What is the avocado levy?

The grower-raised statutory avocado R&D levy is set at 2.9 cents per kilogram. The marketing levy is set at 4.5 cents per kilogram.

These levies are collected by the Australian Government and then entrusted to Hort Innovation. It is then Hort Innovation’s responsibility to work with industry to invest the levies – together with Australian Government funds in the case of R&D – into strategic R&D and marketing initiatives.

You can find full details on the levy rates, plus information on how to lodge a return and make a payment with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, on the government website here.

Where do investment ideas come from?

Great investments start with great ideas, so Hort Innovation encourages all growers, industry participants and the research community to share their thoughts and recommendations through the upcoming Strategic Investment  Plan (SIP) consultation process. During the year, issues may emerge that haven’t been captured from the extensive SIP development process so there will still be opportunities to submit ideas for investments.

These opportunities are:

• Growers are invited to submit their ideas any time at Hort Innovation’s investment idea form or by contacting a Hort Innovation employee directly. 
  
  
• Industry participants and delivery partners can contact a Hort Innovation employee directly if they have an idea outside of the SIP consultation process. 

Any submission or suggestion will be reviewed by Hort Innovation to ensure it aligns with industry needs as identified in the SIP. 

How are levy decisions made?

Investments specific to the Hort Innovation Avocado Fund are guided by the industry’s SIP. In 2021 a new SIP is being produced for each levy-paying industry. The new SIP will have a five-year life span (FY 2021/22 -FY 2025/26) and is being developed through close consultation with growers, industry participants and the research community. It will outline key industry priorities for investment.

When the new SIP is finalised, an Annual Investment Plan (AIP) will be developed and reviewed annually for the remaining years of the SIP – this will be approved by Hort Innovation with valuable input from the Strategic Investment Advisory Panels (SIAPs), industry bodies and key stakeholders before prioritisation. 

The SIP and AIP documents will be used like a ‘roadmap’ by the Almond SIAP, which is made up of growers and other industry representatives and plays a key role in prioritising necessary investments.

Using the SIP as a guide, the SIAP will prioritise AIP investments and ideas submitted by growers, industry participants and delivery partners during prioritisation meetings. Details of the SIAP panelists and the current AIP can be found further down this page. 

What happens next?

The SIAPs recommendations will be used by Hort Innovation to work suitable ideas into project proposals. The proposals are then made public for potential delivery partners to submit responses. Current opportunities are always listed on the Partnership opportunities, in the delivery partners section of this website.

At the end of the process, the responses are assessed, often with the assistance of industry (Evaluation Panel process), and the best delivery partner for the work is chosen. A contract is then issued, and the work begins.

How can I keep track of investments?

Investments in the Hort Innovation Avocado Fund are detailed in the Your investments page of this Avocado Fund section of Hort Innovation’s website. Resources that are produced by the projects – such as fact sheets and guides – are also available through the Research reports and more page.

Hort Innovation also sends alerts about project updates to its members. Paying a levy doesn’t automatically make you a Hort Innovation member, but signing up is free here.

The levy-funded communications program, run through the investment National avocado industry communications program (AV18003), also provides regular information on levy-funded activity.

Financial documents