The AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program’s goal is to invest in research to address challenges and opportunities facing the Australian chicken meat industry, and deliver the overarching vision to grow the long-term prosperity of the industry. To ensure the Program goal is achieved, AgriFutures Australia is currently seeking research proposals to address the investment priorities within the AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program RD&E Plan (2022-2027).

The AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program welcomes Preliminary Research Proposals, including post-graduate scholarships, that address the research areas below and outlined in the AgriFutures Australia Chicken Meat RD&E Plan (2022-2027).

In planning and submitting proposals for projects, prospective researchers need to familiarise themselves with the application procedures, AgriFutures Australia’s Research and Innovation Strategic Plan (2022-2027), the AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program RD&E Plan (2022-2027) priorities and objectives, and any other requirements described in the sections below.

The RD&E priorities of focus for this Open Call are:

Priority 1: Improving environmental sustainability outcomes

• Strategies or opportunities to assist industry with water conservation on farm, this includes but is not limited to, reduction of water consumption at farm level for drinker efficiency, washing, cooling, minimising evaporation from dams and general reduction of water in free range areas
• Development of an industry building/shed model to assist industry in determining the water and energy consumption, thermal performance and the embodied emissions of the building materials
• Shed design and ventilation research exploring any effects on existing productivity and welfare standards associated with different shed building proportions
• Detailed analysis of alternative shed floor materials
• Analysis of the practicalities of installing and utilising batteries and solar on farm and trading electricity to provide industry with fundamentals such as associated costs, farm requirements, electricity generation and demand, and anticipated impact on farm
• Opportunities for bedding re-use within a circular economy
• Integrate and assess the environmental impacts associated with feed ingredient cultivation, processing and transportation to develop holistic environmental considerations for Australian feed ingredients

Priority 2: Enhancing chicken biosecurity, health and welfare

• Understanding the levels and effects of current water treatments – i.e. anything added to the water for hygiene control of the drinker systems – used within the industry on the microbiome and gut health throughout the life of the broiler
• Exploring the use of robotics and artificial intelligence on broiler farms for applications such as litter turning, wild bird detection and deterrent, dead bird collection and other applications
• Understanding the impact of in shed operational/routine practices on bird behaviour and welfare
• Identification of alternative sanitisation disinfectants to assist industry in transitioning from formaldehyde
• Validation that netting the ranges of free-range farms reduces the risk of HPAI through reduced contact with wild birds

Priority 4: Ensuring the food safety of Australian chicken meat

• Surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in enteric commensals and pathogens in Australian meat

Submitting an application

Applications for this Open Call for Research must be submitted online using the PRP application in K2. Applicants are required to review the full Open Call documentation before submitting a response.

Respondent’s responses will be expected to provide:

• A summary of the proposed research including:
• What is the problem, issue or service need?
• What are the benefits from addressing the problem?
• Is there a compelling case for investing?
• How will the project findings be communicated and extended to industry?
• An outline of the project objectives.
• A detailed project plan (including proposed SMART milestones) on how the research will be conducted and detailed methodology.
• Capability and experience of the research team.
• Research timeline.
• A detailed budget.

The resultant Contract is expected to commence by April 2026.

New users need to register for access to the K2 platform, please note the provision of login details may take up to two business days.

Click here to login to K2

Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal. To set up a secure account before submitting a proposal, please visit the login page below to access our new user or new company request forms.

Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicant round is open.

K2 user guides and login

If you require assistance, please contact helpdesk@agrifutures.com.au

Contact

Should you have any questions about the Open Call, please direct all enquires to the Chicken Meat Program (details below) prior to 5pm AEST on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 (for questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email helpdesk@agrifutures.com.au).

A member from the Chicken Meat Program team will take questions via email. Individual responses to questions relating to the Open Call will not be provided by the Coordinator or Manager, Research. A response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section, below, within 24 hours of receival.

Please contact:

Stacey Gardiner

Coordinator, Levied & Emerging Industries (Chicken Meat)

email: chickenmeat@agrifutures.com.au

phone: 0447 036 709