Published Thursday, 01 March, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
SUGAR INNOVATOR TAKES STATE AWARD
The winner of the 2007 Rural Women’s Award is a North Queensland businesswoman who uses new technology to develop innovative and diverse sugarcane products.
The 2007 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award winner, Ms Sonya Maley, owns Resis Australia, a company that uses cane separation technology to create juice concentrates and healthy functional foods containing increased dietary fibre.
Ms Maley established the Mossman Central Mill-based company in 2005 and is already attracting considerable interest from both Australian and Japanese markets.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin presented
Ms Maley with the award at a gala ceremony attended by Her Excellency, the Governor of Queensland, Ms Quentin Bryce AC and primary industry leaders at Old Government House.
"The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries is committed to supporting and promoting the work of innovators in primary industries,” Mr Mulherin said.
“I congratulate Ms Maley and the other four finalists who are passionate and visionary in making real contributions to sustainable agriculture in Queensland.”
Ms Maley plans to use the $10,000 bursary prize to undertake a study tour in the United States to further her research into cane separation technology and apply this new knowledge to her work in Australia. She believes this research will contribute to the long-term economic sustainability of Queensland’s sugar industry.
The Minister officially opened the commercialised cane separation facility at Mossman Central Mill last October.
“The sugar industry is worth around $1 billion to the Queensland economy so there is a solid foundation for value-adding opportunities and Sonya’s innovative technology takes advantage of that potential,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
Runner-up for the award was North Queenslander, Linda Jaques, owner of Jaques Australian Coffee - an award winning coffee and agri-tourism business at Mareeba.
Ms Jaques plans to import and cultivate natural caffeine-free coffee plants. The plants first discovered in Ethiopia are now being researched by scientists in Brazil and are not available in Australia.
Ms Jaques believes that natural decaffeinated coffee with its superior taste and increased health benefits will create a new market for Australian coffee growers and processors.
Last year’s Queensland winner Martha Shepherd went on to take the national award.
Media: David Potter 32396530
Photos available: Kaye Nunan 32393254
The 2007 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award winner, Ms Sonya Maley, owns Resis Australia, a company that uses cane separation technology to create juice concentrates and healthy functional foods containing increased dietary fibre.
Ms Maley established the Mossman Central Mill-based company in 2005 and is already attracting considerable interest from both Australian and Japanese markets.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin presented
Ms Maley with the award at a gala ceremony attended by Her Excellency, the Governor of Queensland, Ms Quentin Bryce AC and primary industry leaders at Old Government House.
"The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries is committed to supporting and promoting the work of innovators in primary industries,” Mr Mulherin said.
“I congratulate Ms Maley and the other four finalists who are passionate and visionary in making real contributions to sustainable agriculture in Queensland.”
Ms Maley plans to use the $10,000 bursary prize to undertake a study tour in the United States to further her research into cane separation technology and apply this new knowledge to her work in Australia. She believes this research will contribute to the long-term economic sustainability of Queensland’s sugar industry.
The Minister officially opened the commercialised cane separation facility at Mossman Central Mill last October.
“The sugar industry is worth around $1 billion to the Queensland economy so there is a solid foundation for value-adding opportunities and Sonya’s innovative technology takes advantage of that potential,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
Runner-up for the award was North Queenslander, Linda Jaques, owner of Jaques Australian Coffee - an award winning coffee and agri-tourism business at Mareeba.
Ms Jaques plans to import and cultivate natural caffeine-free coffee plants. The plants first discovered in Ethiopia are now being researched by scientists in Brazil and are not available in Australia.
Ms Jaques believes that natural decaffeinated coffee with its superior taste and increased health benefits will create a new market for Australian coffee growers and processors.
Last year’s Queensland winner Martha Shepherd went on to take the national award.
Media: David Potter 32396530
Photos available: Kaye Nunan 32393254