Filling the Research Gap

Summary

The Filling the Research Gap program was a component of the Commonwealth Government's Carbon Farming Futures program. It supported research into emerging abatement technologies, strategies and innovative management practices that sequestered carbon or reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the land sector, assisted farmers to adapt to a changing climate and enhanced sustainable agricultural practices.
Filling the Research Gap built on research undertaken through the Climate Change Reseach Program. Projects targeted current research gaps around abatement technologies and practices. The research priorities were reducing methane emissions, reducing nitrous oxide emissions, sequestering carbon, improving modelling capability and adapting to climate change.
Research outcomes underpinned the development of a number of new abatement methodologies that land managers can use to participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). The ERF, a voluntary carbon offsets scheme, allows participating land managers to earn additional income from reducing emissions and storing carbon in the landscape. Further information about research findings from the CFF can be found in the DAWR publicationBoosting farm productivity – Improved soils and reduced greenhouse gas emissions​.
Round 1 of Filling the Research Gap focused on improving understanding of the sources, scale and cause of agricultural emissions and quantifying the effectiveness of management practices and technologies aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing soil carbon stocks.
Round 2 of Filling the Research Gap were chosen to build on research efforts funded under Round 1 and the CCRP. Applications for round 2 closed 23 January 2013. There were 88 projects worth $74 million funded by the Commonwealth Government under Filling the Research Gap Rounds 1 and 2.
MLA funded a science specialist to assist MLA prepare a coordinated bid on behalf of a range of partners to the federal government under Round Two of Filling the Research Gap (FtRG). The bid required detailed work to develop contracts and assist with negotiations on new contracts as in Round One of FtRG. Independent assessment of Expressions of Interest for proposals was undertaken, with at least one independent view on the projects that MLA prioritised as part of its submission to DAFF. Further expert review of milestones, final reports and in the development of strategies was also undertaken.