Page 11 - Australian Pork Newapaper

AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship applications open now
APPLICATIONS for the AgriFutures Hori- zon Scholarship are now open.
Students studying an ag- riculture-related degree or STEM degree and in their last two years of study are eligible to apply.
The AgriFutures Hori- zon Scholarship, in part- nership with industry sponsors, provides an an- nual $10,000 bursary over two years and profession- al development opportuni- ties for eligible university students.
The AgriFutures Hori- zon Scholarship also of- fers students annual in- dustry work placements, access to industry leaders, professional development assistance and opportuni- ties to network and gain knowledge at a range of industry events.
Students studying the following agriculture-re- lated degrees are eligible to apply:
• Agricultural Science;
• Rural Science;
• Livestock/Animal Science; • Veterinary Science;
• Agribusiness;
• Plant Science;
• Agricultural Economics; • Resource Management; • Sustainability;
• Food Security; and
• Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM) with major stud- ies and subject selections relevant to, and aligned with, agriculture.
AgriFutures Horizon Scholar Emma Moss
is currently studying a Bachelor of Sustainable Agriculture at the Uni- versity of Queensland and has been on the pro- gram for two years.
“The Horizon Scholar- ship program has given me confidence and a way to channel my passion for agriculture into things that will make a genu- ine difference,” Ms Moss said.
“I have had so many amazing experiences over the past two years, from speaking at evokeAG 2019 as a Future Young Leader, being involved at EKKA through my spon- sor, Meat and Livestock Australia, and being in- vited to present at schools – the confidence I have gained through the pro- gram has really helped me embrace these oppor- tunities and put myself out there more.”
The Horizon Scholar- ship program assisted Ms Moss with work place- ments across the Northern Territory.
“Most of my work place- ments have been in areas that are quite expensive to get to, so I probably wouldn’t have been able to complete them without the assistance the Horizon Scholarship program pro- vides,” she said.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunities I have been exposed to and for the amazing people I’ve met who have shown me different ways to think
about agriculture. “Through the Horizon
Scholarship program I have learnt how important it is to have a strong net- work of industry contacts.
“Not only have I been able to build my profes- sional network through my work placements, but I’ve developed lasting re- lationships with the other scholars on the program.
“It has been amazing to meet people my age who share my passion for agriculture.”
AgriFutures Australia recognises there is a broad range of skills that con- tribute to all areas of rural industries and are look- ing to attract those skilled individuals into careers in agriculture.
AgriFutures Australia managing director John Harvey said, “As an or- ganisation dedicated to the long-term prosperity of our rural industries, we are committed to support- ing the next generation of leaders within the Aus- tralian agricultural land- scape.”
“The Horizon Scholar- ship program provides networking and profes- sional development op- portunities, along with valuable industry place- ments, which allows our scholars to begin their ca- reers in agriculture with direction and readiness.”
Students must be enter- ing their last two years of university to be eligible for the AgriFutures Hori- zon Scholarship.
All applicants must have commenced their tertiary studies no longer than two years after leaving high school.
Scholarship recipients will be selected on the basis of their commitment to a career in agriculture, as well as their leadership potential and tertiary aca- demic record to date.
Applications close at 5pm AEDT Friday, No- vember 22, 2019.
Shortlisted applicants must be available for a telephone interview in February 2020, and schol- arship winners will be an- nounced in April 2020.
For more information and to apply, visit agrifu tures.com.au/horizon
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Strengthening our borders to stop swine fever
WITH African swine fe- ver confirmed less than 700km from Australia’s northern border, Agri- culture Minister Bridget McKenzie is calling for heightened vigilance to keep the disease out.
“One quarter of the world’s pigs will be dead by the end of this year from African swine fever, which kills about 80 per- cent of the pigs it infects and there’s no vaccine and no cure,” Minister McK- enzie said.
“Our government is stepping up our border in- tervention to make sure we keep it out, not just to protect our 2700 pork producers but also protect Australia’s global reputa- tion as a supplier of clean, green, safe and nutritious food.
“In increasingly com-
petitive markets our free- dom from diseases like ASF is central to our trade proposition across all our agricultural products and we need to protect that.
“We’re boosting our biosecurity effort at in- ternational airports to target those flights from countries affected by ASF and in coming weeks we will be undertaking spot checks of each and every person arriving on select- ed flights.
“I’ve asked my depart- ment to employ detector dog capabilities in Dar- win given the heightened risk direct flights from Timor Leste could pose.
“We’re also working with airlines in countries that have ASF to make sure passengers under- stand our requirements and have every opportu-
nity to comply.
“Earlier this year we
implemented changes to immigration legislation so international visitors who bring in undeclared high- risk items, like pork from ASF-affected countries, can be sent back home.
“They can be refused entry to Australia and have their visas cancelled for up to three years.
“Since we increased border checks, we’ve been seizing 100kg a week in illegal pork products.
“Between November 5, 2018 and August 31, 2019 over 27 tonnes of pork was intercepted on air travellers entering Aus- tralia.
“We need every Austra- lian and all our visitors to play their part and leave pork products overseas.”
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Australian Pork Newspaper, November 2019 – Page 11