Australian horticulture businesses are facing sustained cost pressures across fuel, freight, fertiliser and other inputs. These challenges are complex and continue to place real pressure on farm operations, supply chains and day‑to‑day business decisions across the sector.

Hort Innovation is a grower‑owned, levy‑funded research and development organisation. We do not set levies and are not able to undertake policy advocacy, including in relation to fuel prices or input cost relief. Our focus is on investing in research and innovation that helps lift productivity, efficiency and demand, and reduce costs over time, through production efficiency, automation and mechanisation, and farm and yield improvements that support businesses when input costs rise. Our role is to ensure this work delivers practical, on‑farm value back to growers and helps strengthen resilience over the longer term.

Peak industry bodies across the horticultural industries are playing an active and central role in representing growers’ interests and leading advocacy with government on policy and cost‑pressure issues. Hort Innovation will continue to engage with peak industry bodies and other industry stakeholders, as well as the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, alongside other Research and Development Corporations, to stay informed and contribute to a shared understanding of the emerging issues affecting the sector.

For information on fuel supply and broader government responses and support, please visit the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.