Improving disease management, optimising irrigation, and accelerating the adoption of technologies are the expected benefits of a new project designed for Australia’s processing tomato growers.  

Funded by Hort Innovation and delivered by the Australian Processing Tomato Research Council Inc. (APTRC), the project is expected to support the next phase of industry development, building on the success of the initial extension project by connecting growers and processors with practical research, emerging technologies and industry-led knowledge sharing. 

Hort Innovation's General Manager of Production and Sustainability R&D, Anthony Kachenko, explained why continued investment in industry capability remains important.  

"Australian horticulture is constantly evolving, and industries that continue to invest in capability and innovation are best placed to remain competitive and resilient,” Mr Kachenko said.

“This project will help growers and processors access practical insights and emerging technologies that support informed decision-making and continued improvements in business performance." 

With 142,000 tonnes of tomatoes projected to be produced across more than 1155 hectares in 2026/27, Australia's processing tomato industry played an important role in supplying locally grown and processed tomato products and supporting regional growing communities across Northern Victoria and Southern New South Wales. 

Despite ongoing pressure from global market conditions, advances in cultivars, crop rotations and farm management had driven significant gains in yield and efficiency in recent decades, creating new opportunities to lift productivity and competitiveness.  

The new project will take these advances a step further and focus on other key areas of value for processing tomato growers, including soil disease management, irrigation optimisation, AgTech, artificial intelligence and autonomy, evaluation of new cultivars and exposure to international growing initiatives and technologies.

Matt Stewart, Industry Development Manager at APTRC, said it was an important step forward.

“This project will be essential in shaping the future in innovation for Australian processing tomato growers,” Mr Stewart said.

“As the industry continues to evolve, the project will help ensure growers and processors have access to the knowledge, networks and tools needed to remain competitive and resilient.” 

This project (TM25001) is funded by Hort Innovation, using the processing tomato research and development fund and contributions from the Australian Government.