Postharvest research encompasses a wide range of topics and all links within the horticultural produce supply chain.  These include:

• Quality aspects – e.g. quality components, standards and assessment, properties of commodities and tests for maturity determination.
• Economics and marketing – e.g. economics and costs of postharvest activities, marketing systems for specific commodities, imports and exports, market and consumer research and food policy and supply.
• Handling, packaging and transport – e.g. handling and packaging techniques, handling machinery, packaging materials, transport, impact damage assessment and washing and cooling.
• Engineering and electronics – e.g. postharvest engineering and electronics technology, the increased automation of processes, and the development of new and improved techniques and processes.
• Storage – e.g. storage systems, environments and treatments, controlled atmosphere storage, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), effects of pre-harvest factors on storage quality, storage characteristics, breeding for improved storage quality, moisture absorption in storage, physiology and biochemistry of storage, storage disorders, storage aeration and design and design of operation of storage facilities.
• Maturation, ripening and senescence – e.g. physiology, biochemistry and genetics of maturation ripening and senescence, and the metabolism (e.g. heat of respiration) of harvested produce.
• Spoilage, deterioration and losses – e.g. physiological disorders, disease and pest incidence and severity, pathogen and insect biology, prevention and control measures (including biological control), and assessment of postharvest losses.
• Drying – e.g. drying of fruits and vegetables, and dryer design and packaging processes.  
• Minimal processing – e.g. processes such as washing, cutting and packaging. 
• Disinfestation treatments – i.e. the eradication of pests of concern for national and international markets.

Horticulture Australia’s Postharvest Portfolio also includes research activities in the following disciplines:

• Cool chain and storage processes
• Disinfestation protocols for postharvest disease, rots and insects
• Value Added products and services
• Transport, handling, and distribution
• Sensory/Consumer Research
• Supply and value chain research
• Waste management