Will the Australian sugarcane industry's current agricultural R&D enable the next 'step change'?
Paper
Schroeder, BL. 2024. "Will the Australian sugarcane industry's current agricultural R&D enable the next 'step change'?" 45th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT 2024). Townsville, Australia 15 - 19 Apr 2024 Australia. Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
| Paper/Presentation Title | Will the Australian sugarcane industry's current agricultural R&D enable the next 'step change'? |
|---|---|
| Presentation Type | Paper |
| Authors | Schroeder, BL |
| Journal or Proceedings Title | Proceedings of the 45th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT 2024) |
| Journal Citation | pp. 414-421 |
| Number of Pages | 8 |
| Year | 2024 |
| Publisher | Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists |
| Place of Publication | Australia |
| ISSN | 0726–0822 |
| Web Address (URL) of Conference Proceedings | https://www.assct.com.au/images/2024_Conference/2024_ASSCT_Conference_Proceedings.pdf |
| Conference/Event | 45th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT 2024) |
| Event Details | 45th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT 2024) Parent Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Conference Delivery In person Event Date 15 to end of 19 Apr 2024 Event Location Townsville, Australia Event Description The 2024 conference holds special significance as it revolves around the theme of "Profitability, Sustainability, and Adaptability" This theme aptly reflects the ever-changing landscape of our industry and the crucial role that adaptability plays in navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By embracing sustainability and adaptability we can secure a prosperous and resilient future for the sugar industry. |
| Abstract | Making progress is dependent on continued improvement in skills. This is particularly relevant in the agricultural research and development (R&D) that are prerequisites for ensuing ongoing advances in industries such as the sugarcane in Australia. This paper provides a viewpoint on: (i) how agricultural R&D activities have changed within the Australian sugar industry over the past century, and (ii) how well-placed agricultural R&D is to support a future step-change in Australian sugarcane. Information was obtained from historical sources and the Proceedings of the Queensland/Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (Q/ASSCT) to determine progress in sugarcane agriculture RD&E from 1930 to 2023. An analysis of trends enabled conclusions to be drawn about the scope and process of agricultural R&D to date. Agricultural R&D activities, as represented by the numbers of papers delivered at Q/ASSCT conferences, have declined markedly during the recent past. This is despite evidence that progress in sugarcane production, supported by R&D, is still occurring internationally. Based on the evidence provided here, it appears unlikely that the Australian sugarcane industry's current agricultural R&D will be able to support the next 'step change' in sugarcane agriculture. There is a need to reinvigorate the tenacity and commitment of the early industry and develop industry-focused researchers that are dedicated to contributing to a bold and bright future for our crop. |
| Keywords | Agriculture; sugarcane; sustainability; research and development (R&D) |
| Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
| ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300407. Crop and pasture nutrition |
| Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
| Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
Permalink -
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/zqz90/will-the-australian-sugarcane-industry-s-current-agricultural-r-d-enable-the-next-step-change
20
total views7
total downloads14
views this month0
downloads this month