Market Research and Development of a Strategic Roadmap
Location: Balwyn, VIC
Duration: 5 months
Project Background
Leawood Hemp is an Australian primary producing product and marketing company specialising in Hemp. In the hemp farming and processing operation there is a great deal of product that is wasted, particularly the hemp stalk. The object of the project is to establish from a large data bank, which has been built up by the company over a number of years from international and local sources, the best utilisation for the hemp plant. This will cover all components of the plant, seed fibre, hurd (stalk) and leaves.
Research to be Conducted
The research being conducted will be to evaluate possible avenues and markets for new hemp products. Hemp, from its nature of being a very versatile plant, produces fibre seed and leaves which can be used in many forms of industry from building to food. There is a great deal of waste in the hemp industry in the processing of seed. The major outcome for this project is to identify where hemp seeds, processed hemp and hemp processing waste by-products can be utilised into human, animal and industrial products. There is a great deal of research that has been done and we would like to adopt that to the Australian marketplace. Existing uses have been identified in vehicle building, clothing, road base, highly nutritious food. The starting point will be to research the existing material for suitable applications and uses then assess how they can be applied to or midwifed to the Australian market and conditions. This would include an assessment of the potential market and the raw material volume required to satisfy the demand.
Skills Required
If you’re a PhD student and meet some or all the below we want to hear from you. We strongly encourage women, indigenous and disadvantaged candidates to apply:
- Qualifications in Marketing or Management
- Experience in market research or organisational strategy
- Knowledge of food labelling and nutrition regulations
- Experience in testing for market viability.
- An understanding of agriculture and paddock to plate philosophy
- Knowledge of food science
- A strong interest in food and adapting organic, vegan (recipes) for markets.
- To be passionate about investing new products and understanding market viability.
- An interest in holistic approaches to sustainability using the whole of plants sustainably for industrial and consumer products.
Expected Outcomes
The outcome of this project is to identify which markets that hemp products can be targeted into for maximum profitability. This should include a full detailed analysis of profitability of each item, marketing streams, production techniques, sales and distribution channels along with pricing details from manufacturing costs through wholesale district distribution and retail. This will also include potential purchasers of the product and centres of influence such as veterinary surgeons, key manufacturing companies and government agencies.
Additional Details
The intern will receive $3,000 per month of the internship, usually in the form of stipend payments.
It is expected that the intern will primarily undertake this research project during regular business hours, spending at least 80% of their time on-site with the industry partner. The intern will be expected to maintain contact with their academic mentor throughout the internship either through face-to-face or phone meetings as appropriate.
The intern and their academic mentor will have the opportunity to negotiate the project’s scope, milestones and timeline during the project planning stage.
Applications Close
5 February 2020
Reference
APR – 1038
