Mr Truss outlined the success of the scheme after announcing details of eight NIDP Pilot Commercialisation Projects grants and 14 In-Market Experience Scholarship winners at a function at Parliament House last night.

The review, which was undertaken by consultants Howard Partners, found the NIDP has also helped foster a culture change by seeding enterprising new agribusiness ventures.

The Commonwealth Government has allocated more than $20 million over the five years to 2005-06 for the NIDP to commercialise new products, services and technologies.

"The NIDP will assist more than 200 companies directly through grants and scholarships," Mr Truss said.

"However, the array of other information and services the program provides can assist many times more."

He said today's NIDP grants and scholarship winners would share $1.09 million in funding.

"Eight are from Queensland, four from South Australia, three each from NSW and Western Australia, and two each from Tasmania and Victoria," Mr Truss said.

A full list of the winners, and project details is attached.

Mr Truss also used the occasion to launch a new NIDP production - the Agribiz Handbook and video.

"This handbook, which targets agribusiness advisors and educators, is a guide to the NIDP that also introduces the new online Grants Assessor and Business Reality Check," he said.

"The book provides a guide to the latest online business development tools, a business reality check, supply chain management strategies and case studies in agribusiness innovation. It includes an interactive supply management CD and, for agribusiness educators, a video."

The NIDP Agribiz Handbook (with CD-ROM) is available free-of-charge by calling 1300 884 588 (for the cost of a local call), or emailing nidp@affa.gov.au. The Handbook is also on the internet at www.affa.gov.au/agribiz. Information on the next round of PCP funding, that closes on 21 February 2003 is also available by contacting NIDP.

Aquaculture business's that benefited from the scholarships were:

Recipient: Organic Orara Perch.
Location: Grafton, New outh Wales.
Scholarship amount: $32,940.
Tim Jones and Anne Montgomery, the owner/operators of Grafton-based Organic Orara Perch have been awarded a $32,940 In-Market Experience Scholarship to enhance their financial management and promotional skills, and undertake market analysis. Organic Orara Perch is capitalising on the significant demand for organically farmed fish due to the perceived health benefits and a declining supply from wild-catch fisheries.
Contacts: Tim Jones & Anne Montgomery timjones@northnet.com.au
or (02) 6643 1011

Recipient: Head Over Eels.
Location: Boonah, Queensland.
Scholarship amount: $30,030.
Samuel Bell, the owner/managing director of aquaculture enterpriser 'Head Over Eels', which is based in Boonah in the State's southeast, has been awarded a $30,030 In-Market Experience Scholarship to help commercialise a live eel export trade to Hong Kong. Samuel will participate in business courses, visit Hong Kong and China, and undertake a trial shipment of eels to those countries. Head Over Eels employs an integrated farming system that makes use of existing infrastructure with the potential to create additional income for farmers using stored irrigation water bodies.
Contact: Samuel Bell eels@hypermax.net.au or (07) 5463 0285.

Recipient: Kingston Fisheries Pty Ltd.
Location: Hemmant, Brisbane.
PCP grant: $110,000.
Kingston Fisheries from Hemmant in Brisbane will receive a PCP grant of $45,214 to commercialise the manufacture of individual quick frozen (IQF) prawn meat and prawn cutlets for the restaurant trade. The project makes use of a new freezing process developed by Kingston Fisheries. The processing principles used for IQF prawn meat and prawn cutlets could lead to opportunities with other products and the development of new value-added capability within the Australian processed food industry.
Contact: John Chesher johnchesher@better.net.au or 0417 644 115
 

Recipient: South Australia Mariculture (SAM).
Location: Port Lincoln, New South Wales
Scholarship amount: $26,400.
Craig Kelly, Operations Manager with South Australian Mariculture, based in Port Lincoln, has been awarded a $24,000 In-Market Experience Scholarship to investigate various technologies and techniques for drying abalone. Craig will travel to Japan and China, considered world leaders in the drying of abalone, to learn about their practices and determine how they can be best adapted for use in Australia.
Contact: Graeme Footer (08) 8424 3505 or 0413 746 902.

Recipient: Ferguson Fisheries Pty Ltd.
Location: Malvern, Adelaide.
Scholarship amount: $33,000.
Brett Cooper, Project Development Manager with Malvern-based Ferguson Fisheries, has been awarded a $33,000 In-Market Experience Scholarship to undertake business management courses to help commercialise their range of value-added lobster products. Brett will travel to the US to be trained in technologies that can add value to lobster products, and also to China, Hong Kong and Japan to establish contacts with potential buyers, and identify cold-chain supply logistics for the lobster products.
Contact: Deb Ferguson debra@fergusonfisheries.com or (08) 8357 7555.

Recipient: Stainless Engineering & Design
Location: Wynyard, Tasmania
PCP grant: $110,000
The grant will help to commercialise the SED Shellfish Grader an innovative grading machine for oysters, mussels and other shellfish. The funding will be used to build a demonstration machine that will be exhibited at local farms. The machine's innovative separation system will boost competitiveness in Australia's shellfish industry by allowing it to standardise measurement methods.
Contact: Matthew Brown matthew@sedesign.com.au or (03) 6442 1563.

Taken from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Associations of Australia (AFFA)