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.

Browse

Filters

1996 - 199952000 - 20014

Advanced Search

Filter by

Settings

End date: 2001

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Towards long-term sustainability of sugarcane farming in the Johnstone River catchment
    (2001) Stewart, RL
    Cane farmers are important stakeholders in the Johnstone River Catchment. Their engagement in the sustainability debate is essential, however, at times they appear to be isolated from it. The Johnstone River Catchment Management Association (JRCMA) saw the need for their engagement and applied to The Sugar Research and Development Corporation (SRDC) for a grant to do an action research project to achieve that end. Growers meeting in small groups discussed all aspects of cane growing with the aim of producing a booklet of guidelines for best management practices for the catchment. Growers were invited to speak freely but challenged to be certain that the practices they nominated were sustainable and demonstrable on their own farms. More than 100 growers participated in the discussions over two years and a booklet entitled “Growers perspective of best management for sustainable cane farming (Documenting practices in the Johnstone, Moresby and Liverpool Creek Catchments)” was published in best management practice format. The project received wide acclaim and The Honourable Rod Welford; Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage launched the booklet in April 2000. Demonstration of best practices for sustainable farming from a grower’s perspective were achieved through a major field day organised by the JRCMA and through a series of video clips of many practices throughout the catchment. “The Most Significant Change Approach” also known as “The Story Method” was used to determine changes growers perceived were occurring in the farming, agency and general communities as a result of this project. Focus group technique was also used to gauge the effect of the project on the general community and agency groups.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Reducing the risk of exotic pests and diseases of sugarcane : final report BS194S
    (1999) Vandermaat, AV
    'Reducing the risk of Exotic Pests and Diseases in Cane' was a project aimed at maximising the effectiveness of the Australian sugarcane industry's quarantine system. The main objective of the project was to complete an educational CD-ROM package and to determine if the technology offered an additional opportunity for training and information transfer. The Cane Guard package was produced to provide the user with the flexibility to learn at their leisure and the ability to revise a topic as many times as necessary. Users can also review what they have learnt by doing a quiz. It is envisaged that the technology used for Cane Guard will eventually replace the traditional lecture-style or printed formats currently being used throughout the Australian sugarcane industry.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Promotion of integrated pest management in sugarcane: Final report BS184
    (1998) Halvorsen, L; Robertson, LN
    Associate Professor and agricultural science writer Lisa Halvorsen was invited to work with the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations for five months. Her aim was to help develop effective communications strategies for disseminating information on integrated pest management (IPM) and related areas through the media and other outlets, as well as to produce extension-type written materials. Professor Halvorsen was on sabbatical from the University of Vermont Extension System, and had previous experience of promoting IPM including in queensland cropping systems. She worked with extension officers and researchers at all five BSES research stations from Meringa to Bundaberg, lending communications support in four areas: writing/editing, instruction/consultation, media relations, and marketing. Specific projects undertaken were dependent on the needs and interest of personnel at each station.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.