Open Call: 2026 AgriFutures Ginger Program

Overview AgriFutures Australia is inviting research proposals through the 2026 AgriFutures Ginger Program Open Call, seeking submissions that support a sustainable, growing and prosperous ginger industry supplying product of the highest quality, strongly sought after by discerning consumers in Australia and around the world. Purpose AgriFutures Australia is seeking research proposals that address key industry priorities within the 2022-2027 AgriFutures Ginger Program RD&E Plan, particularly those within the Market Opportunities priority, to increase the value of the industry and increase access to new and existing markets. Alignment to the RD&E Plan must be demonstrated in all submissions made to the Open Call. Funding projects aligned with the research, development and extension (RD&E) priorities and objectives of the industry ensures AgriFutures Australia is investing in research that meets the needs of the ginger industry. Successful tenders will demonstrate sound knowledge in the production and supply of Australian ginger. Researchers who are unsure of the alignment and relevance of their research to industry priorities are encouraged to use their networks to speak with ginger growers or industry members to test research ideas. Objectives AgriFutures Australia welcomes Preliminary Research Proposals that address one or more of the objectives within the Ginger RD&E Plan 2022-2027. The RD&E Plan is structured around four key objective areas: High quality product and sustainable production systems Market opportunities Technology and innovation Industry engagement As a regionally significant commodity, the Ginger Program is seeking investments that demonstrate robust value for money and uplift the value of the industry. Proposals must address strategies, consider the justification, be linked to an indicative activity, and deliver on a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) listed within each priority of the RD&E Strategic Plan. Contractor Requirements Evaluation Criteria The following criteria will be used to assess applications, with equal weighting applied: Relevance of the project to the research priorities of AgriFutures Australia Relevance of the project to the research priorities of the Program Importance of AgriFutures Australia investing in this research Value of the benefits of this research to industry Importance of this research to industry Importance of the expected outcomes of this project to industry Importance of the outputs and deliverables from this project to industry Value for money for this project Project design, including how conceptually sound and technically feasible the project is Potential for adoption in industry Potential for commercial pathways Value of any potential IP resulting from this project Capability and experience of the Project Lead Capability and experience of the Research Organisation Researcher Submission Checklist The researcher must complete the following checklist prior to the submission being accepted: If the project requires statistical analysis, has a qualified statistician been engaged to undertake project design and data analyses? Is the Principal Investigator an early career researcher (less than five years since postgraduate study completion)? Have you checked the FAQ section on the AgriFutures website? Has the proposal been discussed with people in the Program industry? Does the proposal identify if the work potentially relates to the Program objective? Does the proposal clearly identify who will be undertaking the bulk of the work (might not necessarily be the Principal Investigator)? Does the proposal clearly articulate what the applied outcome for industry will be, even if it is a long-term applied project? Does the proposal clearly outline what the potential process might be for identifying extension opportunities (excluding publications and conference presentations)? Does the proposal take into consideration where the international expertise is in the area of research? The Principal Investigator must comply with the application process within K2. Information Requested Proposals should clearly indicate the following: The project benefits for the Ginger industry The objectives and outcomes of the proposed project and the link to the R&D objectives Who will be undertaking the majority of the work, including statistical analysis, and whether new staff and/or students are to be employed to undertake the work The plan for extension and adoption of research outcomes from the project activity work, beyond distribution of summaries, journal papers and conference presentations Where relevant, collaboration with experts in the field The researcher's understanding of past research in this field Respondents will be expected to provide: A detailed project plan, including timelines, KPIs and how the project will be conducted and how this will meet the requirements of the Open Call A detailed budget, with attachments included where relevant Examples of similar work the respondent has completed Capability and relevant experience How to Apply Applications for this Open Call for Research must be submitted online using the PRP application in K2. Applicants with a previous account in Clarity can log in using their Clarity user name or email address and the initial password K2pass! Users will be prompted to reset this initial password when logging in. If the password is forgotten at any time, it can also be reset via the forgotten password link on the login page. New users need to register for access to the K2 platform, and the provision of login details may take up to two business days. Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal, using the new user or new company request forms available via the account creation page. Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicable round is open. K2 User Guide: Submitting a Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) K2 User Guide: Admin approval for Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) For questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email helpdesk@agrifutures.com.au. Enquiries Questions about the Open Call should be directed to the AgriFutures Ginger Program by Thursday, 27 August 2026. Individual responses to questions relating to the Open Call will not be provided by AgriFutures; a response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Contact: Amy La, Manager, Levied Industries Email: ginger@agrifutures.com.au