Invertebrate management research seed funding scheme

Overview

Do you have innovative technologies/ideas?

Would you like to test these ideas in a different field?

Applicants from all fields are welcome!

New seed funding opportunities are available for ideas, emerging technologies and methodologies from all UoM Faculties that may have application in solving intractable agricultural issues involving insect/invertebrate pests.  The Scheme has a total of $50,000 available p.a., which may be awarded to one or several projects. Projects begin in August 2022 and run for up to 12 months (with potential options for extension).

The Australian Grains Pest Innovation Program (AGPIP) aims to use novel pest suppressive technologies such as endosymbionts and forecasting approaches for the management of invertebrate pests, to provide innovative solutions, insecticide resistance management and grower tools to reduce the impact of pests, decrease disease transmission, and increase farmer/grower certainty on pest management.

The Program also includes seed funding opportunities for research teams across all UoM Faculties, specifically outside of AGPIP, to harness cross-UoM capabilities. This is as we would like to open up new approaches to managing invertebrate pests in the grains industry. These funds are administered through an Invertebrate Management Research Seed Funding Scheme.  The Scheme:

• aims to engage researchers and research groups across the UoM in an exploration of non-traditional or less traditional approaches that tackle previously intractable pest management issues currently facing Australian grain growers;
• focuses on solutions to these constraints that have the capacity to initiate step-changes in the grains industry;
• encourages novelty compared to more traditional ‘entomological’ approaches, with solutions aiming to reduce grower input costs and reduce the industry’s reliance on a small group of broad-spectrum insecticides.

We envisage that projects that establish a successful proof-of concept solution to the industry constraint may be eligible to attract additional funding from the GRDC.

Eligibility for University of Melbourne Applicants

• Applicants must be employees of the University of Melbourne and 0.5 FTE or higher at the time of application and for the duration of the award.
• Honorary and adjunct academic staff are not eligible to directly apply.

How to apply

1. Review the guidelines

   Funding Guidelines

2. Complete the application

   Application Form

3. Submit your application

   Submit the completed application by email to pearg-queries@unimelb.edu.au

Contacts