About APRIL
The Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd. (APRIL) is a participant-funded, independent organisation committed to advancing science within the Australian pork industry. We invest in research and development, education and training, and commercialisation to support long-term sustainability of pork production and deliver strong returns for our stakeholders.
Funding Opportunities
APRIL offers a number of funding opportunities throughout the year for research projects, education and training.
APIETC Awards – Now Open
Did you know that the following universities are GOLD APRIL members?
🎓 The University of Adelaide
🎓 The University of Melbourne
🎓 The University of Queensland
🎓 Murdoch University
Being a student at a GOLD APRIL member university comes with added benefits, including access to exclusive scholarships, research funding and professional development opportunities within the Australian pork industry. Visit the Education and Training page for more information
Education and Training application portal
Applications close on 29 January 2027
Always Avaliable:
- Expression of interest for APRIL Kickstart Program
- APRIL Commercialisation Projects
- APRIL Innovation Projects
Visit the Funding Opportunities page for more information
Education and Training Opportunities
A key part of APRIL’s Strategic Plan is education and training, to assist with human capacity building for the Australasian pork industry.
APRIL and APL have established a joint Australian Pork Industry Education and Training Committee (APIETC) that provides direction and approvals to scholarships and awards relating to both funding bodies.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN:
APIETC will now review applications for a range of scholarships and awards commencing in 2026/27.
For more information, please contact Dr. Charles Rikard Bell at c.rikardbell@april.org.au, or head to the Education and Training page:
Latest news from APRIL
APRIL has a dedicated LinkedIn profile to share updates on supported research, highlight funding opportunities, and keep members connected with key developments in the pig science sector.
Keep up with the latest APRIL news by following our LinkedIN page
Celebrating 10 years of AusScan
This year marks a major milestone for AusScan as we celebrate 10 years as a commercial enterprise. Since the launch of AusScan Online in 2015, the platform has grown from a research-driven concept into a globally recognised feed evaluation tool, helping nutritionists, feed manufacturers and producers make more informed decisions about ingredient quality. Today, AusScan supports more than 90,000 scans annually and is used in 69 countries, providing fast, reliable feed quality information when and where it’s needed.
AusScan’s continued growth is supported by initiatives such as the APRIL Commercialisation Scheme, which provides additional co-investment to help advance near-market products, services and technologies towards commercialisation, alongside other potential investors.
Winner of the 2026 Enterprise Award Announced!
The APRIL Enterprise Award will be granted to an individual (or individuals) working in the pork industry that can demonstrate innovation and excellence in one or more of the following themes:
- Innovations resulting in new products, methodologies and/or services.
- Potential for accelerated adoption of an innovation to improve performance and efficiency.
- Potential for commercialisation opportunities through APRIL.
Congratulations to Dr. Tanya Nowland and Dr. Liisa Kautto, for winning the APRIL Enterprise Award.
Watch this space for more research updates to come on this exciting research!
APRIL project 5A-111
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kate Plush (SunPork Group)
New evidence suggests that something as simple as the grind size of feed may influence piglet development before birth.
Coarser feed particles often bypass digestion in the small intestine and reach the hindgut, where they serve as fermentable material for beneficial microbes. This hindgut fermentation produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which has been linked to improved fetal growth in rat studies.
Research question: Could feeding sows a coarser-ground diet during gestation (with 40% of particles >1 mm) enhance piglet growth and development in utero?
See full post here
Industry news
This edition features APRIL supported PhD researcher Cintia Amaral from Murdoch University, who shares insights into her international research and experiences across the United States and Denmark.
