Research and Development

AAGA Strategic Plan

  • Proposals for R&D projects must align with the AAGA Strategic Plan.
  • Consideration of proposals from reputable researchers and decisions on R&D Investments are determined by the AAGA Committee with guidance from FRDC.
  • Click here for the AAGA Strategic Plan

Investment Areas Include

Farm Innovation

  • Advanced robotics to improve Workplace Health and Safety and Efficiency.
  • Use of relaxants for safe and humane handling of abalone, with Flinders University and South Australian Research and Development Institute, (SARDI).
  • Image analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) for swift and no touch (improved animal welfare) data collection on farms with James Cook University.

Breeding and Genetics

  • Family line breeding programs with assistance from CSIRO
  • Assessments of genetic diversity on farms to guard against inbreeding with James Cook University.

Nutrition

  • Determining best protein ratio of formulated feeds for abalone with (SARDI) and Deakin University.
  • Inclusion of Seaweeds in Formulated Diets with SARDI.

Health and Biosecurity

  • Development of Farm Biosecurity Plans, with SARDI and other state authorities.
  • Development of surveillance programs for disease free accreditation, with state and federal authorities.
  • Understanding abalone diseases with Animal Health Laboratories at CSIRO and Mt. Pleasant, Tasmania.
  • Towards understanding invertebrate immunity with La Trobe University.

Sustainability

  • Benchmarking environmental and social impacts for continual improvement.
  • Measuring energy efficiency and progress towards carbon neutrality.

Human Capacity

  • Staff training and sponsoring students with Research and Development opportunities.
  • FRDC website