Field Study of
Economics Department

経済学科のフィールドスタディ

2018 Report on the Field Study D in Australia

Report from Professor: Makiko Omura
2018 Field Study D: Australian Agriculture and Japanese Market “The Third Field Study Programme in Australia”

This was the third field study programme in Brisbane, Australia, based at the University of Queensland (UQ). After arriving to Brisbane in early morning, we had a bit of hiccups meeting with the team leader, yet after meeting her who was fluent in Japanese, we bought our breakfast at a super market on the way to town and headed to the UQ to meet the host families. The students in group of one or two were allocated to different homestay families. The programme commenced the following morning at UQ, where students took 5 specialised English language classes, agricultural economics related 11 lecture/seminar sessions, 13 field visits and 1 research project.

This time, we had a different lecture/visit at the School of Agriculture and Food Science, where we learnt about various scientific approaches to food safety and efficient production. Since we usually do not study science subjects, it was interesting to learn these issues. One of the most memorable visits this time was a visit to a social enterprise supporting farms aiming for organic and sustainable agriculture, which also offered a curious contrast to another farm that we visited which supplied products to large supermarket chains with emphasis on efficiency. Learning that agricultural cooperatives do not really exist in Australia, it was interesting to learn their endeavour and policies vis-a-vis our own. We renewed our visit to JBS Australia, the world largest meat company, and learnt about their strategies as a global exporting firm, although it was unfortunately that we could not visit the factory this time. It gave us additional information to what we had already learnt in the Case Study D course before coming to Australia. This time, we had a research project session based on a documentary film and articles about the Australian drought and the distress of cattle farmers. This gave us a valuable opportunity to think through various issues surrounding the lack of water, that we were generally not so conscious. The closing luncheon offered us some delicacy of kangaroo and crocodile meat which we all enjoyed.

The season in Australia was opposite to that in Japan, and the first few days were especially cold, however, luckily no one had any health issue. Some students could have tried to engage themselves more in learning, even though each one should have deepened their knowledge and experience. While homestay was not problem-free, they all enjoyed their homestay life. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has made this programme possible.

Programme Schedule

18 August – 30 August, 2018

Friday
17 August
1955 Depart Japan on QF 62
Saturday
18 August
0555 Arrive Brisbane International on QF 062
 • Meet UQ Group Leader at airport
 • Board coach for transfer to UQ St Lucia Campus
 Brisbane City tour enroute to the University of Queensland (UQ)
0900 Meet homestay family at Sir William McGregor Drive, UQ
 Group Leader to accompany Teacher to accommodation
Sunday
19 August
Free Day
Monday
20 August
AM 0800 Arrive at ICTE-UQ Building 14 Level 2 Foyer
 • Welcome Pack
 • Photo taken for student card
0815 Official Welcome to the University of Queensland (UQ) & Orientation by TESOL teacher
 • Safety
 • Internet Setup
 • Class expectations
 • Transport in Brisbane
 • Mini Campus tour
 Building 14, Room 318
1010 Group Photo
 Location: Duhig Building
1015 Break
1045 English for Special Purposes – Agriculture and Economics
 • Session includes UQ Aussie Conversationalist
 Building 14, Room 318
PM 1245 Lunch (at own cost)
 • Meet UQ Student Guides at classroom
1400 Campus Tour (with UQ Student Guides)
1500 Presentation: Sustainable Economies – The Australian Perspective
 • Sustainability and real life issues in Australia
 Building 14, Room 318
1700 Presentation concludes
 • Return to homestay via public transport
Tuesday
21 August
AM 0815 English for Special Purposes – Agriculture and Economics
 Location: Building 14, Room 318
1015 Break
1045 English for Special Purposes – Agriculture and Economics
 • Session includes UQ Aussie Conversationalists
 Location: Building 14, Room 318
PM 1254 Lunch (own cost)
1400 Presentation: Overview of the Economics of Australian Agriculture
 Location: Building 14, Room 318
1430 Presentation: Agricultural Economics and Marketing
 • Management of various supply chains in Asian vegetables and Australian native flower industries (i.e. tracking down the horticultural products throughout the entire supply chain: importers, wholesalers, retailers to discuss that products they use) for Japanese market
 Location: Building 14, Room 318
1530 Presentation concludes
 • Return to homestay via public transport
Wednesday
22 August
AM 0815 English for Special Purposes – Agriculture and Economics
 Building 14, Room 318
1015 Break
1045 English for Special Purposes – Agriculture and Economics
 Building 14, Room 318
PM 1245 Lesson concludes
 • Meet Group Leader to meet group at classroom
 • Board Coach to site visit from GPN3 bus stop
1315 Lunch at Sirromet
1400 Site Visit: Sirromet Winery
 Closed shoes are required for the site visit
 • Presentation: Marketing Australian wine to Japan
 • Tour of facilities
 Sirromet is a family owned winery at the forefront of the Australian wine industry. Sirromet has collected over 630 prestigious national and international wine awards since opening in 2000. At approximately 820 metres above sea level, the cool climate and rich granite soils reward the winemakers with unique flavours, texture and structure, which make their wines stand out from the crowd.
SIRROMET
1530 Presentation concludes
 • Coach to UQ
1700 Return to homestay
Thursday
23 August
AM 0815 Board coach at GPN3 Bus Stop for transfer to Cleveland
 • Must wear closed shoes (which can get wet) & sun protection
1000 Vehicular Ferry departs Cleveland for Stradbroke Island
1045 Arrive Stradbroke Island
1115 Field Trip: Stradbroke Island
 • Ms Makiko Omura to interpret
North Gorge Walk at Point Lookout
 • Dolphin & Whale spotting
 Point Lookout is the most easterly point in Queensland and a great vantage point for watching the annual humpback whale migration which takes place down the east coast of Australia from June – November. In addition to dolphins and whales, sometimes turtles, manta rays and sharks may be spotted.
PM 1245 Board coach for continuation of field trip
1300 Lunch
 Location: Seashells Café
1345 Board coach for continuation of field trip
1400 Goompi Trail Walk
 An informative walking tour, led by an experienced Aboriginal guide where you explore the shores of Dunwich (Goompi), the centre of Aboriginal culture on North Stradbroke Island. Learn about such aspects of aboriginal life such as the fish ring, bush medicines, local food and how artifacts are made.
Official North Stradbrokeisland
1530 Board coach for ferry terminal
1600 Vehicular ferry departs Stradbroke Island for Cleveland
1745 Arrive at UQ GPN3 Bus Stop
 • Return to homestay via public transport
Friday
24 August
AM 0730 Board coach from GPN3 Bus Stop for Site Visit
 • Must wear closed shoes & sun protection
0830 Activity: Redland City Indigiscapes Environmental Education Centre
IndigiScapes Centre
0930 Self-guided bushwalk at Indigiscapes
1030 Coach to UQ
1130 Arrive at UQ
 Lunch (own expense)
PM 1310 Meet UQ Group Leader in Building 14, Level 2 foyer
 • Walk to SAFS Building
1330 Presentation & Tour: School of Agriculture and Food Science (SAFS) Building
 Location: John Hines Building (62)
 • Walk with presenter to labs for tour
 • Tour of SAFS lab
 • Presentation:
1530 Visit concludes
 • Return to homestay via public transport
Saturday
25 August
0900 Board coach from GPN3 Bus Stop for Site Visit
 • Must wear closed shoes & sun protection
Activity: Day Trip to Mt Tamborine (with Eco Guide)
 • Ms Makiko Omura to interpret
1200 Lunch (picnic-style)
1530 Coach to UQ
1700 Arrive at UQ GPN3 Bus Stop
 • Return to homestay via public transport
Sunday
26 August
Free day
Monday
27 August
AM 0900 Presentation: Australian Beef Industry
 • Overview of the industry and trading relations with Japan
 Building 14, Room 318
1030 Presentation: Australian Wheat Industry
 • Overview of the industry and trading relations with Japan
 Building 14, Room 318
PM 1200 Presentation concludes
1200 Lunch (own cost)
1245 Board coach for transfer to site visit from GPN3 Bus Stop
1400 Presentation & Site Visit: Australia’s Landcare System
 Landcare is a national network of over 4,000 locally-based community groups who care for our country. These groups care for our land and water resources by carrying out environmental projects to tackle natural resource issues such as salinity and water quality. They also help to manage areas of natural beauty and significance to enhance biodiversity values.
1530 Board coach for UQ
1630 Arrive at UQ
Tuesday
28 August
AM 0915 Meet Group Leader in Building 14, Level 2 foyer
0930 Board coach from GPN3 Bus Stop
 • Must wear closed shoes & sun protection
1030 Site Visit: Farm Visit
 • Tour of farm
PM 1215 Visit concludes
1230 Coach to Gatton Campus
1300 Lunch at UQ Gatton Campus
1415 Board coach to Dinmore
1500 Presentation: JBS Australia – Dinmore
 JBS Australia is a division of JBS, Brazil’s largest multinational in the food sector, and the world’s largest meat company. JBS, a family owned company, exports to more than 110 countries and attributes its success worldwide to ensuring that all its facilities and processes are fully compliant with the demanding international market. In Australia, JBS Australia has an extensive presence along the eastern seaboard, with operations including 11 meat processing plants and 5 feedlots.
 The Dinmore plant is Australia’s biggest and most productive meat processing plant. It is close to JBS Australia corporate headquarters and the City of Brisbane. This plant employs the most modern technology available to ensure maximum efficiency and the consistent quality of the product.
JBS
1600 Presentation concludes and Coach to UQ
1645 Arrive at UQ GPN3 Bus Stop
 • Return to homestay via public transport
Wednesday
29 August
AM 0900 Public transport to UQ
0900 Research Activity – Sustainability of Australian Agriculture and the Japanese Market
 Location: Siddon E Building 82E, Room 313, Computer Lab
1130 Research activity debrief
 Location: Siddon E Building 82E, Room 313, Computer Lab
PM 1200 Course Wrap-up and Evaluation by TESOL Teacher
 Location: Siddon E Building 82E, Room 313, Computer Lab
1245 Walk to Women’s College
1300 Farewell Lunch and Certificate Ceremony
 Location: Women’s College, Freda Beige Room
1430 Free afternoon
 • Return to homestay via public transport
Thursday
30 August
0600 Homestay drop off at Sir William McGregor Drive
 • Meet Group Leader level 2 Foyer
0600 Board coach for Brisbane International Airport
0630 Arrive at Brisbane International Airport
 • Check in
 • Farewell UQ Staff
0935 Depart for Japan on QF61
1755 Arrive in Japan

Photos


  • Lunch at the Siromet Winery

  • belt-conveyer in the lettuce farm

  • Eco-tour in Mt. Tanborine

  • In front of Agriculture & Food Science Lab