providing extension support in the form of a training course for canegrowers. This educational package will enable growers to develop crop management strategies by understanding and addressing nutrient loss, soil properties and crop nutrition, while at the same time, reduce offsite impacts to the environment. Three pilot soil fertility courses have been conducted. The first was conducted with Extension/Productivity Board staff in Mackay, the second with farmers in Ingham, and the third with researchers and agribusiness people in Townsville. Participants were asked to evaluate each pilot course. Overall, participants were satisfied with the content and quality of the short course. Each section in the course was evaluated and considered appropriate, with most people stating they had a better understanding of all topics covered. The soil test interpretation and fertiliser box calibration practicals were also considered useful. The majority of participants indicated that they were now able to calibrate their own fertiliser box. Many participants stated that they were more likely to take soil tests to better tailor their fertilising now that they knew how to interpret them. Much of the feedback was constructive and used to improve the course manual and presentation. Soil fertility courses will be conducted with farmers in all mill areas of Queensland and New South Wales in 2000 after extension specialists in each district have been trained to conduct the course. This course has been prepared to ensure that growers become more efficient users of nutrients and to prevent long-term environmental repercussions. Improved fertiliser use, balanced nutrition, reduced production costs and environmental awareness will be outcomes demonstrated by farmers as a result of attending this course. Fertilising needs fine-tuning and an educational package for cane growers on soil fertility and efficient nutrient management is one way to achieve a sustainable cane farming system.
Development of an Intelligent Tool to allow real-time evaluation of harvesting practices as part of a framework for improved harvester payment systems : final report 2016/951
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2019) Norris, CP
The project has resulted in the development of a cane loss indicator which can be a valuable tool to assist the harvester operator to optimise harvester performance as crop conditions change throughout the day. The system differs from previous attempts at cane loss monitors in that it does not attempt to identify individual billet loss, but rather looks at the energy dissipated in the processes of extracting cane and leaf and the effective dissociation of the billets as they are processed by the harvester extractor fans. The relationship between power consumption and actual cane loss utilises both keyboard inputs and parameters measured on the harvester. Data collection for the development of the algorithms and their calibration was undertaken in conjunction with field trials, where conventional cane loss measurement protocols were used to give the base data. Initially manual data collection strategies were utilised, followed by high accuracy data logging. The relationships observed between derived cane loss and measured cane loss in these trials allowed fine tuning of the algorithms, including the “weighting” of different measured inputs. Analysis of all datasets of electronically logged data indicates the repeatability of the cane loss values derived by SCHLOT under typical harvesting conditions to be high and, where variance was observed between the SCHLOT estimate and the field testing protocols, the SCHLOT number could be argued to give the more accurate determination of actual cane loss. In operation, the SCHLOT cane loss monitor gives highly useful feedback to the operator, and this drove significant changes in operating strategies by the harvester operator. The ability to remotely log cane loss in conjunction with other parameters such as harvester speed in near real time offers very significant benefits for the Industry with respect to the implementation of Best Practice Harvesting.
Enhanced Productivity Information to Improve Extension Programs and Research Data : final report BS128S
(1997) Cox, J
A project was undertaken to extend previously available productivity software tools. Using the end product of a previous project as a prototype, a new application was recreated in a different programming language. The new application enhanced the areas lacking in the previous version of the software, and increased the target user group considerably. Software titled PRODIV V2x was rewritten to manipulate productivity data. The software and manual was distributed to all interested extension and productivity centres. The new version of the software included previously available report options along with several new options useful for summarising the increased block parameters. These automated reports assist extension in collating and displaying aproductivity reports in an easy to comprehend format. All project objectives were achieved and the program is currently available for use in any mill area where the data are available. The project supervisor is continuing research within the productivity area and will utilise existing research in a new project.