Welcome to our latest Hub newsletter. Last month I updated you on the engagement and growth the Hub had undergone and this month has been just as busy. The Program Leads have been busy working away in collaboration with stakeholders on their activities. You will find an update on their activities below.
We also welcomed Cape York NRM as our sixth Node Member which completes our ability to deliver regionally relevant drought resilience services across Tropical North Queensland. The region is 137,000km2 and extends north from the Mitchell River catchment to the tip of Cape York Peninsula. You can find out more about Cape York NRM here.
Keep safe and well,
David Phelps, Director
Transformational Agricultural Systems (TAS)
EOI submissions by Yvette Everingham and Ana Almeida have led to exploring opportunities to collaborate with Hub supporter University of Southern Queensland and have highlighted JCU’s credentials in environmental markets to the State Government’s Drought and Climate Adaption Program. The TAS program is adapting as it goes by taking feedback onboard, and are looking at the potential to build student roles and capacity by developing regional drought risk and vulnerability profiles, and other potential projects. The team are also exploring options to create training pathways for highly sought after systems modellers.
Innovation and Commercialisation (I & C)
As part of the I&C program, a ‘playbook’ for commercialisation has been developed to guide the commercialisation process within James Cook University which aims to include multiple pathways to enter the commercialisation stage such as our Hatch program.
Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprises (SATSIE)
Program Lead, Allan Dale continues to identify opportunities for successful business and enterprises, enabled through water security and business practices.
Building Human Capacity (BHC)
New Program Lead, Jane Oorschot has been engaging with our Nodes and key industry bodies and service providers and is currently in the final stages of developing her program. Jane came on board in May to lead the BHC program after a change of staff.
The Agricultural Innovation Hub (AIH)
As mentioned in our last newsletter, the Agricultural Innovation Hub which is imbedded within the TNQ Hub’s I&C program, has been activated and the Program Lead and Project Officer have been employed. The AIH will focus on drought resilience whilst also seeking opportunities within aquaculture, fisheries and forestry.
The AIH has just seen its first start-up innovation project complete a guided discovery workshop designed to support an accelerated commercialisation pilot program. Discovery workshops assess the viability of identified agricultural innovation opportunities from both a technical and commercial perspective, and fast-track the project through to translation funding.
The facilitated workshop saw key stakeholders participate in a discovery process to uncover and confirm the value of Electric Plant Growth, the competitor landscape and a establishing defined research sprint.
Hub Highlight
Regional Soils Coordinator (RSC), Dhiraj Gajera has made a huge impact in the short amount of time with the Hub. On a field trip to meet growers on the Atherton Tablelands at the Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium, he met with locals and received this wonderful email from John:
“Hi Dhiraj, Great to meet you tonight it’s rare to meet someone with your passion for agriculture and a bonus that that your experience has bought you to very similar views as my own, looking forward to talking to you in the future. Regards John J”
Image: Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium tour, courtesy of Dhiraj Gajera, TNQ Hub
Know someone who wants to be involved?
Whats Next?
Check out our Events calendar to see what’s happing in the agricultural industry around Tropical North Queensland. You can also catch up with the team at the following events;
- 2022 National Landcare Conference (Landcare is a Hub Member)
- NT Farmers Northern Australian Food Futures Roadshow
Image: Courtesy of JCU
The Tropical Innovation Festival
We had several TNQ Hub staff and Hub associates participate in the Tropical Innovation Festival in Cairns last month which celebrated innovation and entrepreneurship. Director, David Phelps discussed enhancing drought resilience through innovation, I&C Program Lead, Brook Orr was part of a Panel discussing ‘thirst for knowledge’ and JCU’s and the Hub’s Indigenous Entrepreneur in Residence, Darryl Lyons spoke on ‘moving the needle with past, present and future thinking in agriculture’.
A special mention to JCU staff and Hub team members Samantha Horseman and Nico Adams who were also presenters at the Festival discussing technologies and digitisation.
IImage: Program Lead, Brook Orr at the Tropical Innovation Festival, courtesy of JCU
AgGrow Emerald
Program Manager, Simon Page and Coordinator, Emily Harrington spent time in Emerald with JCU’s Central Queensland Centre of Rural and Remote Health at one of the state’s biggest regional field days.
The Hub and Centre shared an exhibition space at AgGrow where they engaged with graziers, locals, industry, agribusiness and service providers to create networking opportunities and discuss drought resilience and preparedness. Many of the producers shared how they were already thinking ahead and planning what they could do in the future to manage the risk of drought.
Image: TNQ Hub team members Simon and Emily, courtesy of Emily Harrington, TNQ Hub
Developing Northern Australia Conference
The Developing Northern Australia Conference in Mackay was a big week for the Hub with Chief Scientist for Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) and SATSIE Program Lead, Allan Dale chairing this significant event which aims to achieve better economic, social, and environmental outcomes for the north and its people. The Hub and JCU hosted a stall along with 20 other government, industry and education institutions where the team had the opportunity to solidify existing relationships and develop new ones that will enable Hub activities to reach a larger audience. Several team members were also invited to speak on behalf of the Hub or their other projects. You can watch the presentations by David Phelps, Rachel Hay and Darryl Lyons by clicking each video below.
The team spent time with our Mackay and Whitsundays Node, Reef Catchments and caught up with their new Drought Resilience Coordinator, Carlos Bueno where we had the chance to have further discussions and share a better understanding of on ground Hub activities. Director, David also was invited to present at the Regional Development Australia Greater Whitsundays a “Date with Northern Australia” event where presenters discussed the latest funding and initiatives available to support the development of Northern Australia. The Hub then hosted a networking dinner for all those attending to have the chance to meet the Hub team and discuss more opportunities that the Hub could provide.
Image: Developing Northern Australia Conference, courtesy of Emily Harrington, TNQ Hub
The 34th Biennial Conference of the Australian Association of Animal Science
While the team was in Mackay for the DNA Conference, Hub supporters and JCU staff, John Cavalieri from Veterinary Science and Louise Zupp from Human Resources looked after the Hub and JCU stall at the Australian Association of Animal Science (AAAS) Conference in Cairns.
John and Louise had the opportunity to attend workshops, network and discuss current advances from the world of animal science and productions which has an impact on stock management. They also had some fun giving attendees a chance to ‘preg test’ a horse.
Image: Louise Zupp at the AAAS Conference in Cairns, courtesy of Louise Zupp, JCU
Fitzroy Basin Association’s Farming for the Future Forum
Fitzroy Basin Association brought together some of the best minds in Australian agriculture to help central Queensland farmers improve their pasture, soil and animal health. Regional Soils Coordinator, Dhiraj Gajera attended the three-day forum aimed to help farmers make changes to improve their businesses’ productivity and resilience with regenerative agriculture practices.
On day one, guest speakers discussed key challenges, concepts and solutions. On day two, attendees visited local properties that were successfully practicing regenerative agriculture solutions followed by a dinner. Day three was a practical session where attendees put theory into practice and developed their own property plans.
Image: Attendees at a local producers property looking at ground cover, courtesy FBA
2022 XV World Congress of Rural Sociology
Chaired by Distinguished Professor Stewart Lockie, Director of the Cairns Institute and the activity lead for the Outreach and Coordination Program, the 2022 XV World Congress of Rural Sociology – “Rural sustainability in the urban century” conference discussed many ideas and questions relevant to contemporary rural society.
Program Leads, Jane Oorschot and Allan Dale attended the conference in Cairns where discussion centered around how urban and rural spaces are connected through flows of people, capital, information and commodities; about the distribution of authority and whose version of sustainability counts; and about the relationships between spatial disadvantage and injustices based on ethnic, linguistic, religious and other dimensions of social difference.
Image: Program Leads Jane Oorschot and Allan Dale, TNQ Hub, courtesy Jane Oorschot
FNQ Growers Research and Development Field Day
FNQ Growers hosted their inaugural R&D Field Day last month with more than 400 people attending. The Field Day included forums on the state and opportunities of horticulture in FNQ (the third largest food bowl in Queensland), exhibitors from across the agriculture and local industries and representatives from key industries and bodies.
Dhiraj Gajera and Ana Almeida represented the Hub who was invited to share a stall with the Tablelands Regional Council. The Hub team had a successful day speaking with many visitors and Hub members and supporters who were in attendance.
Image: Ana at the TNQ Hub stall in Mareeba, courtesy Dhiraj Gajera
Apply Now! Grants and Programs
- 2023 Science and Innovation Awards – Grant applications are now open for the 2023 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. If you’re 18-35 and want to make a difference for Australia’s agriculture industries, this is your chance to apply for a grant of up to $22,000 to fund your project. Find out more.
The Low Carbon Accelerator Program – Applications are now open for the 2022/23 program. If you are an ambitious and innovative founder or product owner seeking to work with Queensland industries to achieve net zero, the Low Carbon Accelerator will surround you with the expertise, and networks to help you succeed. Find out more.
Image: Fletcherview Research Station, courtesy JCU
TNQ Drought Hub Nodes
