The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is a statutory authority within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio. It assists Australian researchers and institutions and international research centres to develop solutions to agricultural problems in order to reduce poverty, improve food security and enhance natural resources management in developing countries and Australia. Collaboration with researchers in developing countries is integral to all ACIAR projects, and ACIAR provides training and infrastructure to help build the capacity of these countries to undertake and apply research.
The total appropriation for ACIAR in 2001-02 is $45.4m. This funding will support more than 180 bilateral research projects in 27 countries, with a primary focus in the Asia-Pacific region. During 2001-02, Australia will strengthen support for Indonesia and the Philippines by implementing a suite of new projects. Research activities will also commence in the new partner countries of East Timor and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. ACIAR is working closely with AusAID on institution-building initiatives in Viet Nam, Cambodia and PNG and on rural development programs in PNG, India and southern Africa. ACIAR also supports 19 International Agricultural Research Centres through grants that link them to Australia’s agricultural research organisation.
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