Australian Pork Limited: Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) – Industry Priority Projects

Overview Australian Pork Limited (APL) is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for industry priority research projects aligned with the 2026/27 research and development priorities. About The APL and the Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd (APRIL) Boards have considered the 2026/27 research and development priorities identified through the Green Paper process. Purpose These priorities will help guide future research investment across the Australian pork industry, with a continued focus on growing fresh pork demand, diversifying markets and revenue, driving sustainable productivity and advancing industry integrity. Scope APL is inviting EOIs for research projects aligned with the following research areas: 1. Environment and emissions Expected outcomes: delivering practical and meaningful outcomes that improve overall industry sustainability including emissions reduction and odour, and progressing nutrient and water management from effluent; changing the paradigm in environmental/effluent research from a cost of production/compliance issue to an opportunity for industry growth and improved productivity. Water and nutrient management from farm and processing effluent streams Objective and validated assessments of odour Further emission reduction opportunities through all parts of the value chain Low-cost gas capture and energy retention methodologies By-product opportunities (e.g., manure, biogas, composting, renewable gas and fuels) 2. Feeding and nutrition Expected outcome: nutritional strategies and interventions that reduce herd feed conversion and contain feed costs in the face of increasing competition for traditional raw materials. Optimising nutrition of the breeding herd to improve piglet viability, lactation outcomes and sow longevity Further development of rapid methods for analysis of ingredient composition of feed quality Novel nutritional strategies and interventions that enhance carcase composition and/or feed conversion efficiency Revision of nutrient requirements for all production stages Increased understanding of Australian and international trends and practices that may impact the availability and cost of feedstocks 3. Human capacity and society Expected outcome: building and retaining a resilient, diverse and skilled rural and regional workforce. Emerging, or utilising current, technologies and strategies to address labour challenges Further demonstrating and articulating the narrative of the Australian pork industry's credentials to food and protein supply (especially amongst Gen Z), upholding animal welfare principles, and supporting the communities in which it operates 4. Data and information Expected outcome: exploiting the benefits of artificial intelligence for more efficient and profitable pig production, processing, and data and information analyses. Automatic capture and use of data and information for more efficient and cost-effective housing, effluent, labour and pig management and utilisation Use of AI technologies for welfare assessment at critical production points including farrowing, lairage and slaughter 5. Pig genetics Expected outcome: enhancing the rate of genetic improvement in the Australian pork industry while maintaining current or better health status. Methods, programs and alternatives to escalate rates and/or exploit potential heterotic effects for genetic gain in key selected traits of industry importance Increased understanding of genotype x environment interactions 6. Pig care and wellbeing Expected outcome: providing novel tools or approaches to support continuous improvement and assessment of pig care and wellbeing and demonstrate the positive welfare credentials of Australian pork. Evidence-based enrichment options, including low-cost, non-straw and effluent-friendly substrates, for use at all phases of production to optimise welfare Objective assessment of pig care and wellbeing including the generation of a suite of suitable biomarkers indicating positive welfare attributes at end of life Objective assessments of pain Feed additives/nutritional strategies for positive welfare attributes 7. Pig health and antimicrobial stewardship Expected outcome: delivering novel technologies and approaches to mitigate risks and production impacts of infectious diseases, enhance emergency animal disease (EAD) preparedness, and further reduce antibiotic use. Limiting the use of in-feed antibiotics and enhancing the effectiveness and efficacy of water medication (in accord with the Australian Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance [ASTAG]) Managing and preventing farm-to-farm incursions of current Australian pig diseases, especially disease transmitted by aerosol New technologies to identify sick pigs before presence of clinical signs Regional eradication of significant diseases 8. Pig processing and meat quality Expected outcome: ensuring a sustainable processing sector and increasing the share of domestic fresh meat consumption and export market value. AI-driven quality control and foreign object contamination reduction Improving yield, reducing waste, and protecting brand and compliance outcomes Value-adding pork products, e.g., skin, bone, blood, into a complement of commercially available nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and/or high-protein powder products, for pet or human use Reducing processing energy and water costs Sustainable and viable packaging options having excellent shelf life Strategies to improve the eating quality of pork (e.g. improve tenderness and juiciness, optimise meat smell before/after cooking) Research that better links on-farm factors to processing and final product quality Research to support robust Export Slaughter Interval (ESI) guidance for critical veterinary products 9. Retail Expected outcome: achieving a greater share of meat consumption. An understanding of the potential impacts of weight loss medications on pork demand and consumption patterns Further promoting the nutritional value of pork Creating more and higher value-added products using fresh Australian pork, including development of new or improved products Eligibility An individual is not eligible to be considered as a Principal Investigator or Project Leader for a new research project if: Any milestone report for a current project is overdue and there is no approved and fully executed Project Variation A final report for a current project is more than three months overdue and there is no approved and fully signed Project Variation This requirement applies until the overdue report is submitted or an approved Project Variation is in place. How to Apply All applications are to be made through the PigConnect portal. Applicants that have previously provided an EOI to APL are welcome to resubmit a previous EOI in this round, if relevant. Applicants are also encouraged to visit the APL and APRIL websites for more information on research projects that are currently underway. Visit the APL's Funding and resources webpage for further information. APL's Strategic Plan 2025-2030 is also available. It is anticipated that funding for successful projects would commence from 1 July 2027 (some earlier if appropriate), subject to contract execution. Important dates EOI Open: 1 September 2026 EOI Close: 11:59 pm AEST, 25 September 2026 APL to send out invite for Full Research Proposal (FRP): From 9 November 2026 Full Research Proposal Submission closing date: 11 December 2026 Final review complete and Principal Investigator notified of project outcome: From April 2027 Enquiries For any further information, or to discuss current funded research or any questions, please contact: Dr Rebecca Morrison, General Manager, Research Innovation and Extension: rebecca.morrison@australianpork.com.au Dr Rebecca Athorn, RI Program Manager, Farming and Welfare: rebecca.athorn@australianpork.com.au Dr Mandy Bowling, RI Program Manager, Health and Biosecurity: mandy.bowling@australianpork.com.au Dr Vaibhav Gole, RI Program Manager, Integrity and Product Quality: vaibhav.gole@australianpork.com.au Tim Morley-Sattler, RI Program Manager, Environment and Sustainability: tim.morley-sattler@australianpork.com.au