Impact Assessment Series

IAS53 The impact of increasing efficiency and productivity of ruminants in India by the use of protected-nutrient technology
An assessment of the impact of all of the previous ruminant in India.

IAS52 Breeding and feeding pigs in Vietnam: assessment of capacity building and an update on impacts
The study updates the estimates of the impact provided in IAS 17. It highlights two important issues. First, the total benefits from this research activity and subsequent follow-up activities have increased substantially, from a net present value of benefits of nearly $500 million to nearly $2.0 billion. This provides a benefit-to-cost return of over 250:1 and an internal rate of return of 74%. Second, the capacity building included as an important component of the original project has been crucial in sustaining and extending the impact of the research.

IAS51 Growing trees on salt-affected land
Salinity and waterlogging are significant problems in a wide range of agricultural areas throughout the world. It has been found that some Australian species, including species in the genera Eucalyptys and Acacia, have adapted to thrive in these conditions. Bioremediation using such trees has often been suggested as a potentially lower-cost alternative to physical methods, however adoption has not been high. This is probably due to the development costs and relatively long investment periods before seeing a return.

IAS50 Improved trade in mangoes from the Philippines, Thailand and Australia
This impact assessment focused on two ACIAR mango projects, looking at production cycles and quarantine requirements in export markets. The production cycle project was a high risk project in a very complex area and it did not have direct impacts, however it did initiate further research. The quarantine requirement project was a lower risk project and it generated significant returns on investment.

IAS49 Minimising impacts of fungal disease of eucalypts in South-East Asia
Eucalypt species are relatively free of pests and diseases when introduced into new environments, which has led to large areas under plantation throughout the world. However as the plantation areas increase so does the threat of pest and disease introduction. This ACIAR project found new genetic material with enhanced disease resistance. It also used climatic modelling to identify high disease-risk regions. 

IAS48 Assessment of capacity building: overcoming production constraints to sorghum in rainfed environments in India and Australia

This project uncovered new sorghum plant material with characteristics of considerable potential benefit to Australia. Through other Australian funding, this was subsequently developed into a new variety. Although no new sorghum varieties were developed in India, it markedly enhanced the capacity of the Indian collaborators in some new biotechnology research techniques. This enhanced capacity aided successful application for funding from other sources.

IAS47 Improved Australian tree species for Vietnam

Australian tree species are being used extensively throughout the world because of their rapid growth and adaptability to many (harsh) environments. This study looks at the impact on Vietnam of some past ACIAR research activities. It shows that, through adaptation, significant improvements in productivity can be achieved by selecting tree provenances that are best suited to specific environments.

IAS46 Mite pests of honey bees in the Asia-Pacific region
Mite pests of bees are one of the major production constraints facing the apiary industry throughout the world. In most countries, the mites are present and have a significant impact on productivity and production costs. In Australia, the only country in the world without these mites, the maintenance of effective quarantine strategies against them is a major aim. ACIAR has funded research on these pests for about 15 years, which has made a significant contribution internationally to a better understanding of the mites, especially species, and their host conditions.

IAS45 Development of sustainable forestry plantations in China: a review
The forestry sector in China is a major contributor to economic growth. The development of fast-growing, high-yeilding plantations for wood production has made a significant contribution to this sector. This report documents the story of Chinese forestry development.

IAS44 Impact Assessment of capacity building and training: assessment framework and two case studies
Capacity building and training have long been recognised as an important component of most research-for-development activities.

IAS43 Water management in public irrigation schemes in Vietnam
Irrigation systems in most of Vietnam, like in many countries, are public systems.

IAS42 Benefits to Australia of selected CABI products
CAB International is one of the 15 International Agriculture Research Centres that ACIAR provides funding for in its multilateral program.

IAS41 ACIAR and public funding of R&D: submission to the Productivity Commission
ACIAR provided the Science and Innovation Commissioned Study with a submission detailing it's unique and interesting role which transcends both Australia's aid program and its innovation system.

IAS40 Zero tillage for weed control in India: the contribution to poverty alleviation
This report took the opportunity of an existing survey in India to try to measure poverty-reduction impacts of research.

IAS39 Benefits to Australia from ACIAR-funded research
While funding research in developing countries, ACIAR also delivers benefits to Australia and, in particular, to Australian agriculture.

IAS38 Future directions for ACIAR's animal health research
To meet the escalating demand for animal protein in the Asia-Pacific region, ACIAR's challenge is to underpin the sustainability of increased livestock and fisheries production for poor farmers and consumers.

IAS37 Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific
Economic analysis of project benefits and costs suggests that the total investment in fruit fly research will deliver considerable benefits, mainly to Fiji, but also to Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands and Vanuatu.

IAS36 Impacts of Mud Crab Hatchery Technology in Vietnam
This report describes a benefit-cost analysis carried out to quantify the economic impacts in Vietnam from adoption of the mud crab hatchery technology developed by two ACIAR-funded projects.

IAS35 Review of the returns to ACIAR's bilateral R&D Investments
ACIAR's investment in bilateral research over the past 22 years has more than paid for itself, as revealed in a review of returns to ACIAR's Bilateral R&D investments.

IAS34 Identifying the Sex Pheromone of the Sugarcane Borer Moth
The project evaluated in this report helped to identify the sex pheromone (attractant chemical) of the sugarcane borer.

IAS33 Research into Conservation Tillage for Dryland Cropping in Australia and China
The ACIAR projects evaluated in this report explored the suitability of Australian conservation cropping techniques for China, aiming to maximise wheat and maize yields while conserving moisture and reducing soil degradation.

IAS32 Shelf-life extension of leafy vegetables: Evaluating the impacts
The project evaluated in this report examined handling and storage methods in China and Australia for a number of leafy vegetables

IAS31 Review of ACIAR's Research on Agricultural Policy
This review includes a framework for assessing future 'ideal' policy projects; a meta-analysis of ACIAR's policy portfolio and a more detailed analysis of clusters of projects completed over the past decade in China, Indonesia and India

IAS30 Eucalypt tree improvement in China
Eucalypt plantation forestry has become a major economic activity in China's southern provinces

IAS29 Impact Assessment of Research on the Biology and Management of Coconut Crabs on Vanuatu
ACIAR and AIDAB (now AusAID) funded a suite of projects starting in 1985 with the aim of providing a science-based foundation for sustainable management of Vanuatu's coconut crab resources, for the benefit of the Ni-Vanuatu people

IAS28 Water and Nitrogen Management in Wheat-Maize Production on the North China Plain
The North China Plain supports a large number of highly intensive small farms that produce winter wheat traditionally followed by a summer crop of maize

IAS27 Acacia Hybrids in Vietnam
This impact assessment focuses on the net economic, environmental and social value of the spill-over benefits accruing to Vietnam

IAS26 Impact Assessment of ACIAR-Funded Projects on Grain-Market Reform in China
An assessment has been made of two projects (ANRE1/1992/028 and ADP/1997/021) funded by ACIAR dealing with economic research into grain-marketing policy in China

IAS25 Genetics of and Breeding for Rust Resistance in Wheat in India and Pakistan
The main objects of ACIAR projects CS1/1983/037 and CS1/1988/014 were to investigate and enhance the sources of rust resistance in wheat in India and Pakistan, and to provide training for Indian and Pakistan rust scientists at the National Wheat Rust Control Program at the University of Sydney

IAS24 Assessment of Rodent Control Projects in Vietnam: Adoption and Impact
Information used for this assessment was gathered from key informants among people involved in the ACIAR, AusAID CARD, and ACIAR-World Vision projects and from focus-group discussions among farmers' representing the treatment and control areas in five provinces of Vietnam