ACIAR project leader announced as Australia’s ASPIRE award nominee

Congratulations to Associate Professor Lee Baumgartner, an ACIAR project leader, on his nomination for the prestigious 2016 APEC science prize for innovation, research and education (ASPIRE) Award. Dr Baumgartner supervises a series of ACIAR-funded fish way projects in Laos and has won the nomination for his work on food security and fisheries in developing nations. The recognition is due to the ground-breaking work in conjunction with Lao scientists in designing and implanting effective fish passage solutions to increase fisheries production, household income, food security and biodiversity.

From left: Professor Warren Bebbington, Vice Chancellor, University of Adelaide; Professor Bob Vincent FAA, University of Adelaide.; Matt Murray, Economic Counsellor, Embassy of the United States of America; Australian nominee Associate Professor Lee Baumgartner, Charles Sturt University; and Christopher Pyne MP, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. Photo: T. Edwards, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

Learning from engaging women leaders at the inaugural Women Leaders in Public Sector Forum

What makes a good leader? How to be a successful leader? How to remove traditional barriers to achieve improved gender representation in the public sector?

These were some of the questions explored and discussed at the inaugural Women Leaders in the Public Sector Forum, held at the Australian National University on 6 April 2016.

This quote was displayed during the forum.

Cassava farmers in Southeast Asia exposed to policy changes in global carbohydrate market

 J.C.Newby - CIAT Asia
https://ciat.cgiar.org/regions/asia

The outlook for cassava in Southeast Asia has a long history of being closely tied to developments in global commodity markets. The fate of smallholder producers is subject to global trends and shocks brought about by changing government policies that have an impact on a range of substitutes in the carbohydrate market. 

 

Almost unknown to people outside the industry, the roots of this small perennial shrub (Manihot esculenta) are the source of what has become the starch of choice for many food and non-food applications due to its superior functional properties. Indeed, inspection of any Australian pantry, fridge and freezer will no doubt reveal several products containing cassava starch (or tapioca, as it is widely known) and flour. Its use in processed food has become increasingly prominent, with highly visible gluten-free products now found in major supermarkets rather than confined to health food stores. 

Building on the benefits of conservation agriculture in North Africa

For the widespread adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) practices the understanding of its economic, agronomic, environmental and social benefits needs to be promoted amongst all stakeholders. A multidisciplinary, multi-institutional and multinational project, Conservation Agriculture for North Africa (CANA), supported by the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) and implemented by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Area (ICARDA) with partners, worked across its three host countries -Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia - to drive and deepen the understanding of how CA conserves natural resources and cuts down production costs while reducing yield fluctuation and associated risks.

Promoting forage crops in Fernana platform, Tunisia (triticale and Vetch)

Increasing vegetable production in Central Province for Port Moresby Markets

Vegetables are an integral part of the diet of people in Papua New Guinea (PNG). For thousands of years, subsistence gardening has produced a wide range of edible indigenous plants, and more recently vegetables introduced by Europeans.