The Australian Liberal National Government and the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s jointly funded Launceston centre of the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation (NIFPI) will deliver eight new cutting edge forestry research projects. Federal Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Richard Colbeck said that the projects identified will receive $4.2 million in support from Federal and State Governments and industry. Source: Timberbiz
“The Launceston NIFPI was an election commitment of our Government and this is the second round of projects which will have a transformational effect on many aspects of Australia’s forest industry,” Minister Colbeck said.
“This second round has a number of research projects which will cut the waste and develop lean supply chains to make Australia’s forest industries even more competitive in the global marketplace.
“These projects will create more jobs by improving the way we process shorter logs, manage timber moisture, damage and discolouration and demonstrate durability in commercially relevant timeframes.”
Tasmanian Minister for Resources Sarah Courtney said some projects would make a major difference for the local industry.
“The successful applicants demonstrate the type of innovation that is occurring across the forest industry, such as improving the quality of plantation timber and developing supply chain efficiency,” Minister Courtney said. “Tasmania’s foresters face some unique challenges and the Launceston NIFPI will be delivering specific projects to benefit our State, including a feasibility study into a wood pellet industry in Tasmania, which has the potential to complement the Government’s southern forests initiatives.
“The value-adding of lower grade forest resources into products such as bio-fuel pellets could lead to major private investment and job-creation in Tasmania.”
Full list of successful projects in Round 2:
