R&D projects

Enhancing Melon Export Opportunities to Gulf Countries (VM25003)

This project will focus on building export readiness for Australian melon growers by strengthening market knowledge and forging commercial connections in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

2 December 2025

• Ongoing project
• Melon Fund

Generation of data - Melon residue trials, dimethoate for post-harvest use (VM25001)

This project is supporting productivity and profitability in the Australian melon industry by ensuring melon producers maintain access to effective crop protection solutions against fruit fly pests.

30 October 2025

Multi-Industry MRL Data Access and Maintenance Investment (MT25002)

This project will deliver a centralised, cross-industry Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) app to support export compliance across 17 major horticultural commodities, including avocados, cherries, berries, mangoes, melons, apples, pears, and stone fruit.

10 October 2025

Building biosecurity resilience in the Australian melon industry (VM24003)

This project aims to strengthen biosecurity preparedness and response across Australia’s melon industry by developing a tailored Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan.

8 July 2025

Consumer usage and attitude tracking 25/26 (MT24201)

This project is delivering a comprehensive consumer tracking program across the Australian horticulture sector.

18 June 2025

• Consumer and market research

Regulatory support and response co-ordination (pesticides) (MT24008)

The regulatory support and response coordination project aims to provide Australian horticultural industries support to navigate complex domestic and international pesticide regulations.

6 May 2025

• Minor use permits
• R&D

Melon food safety monitoring and support – phase 2 (VM24001)

This project aims to further promote and nurture a robust food safety culture within the Australian melon industry by implementing science- and data-based food safety monitoring and support systems.

21 February 2025

• Ongoing project
• Melon Fund
• Risk management
• Postharvest and supply chain
• Biosecurity

Horticulture Impact Assessment Program 2023/24 to 2025/26 (MT24005)

Hort Innovation engages independent consultants to evaluate the impact of our R&D investments, providing insights into the type and magnitude of impacts that are being generated across the company’s strategic levy programs.

10 October 2024

• Ongoing project
• Potato – Processing Fund
• Potato – Fresh Fund
• Papaya Fund
• Almond Fund
• Apple and Pear Fund
• Avocado Fund
• Banana Fund
• Cherry Fund
• Citrus Fund
• Dried Grape Fund
• Lychee Fund
• Macadamia Fund
• Mango Fund
• Melon Fund
• Mushroom Fund
• Nursery Fund
• Olive Fund
• Onion Fund
• Passionfruit Fund
• Persimmon Fund
• Pistachio Fund
• Pineapple Fund
• Raspberry and Blackberry Fund
• Strawberry Fund
• Summerfruit Fund
• Sweetpotato Fund
• Table Grape Fund
• Turf Fund
• Vegetable Fund
• Blueberry Fund
• Industry data and insights

Melon industry communications program (VM23003)

This investment is responsible for keeping Australian melon growers informed about industry R&D and other news and developments in a timely way.

21 May 2024

• Ongoing project
• Melon Fund
• Industry development and communication

Melon industry study tours (VM23000)

This project enhances the Australian melon industry by connecting local producers and stakeholders with global innovators through a series of study tours.

10 April 2024

• Ongoing project
• Melon Fund
• Study tours