APL and APRIL Joint Call for Industry Priority Projects [NOW OPEN]
Australian Pork Limited (APL) and the Australasian Pork Research Institute Limited (APRIL) are now seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a number of industry priority projects based on the 2024 Green paper and each organisation’s strategic priorities.
Apply for Industry Priority Project:
Click the PigConnect portal to submit applications for APL, APRIL or both parties to consider. Applicants that have previously provided an EOI to APL are welcome to resubmit a previous EOI in this round, if relevant.
APRIL-funded projects may require a cash contribution to cover project costs and facility funding, dependent on the level of participation the organisation(s) has/have within APRIL’s new participant model. Refer to the Guidelines for APRIL Priority Projects for more information.
Note: An individual is ineligible to be considered for a new research project (as Project Leader) if, and without an approved and fully signed Project Variation, there are two or more consecutive Quarterly Project Reports and/or Cash Expenditure Reports that are overdue. Furthermore, an individual is ineligible to be considered for a new research project (as Project Leader) if, and without an approved and fully signed Project Variation, a Final Report is more than 3 months overdue.
EOI Applications Close: 26th September 2025
APRIL Transformational Projects [NOW OPEN]
APRIL Transformational Projects address major issues for the Australasian pork industry that, if successfully implemented, are likely to result in step-change. These projects are highly collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and by their very nature require consider resources and time to execute. Consequently, Transformational Projects require significant external investment and are targeted at, but not restricted to, the Australian Research Council schemes and the Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) scheme.
APRIL is seeking project applications to address the challenges of, and provide solutions for each of the following Transformational Projects:
Pig Care and Wellbeing
Expected outcomes: Providing novel tools or approaches to support continuous improvement and assessment of pig care and wellbeing and demonstrate the welfare credentials of Australian pork.
Key Research Areas:
- Objective assessment of pig care and wellbeing
- Identifying suitable biomarkers that indicate positive welfare attributes.
- Enrichment and management strategies to prevent tail biting.
- Feed additives/nutritional strategies for positive welfare attributes.
Pig Processing
Expected outcomes: Ensuring a sustainable processing sector for the future.
Key Research Areas:
- Maintaining stunning, including CO2 stunning of pigs.
- Avoiding foreign object contamination in carcasses.
Data and Information
Expected outcomes: Exploiting the benefits of technologies with existing and future information for more efficient and profitable pig production, processing and understanding of market trends.
Key Research Areas:
- Automatic capture and use of information (e.g. smart sensors, digital technologies, artificial intelligence) for more efficient and cost-effective pig management.
- Use of artificial intelligence technologies for welfare assessment at critical production points including farrowing and lactation with different farrowing systems.
Apply for Transformational Project:
APRIL Transformational Project grants are open to any individual(s) from any organisation(s) and all Australian universities. APRIL requires evidence of external co-funding and expects a minimum external cash contribution, dependent on the applicant’s participant status (Non-Participant or Participant). Applications which display higher external cash contribution may be viewed more favourably. APRIL-funded projects may require a cash contribution to cover project costs and facility funding, dependent on the level of participation the organisation(s) has/have within APRIL’s new participant model. Refer to the Guidelines for APRIL Priority Projects for more information or contact Dr Charles Rikard-Bell.
Transformation Project Guidelines
The following downloads will assist you in your Transformational Project Application:
Expressions of Interest for APRIL Kickstart Program [OPEN]
The Kickstart Program can provide up to $7,500 for an individual/organisation(s) to assist with the preparation and submission of a specific, targeted and agreed major external funding application (or applications) in partnership with APRIL and other partners.
Significant external funding pools exist both nationally and internationally for potential investment. The Kickstart Program aims to increase the number of applications that are prepared and submitted to external funding organisations that ultimately increase the funding pool to undertake more of APRIL’s activities, in alignment with Transformational Project and Industry Priority Project priorities in the current Strategic Plan.
Expressions of Interest (EoI) for project applications not seeking Kickstart funds may also be submitted but must adhere to the same principle of being a specific, targeted major external funding application in partnership with APRIL (and other partners), in alignment with the APRIL Strategic Plan.
Apply for a Kickstart award
To apply for a Kickstart award, complete an EoI form (linked below) and email it to Dr John Pluske, APRIL CEO/Chief Scientist, at j.pluske@april.org.au. Questions concerning the program can also be directed to Dr Pluske on 0410 436 871.
Kickstart applications : always open.
APRIL Commercialisation Projects [OPEN]
An APRIL Commercialisation Project addresses the issue where the path to market of a product, service or technology may be close and additional co-investment, that would commonly include other investors, may assist in bringing it to realisation.
Apply for a Commercialisation Project
Head to the April Commercialisation page for more information.
Commercialisation Project Proposal