Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam plants Acacia implexa (Hickory tree) in Canberra.

Mr Andrew Barr MLA, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory hosted an event welcoming His Excellency Mr Nguyen Tan Dung Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Madame Tran Thanh Kiem to the National Arboretum in Canberra. While visiting the Arboretum the Prime Minister and Madame Tran Thanh Kiem took part in the ceremonial planting of an Acacia implexa (Hickory tree), a variety native to the Canberra location. The Acacia was chosen not only for it suitability to the site, but also to highlight the linkages between Canberra and the forestry industry in Vietnam which has been achieved through the support of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and many Australian scientists.

His Excellency Mr Nguyen Tan Dung Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Madame Tran Thanh Kiem planting an Acacia implexa (Hickory tree) at The National Arboretum.

Master Class to learn and share experiences in communicating research to stakeholders

Each year, the Crawford Fund hosts Master Classes across a variety of topics. This past week, I was lucky enough to attend the Master Class in Communicating Research to Stakeholders, held at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi and run by Jenni Metcalfe from Econnect and Toss Gascoigne from Toss Gascoigne and Associates.

Keeping Australia's Melons Delicious and Safe

Australia produces about 200,000 tonnes of rockmelons, honeydew melons and watermelons each year, an industry worth over A$100 million. The majority of melon production in Australia occurs in Queensland (Qld), New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA).

ACIAR is supporting research in the Philippines that also has benefits here in Australia for our important fruit and vegetable industries, including the melon industry. This work is ensuring the development and sustainability of high-quality Australian melons including rockmelons and watermelons.

Limanak Island Premiere

In 2014, ACIAR partnered with the Australia Network to produce a television series called ‘Food Bowl’ to be aired on the Australia Network (now called Australia Plus). The Food Bowl team travelled through Papua New Guinea (PNG), Timor-Leste and Lao PDR to discover how agriculture, science and farming come together to lift lives out of poverty and ensure a safe food future.

The community of Limanak Village (in New Ireland Province) were stars of the PNG episode of Food Bowl and I was excited to show them the finalised show so they could watch themselves on the big screen! On a threateningly wet Wednesday night in early January, I did just that.

Since the Food Bowl film crew came to visit and film the footage in mid-2014, I had been asked several times what had happened with the film. Sadly, it is often the norm for outsiders to come in and do things like this, interviews, films, photographs, but with no follow-up for those that gave their time and energy for it. This gave me pride and pleasure that this video came through and I could show the people of Limanak the PNG Food Bowl, episode, especially with so many of the community having a starring or cameo role.

Source: Cathy Hair