Page 12 - National Poultry Newspaper

Scanning for high-impact innovations key to transforming Australian agriculture
TECHNOLOGY- driven disruptions are increasingly driving growth in rural indus- tries.
While Australian ag- riculture has a strong record in technology de- velopment and adoption, we need to proactively seek alternative sources of innovation and sift out the potential game- changers.
This is the focus of new foresighting work commissioned by Ag- riFutures Australia and developed by the Queensland University of Technology.
‘Horizon Scan’ is a four-part series, high- lighting a range of fu- turistic technologies, trends and innovations, each with the potential to transform rural indus- tries.
AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey said the scans seek out high-impact technologies overseas
and in other sectors of the Australian economy with the potential to translate to the agricul- tural context.
“Some technologies identified have obvious applications, others need a little more imagina- tion,” Mr Harvey said.
“For example, the scans identified moisture har- vesting, metamaterials, personal analytics, solar retransmission and hu- man-machine interface as potentially impactful emerging technologies.
“We want businesses and researchers to look to other sectors to un- derstand their use of technology and use the scans to start a conver- sation.
“If we are to compete on the world stage, we
need to open our eyes to what is possible and embrace these opportu- nities.”
QUT has developed the novel foresight meth- odology for identifying and decontextualising emerging technologies, led by QUT senior lec- turer in Ecology Dr Grant Hamilton.
“Given the many ave- nues in which new tech- nologies can emerge, building foresighting capability with which to identify the most im- pactful innovations is essential for participants right along the supply chain,” Dr Hamilton said.
“It is critical to inform- ing future scenario plan- ning as well as support- ing industries to main-
tain a competitive edge. “We know new tech- nologies have the poten- tial to expand existing markets as well as create
entirely new ones. “Early identification of
emerging technologies enables individuals, businesses and indus- tries to turn a potential disruption into a new business opportunity.”
AgriFutures Australia is committed to contin- uing to scout for new technologies and inno- vations, and additional fact sheets will be added to the Horizon Scan se- ries in 2018 and early 2019.
The Horizon Scan series is funded by the AgriFutures National Rural Issues program, which forms part of the AgriFutures Australia National Challenges and Opportunitiesarena.
For more on the Hor- izon Scan series, visit agrifutures.com.au/ national-rural-issues/ emerging-trends
Aviagen appoints Debbie Fisher as technical service manager
DEBBIE Fisher com- menced her new role of technical service manag- er for Aviagen ANZ on April 1 and brings excel- lent understanding of the modern broiler breeder and specific expertise in the Ross 308, which she has accumulated over 20 years in Australia and New Zealand as a cus- tomer.
Aviagen Australia and New Zealand managing director Michael Leahy said, “We are delighted that Debbie has joined the Aviagen Australia and New Zealand team in a fully dedicated role as technical service manager for the region.”
“Her knowledge of the Ross 308 and experience in many markets will make a positive impact on our customers and we look forward to her future contribution to our busi- ness.”
Debbie has developed a keen sense as a technical service manager of per- formance and conditions in a number of different markets and environments in Asia.
From the time Debbie commenced her career in the poultry industry, she continued growing and learning as the company she joined expanded and became a leading poultry producer in New Zealand.
Debbie quickly found a home in the industry from her initial job in egg col- lection and rearing before becoming a farm manager and subsequently being promoted to livestock de- partment administrator, followed by health and safety co-ordinator for all farms, broilers and hatch- eries.
Her later, more senior roles included livestock and production planner, breeder and broiler ser-
vice and finally breeder service manager.
In 2013, with her know- ledge of breeders and broilers, Debbie became a valued member of the Aviagen Asia team as a technical service manager and worked specifically with customers in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines pro- viding key flock manage- ment support and serving as the major support link between Aviagen and the grandparent and parent stock customer companies in her territory.
“I am pleased to join the Aviagen ANZ team sup- porting and working with parent stock customers in the region,” Debbie said.
“I welcome the opportu- nity to utilise my under- standing of the companies I have known during my time in the industry and look forward to living in the region, closer to the customer locations I will support.”
About Aviagen
Aviagen is a global poul- try breeding company that develops pedigree lines for the production of com- mercial broiler chickens under the Arbor Acres, In- dian River and Ross brand names.
The Rowan Range and Specialty Males are spe- cialty breeding stock from Aviagen that offer greater flexibility for customers to meet specific or niche market requirements.
The company is based in Huntsville, Alabama, US with a number of wholly owned operations across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Eu- rope, Turkey, Latin Amer- ica, India, South Africa and the US, and joint ven- tures in Asia.
Aviagen employs more than 3900 people and has a distribution network serving customers in more than 100 countries.
For further information, please visit aviagen.com
Aviagen technical service manager Debbie Fisher.
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The Commercial Egg Producers’ Association protecting the interests of West Australian egg farmers
THE Commercial Egg Producers’ Association of Western Australia is the leading representa- tive body for West Aus- tralian commercial egg producers.
CEPA members produce about 75 percent of eggs in Western Australia and has members situated all over the state, ranging from some of the largest producers in Australia to smaller producers.
CEPA members pro- duce eggs using caged, barn and free range pro-
duction methods.
The objectives of the as-
sociation are:
• To proactively repre-
sent and promote the best interests of commercial egg producers in dealings with government, non- government bodies and their representatives;
• To secure uniformity of action on matters af- fecting the common in- terest of commercial egg producers;
• To promote and uphold industry codes of practice for animal welfare, qual-
ity assurance, biosecurity, environmental, labelling and transport of live poul- try; and
• To promote the con- sumption of Western Aus- tralian-laid eggs.
Egg farming in WA
West Australians eat 1.6 million eggs every day and 53 percent of eggs produced are caged, 42 percent are free range and 5 percent are barn laid.
The total retail value of egg production in WA is $150 million per year.
www.eggswa.com.au
Page 12 – National Poultry Newspaper, May 2018
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