4.

Projects financed

The Protein Research Trust funded 32 research projects during 2007/2008. This is three times as many as in the previous year. Nine of these were new projects whilst 19 existing projects were again funded. Of the 37 applications received, three were turned down, one was withdrawn and one was carried over to 2008/2009. The main reason for turning down the three applications was that the envisaged research would not make a signi­ficant impact to the supply of protein in South Africa or to the efficient utilisation of this protein, the two main objectives of the PRF.

Eight projects (see annexure II) were completed during the year, but the final reports are expected only in the first half of 2008.

Of the nine new projects funded this year, eight involve the more efficient production and utilisation of soybeans in South Africa, stressing the importance placed by the PRF on the improvement in the production of locally produced protein of plant origin.

In the 2008/2009 year 33 applications were received, of which nine were new. These applications will be described in more detail in the following research report.