The awards, presented by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS), recognise young Australians between the ages of 18 to 35 working or studying in Australian rural industries. Industry categories included in the awards were animal welfare, dairy, eggs, emerging and niche rural industries, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, grains, horticulture, land and water, meat and livestock, pork, processed meat, sugar and viticulture and oenology.

APL Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Award Winner Rachel Morrissey

Australian Pork Limited (APL) General Manager Research and Innovation Dr Darryl D’Souza said APL was proud to sponsor an award on behalf of the pork industry, and was very pleased to honour this year’s recipient. The winner was Senior Technical Officer and Director of ACE Laboratory Services, Bendigo, Rachel Morrissey.

“Rachel will receive $20,000 to put towards her investigation into the disease Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS). This disease was first described in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1993 and has since been reported in most pig producing countries. It is a disease that mainly affects grower and finisher pigs and can lead to losses of up to 15 percent. Some pigs can recover but are often permanently unthrifty.

“Projects like Rachel’s will help identify the cause agents of this disease and potentially lead to improved methods of detection, possible control and even eradication.”

Dr D’Souza said APL is proud to support excellent initiatives like the Agricultural Young Innovators and Scientist Awards and would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Rachael Morrissey on becoming a very worthy recipient of such an award.