Agribusiness Review - Vol. 3 - 1995

Agribusiness research survey: final results (Part 2)
ISSN 1442-6951

Agribusiness research survey: final results (Part 2)

• Introduction
• Exhibit 1: Particulars of the survey of Australian Agribusiness Research.
  • Population
  • Response
  • Questionnaire design
• Results
  • Table 1: Distribution of agribusiness research projects by organisation
  • Table 2: Method of investigation as a percentage of total methodology in agribusiness research
  • Table 3: Percentage distribution of research on product categories by research organisation
• Figure 1: Focus of proposed industry benefits of agribusiness research
• Table 4: Funding sources for all organisations in relation to marketing (%)
• Table 5: Beneficiaries of agribusiness research funding
• Figure 2: Average project length in relation to starting date
• Figure 3: Distribution of prospective benefits from all research projects
• Table 6: Methods of proposed research output dissemination by organisational type (%)
• Conclusions

Introduction

Reported here are the final results of the survey of Australian agribusiness-relevant research. These results are different to those published in the previous issue of this journal to the extent that they include observations from responses received subsequent to the publication of preliminary results in Part 1. While the preliminary results were based on 149 responses, these final results are based on 204 responses (from 49 of the 173 addressees), subsequent to follow-up action. Because of the wide distribution of the questionnaires, even to organisations that had a low probability of undertaking agribusiness-relevant research, this response rate cannot be regarded as necessarily indicating the degree of any non-response bias.

The specific objectives of the following analysis are to identify the subject areas of agribusiness-relevant research in Australia, the organisations undertaking such research, the sources of funding for such research, and the extent of collaboration in agribusiness research. Further particulars regarding the survey are presented in Exhibit

1. Subsequent reports will focus on the marketing and funding aspects.

Exhibit 1 : Particulars of the survey of Australian Agribusiness Research.

Results

The final distribution of agribusiness relevant research projects shows that the majority of such projects are being undertaken by universities (53 per cent), with most other projects (35 per cent) being undertaken in State government departments and the CSIRO (Table 1).

Surveys are the major research method (37 per cent), followed by experimentation (31 per cent) (Table 2). The importance of the experimentation methodology for the

CSIRO (10 per cent) and State governments (11 per cent) is consistent with involvement in more production oriented research, particularly wool research. The most important research methodologies for universities are surveys (25 per cent) and desk studies (13 per cent). Since these are the least important methodologies for the CSIRO, the evidence suggests complementarity in research type.

Table 1 : Distribution of agribusiness research projects by organisation

The product or product categories that were the focus of agribusiness research are shown in Table 3. Again, the role of universities is significant in all product and product categories. The CSIRO's focus on extensive livestock production is consistent with its long involvement with rural production systems, such as wool research (IC 1994). About 46 per cent of the research is focused on broad acre agriculture.

Table 2 : Method of investigation as a percentage of total methodology in agribusiness research

Nearly 30 per cent of the prospective industry benefits of agribusiness research is directed towards international marketing (Figure 1). The main focus in international marketing is on export research, which accounts for about 78 per cent of research in that category. About 30 per cent of prospective agribusiness research benefits in marketing are directed towards the domestic market.

Table 3 : Percentage distribution of research on product categories by research organisation

Note: Horticulture includes fruit, vegetables and wine grapes. Grains include cereal and pulses. Extensive livestock production includes sheep, wool and beef. Intensive livestock production includes dairy and intensive livestock. Others include sugar, cotton, fish and 'other' category.

Figure 1 : Focus of proposed industry benefits of agribusiness research

Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the percentage of each category within international marketing. (A): These indicate the benefits expected for international marketing and domestic marketing expressed as a proportion of the benefits to all agribusiness-relevant research.

Table 4 : Funding sources for all organisations in relation to marketing (%)

Note: Figures in parenthesis show funding sources as a percentage of total funding.

Some 80 per cent of funding sources for all organisations are external or comprise a combination of internal and external sources (Table 4). Of the non-marketing research projects, some 87 per cent are funded from external sources or a combination of internal and external sources, while the corresponding statistic for marketing research projects is less at 80 per cent. Funding for agribusiness-relevant research seems most oriented towards agribusiness marketing research (59 per cent).

The distribution of funding for agribusiness-relevant research by source of funding is presented in Figure 2. Universities are highly reliant on internal funding alone (73 per cent) for the undertaking of agribusiness relevant research. Nevertheless, universities are the single largest recipient of funding from both external and internal funding sources, with their share roughly corresponding to their large proportion of projects in agribusiness research evident in Table 1.

The average time span per project appears to be reducing (Figure 3). This could be a reflection of changing funding processes and movement away from longer-term production oriented projects.

Nearly one quarter of all prospective benefits from research are expected to impact upon marketing (Figure 4). Marketing activities include distribution improvement, marketing strategy improvement, and improvement to the activities of marketing organisations - mainly statutory marketing organisations and cooperatives. Prospective benefits to input supply efficiency and input quality account for nearly 20 per cent of all identified prospective benefits.

Table 5 : Beneficiaries of agribusiness research funding

(A) External and internal funding

(B) Internal funding only

Figure 2 : Distribution of prospective benefits from all research projects

(A): Projects started in and before 1988 include a wheat-breeding project of greater than 30 years duration. This distorts the average project length for this category.

Figure 3 : Distribution of prospective benefits from all research projects

(A): Marketing activities include distribution improvement, marketing strategy improvement and activities of marketing organisations (such as statutory marketing authorities and cooperatives). (B): Inputs include input supply efficiency and input quality.

(b) Inputs include input supply efficiency and input quality

Professional and public papers dominate the proposed form of publication of agribusiness-relevant research, accounting for some 74 per cent of publications (Table 5). There appears to be a heavy reliance (68 per cent) by the CSIRO and State governments on confidential papers and reports. Nevertheless, about 90 per cent of the output of all research is expected to be placed in the public domain.

Table 6 : Methods of proposed research output dissemination by organisational type (%)

Note: Figures in parentheses are the percentage for the category expressed in relation to total research output.

Conclusions

The conclusions from the final results reported here are generally the same as those in the preliminary report on agribusiness-relevant research.

Consistent with the preliminary results from the survey of agribusiness-relevant research, the trends reported here show that three-fourths of agribusiness-relevant research is being undertaken by universities and State governments. The methods being used mainly take the form of surveys and experimentation. The research is mainly focused on the industries of horticulture, grains and extensive livestock production, and more on international than domestic marketing. There is a disproportionately heavy reliance on the part of universities on internal funding sources alone for the undertaking of agribusiness-relevant research. There is a distinct tendency for the temporal length of projects to be reduced. Whether this relates to funding conditions or to changes in the nature of agribusiness-relevant research needs to be investigated.

Most of the benefits of agribusiness-relevant are expected to impact on marketing and input supply efficiency and quality. The results of the research are expected to be disseminated mainly through academic papers and reports for placement in the public domain.