R&D projects

Feasibility/scoping study: Surveillance and diagnostic framework for detecting soil-borne pathogens in vegetable industries (MT21016)

This multi-industry investment is examining the potential to develop a national surveillance and diagnostic framework for soilborne pathogens of melon, onion, potato, sweetpotato and vegetable crops.

24 October 2022

• Ongoing project
• Potato – Processing Fund
• Potato – Fresh Fund
• Melon Fund
• Onion Fund
• Sweetpotato Fund
• Vegetable Fund
• Pests, diseases and biosecurity

Consumer behavioural and retail data for fresh produce (MT17015) (MT17015s)

This multi-industry investment provided regular consumer behaviour data and insight reporting about the melon industry through the Harvest to Home platform.

10 October 2022

Melon export strategy 2022-2027 (VM22000)

This short project developed a five-year export strategy for the melon industry that will guide export activity from 2022 to 2027.

20 December 2022

• Melon Fund
• Completed project
• International trade and markets

Phenomenom resources (MT21018)

This investment developed Phenomenom resources for the avocado, citrus, melon and rubus industries, including a dedicated Nomcast for each commodity and supporting PDF resources.

10 April 2024

• Final research report
• Avocado Fund
• Citrus Fund
• Melon Fund
• Raspberry and Blackberry Fund
• Completed project
• Training and education

Consumer usage and attitude tracking 2022/23 (MT21202)

This investment provided a category tracking service to allow various horticultural categories to better understand consumer usage and attitudes and the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

9 January 2024

• Papaya Fund
• Almond Fund
• Apple and Pear Fund
• Avocado Fund
• Banana Fund
• Cherry Fund
• Chestnut Fund
• Citrus Fund
• Custard Apple Fund
• Dried Grape Fund
• Dried Tree Fruit Fund
• Lychee Fund
• Macadamia Fund
• Mango Fund
• Melon Fund
• Mushroom Fund
• Olive Fund
• Onion Fund
• Passionfruit Fund
• Persimmon Fund
• Pineapple Fund
• Raspberry and Blackberry Fund
• Strawberry Fund
• Summerfruit Fund
• Sweetpotato Fund
• Table Grape Fund
• Vegetable Fund
• Completed project
• Consumer and market research

Quality improvements in the melon supply chain (VM21001)

This investment is developing minimum quality standards for seedless watermelon, rockmelon and honeydew melon to improve consumer acceptance of Australian melons and ultimately drive demand and sales.

15 July 2022

• Ongoing project
• Melon Fund
• Postharvest and supply chain
• Outcome 2: Industry supply, productivity and sustainability

Australian horticulture international demand creation (ST21007)

This investment delivered insights into what the international consumer wants across 13 priority markets for the Australian horticulture sector.

17 July 2023

• Final research report
• Potato – Fresh Fund
• Almond Fund
• Apple and Pear Fund
• Avocado Fund
• Cherry Fund
• Citrus Fund
• Lychee Fund
• Macadamia Fund
• Mango Fund
• Melon Fund
• Olive Fund
• Onion Fund
• Raspberry and Blackberry Fund
• Strawberry Fund
• Summerfruit Fund
• Sweetpotato Fund
• Table Grape Fund
• Vegetable Fund
• Completed project
• Blueberry Fund
• International trade and markets
• Consumer and market research
• Outcome 1: Demand creation
• Outcome 2: Demand creation
• Outcome 2: Market optimisation
• Outcome 3: Demand creation
• Outcome 4: Demand creation

Foodservice foundational market insights (MT21011)

This investment has equipped the avocado, melon, mushroom, onion, papaya, sweetpotato and vegetable industries with market insights into the foodservice sector.

5 August 2022

• Ongoing project
• Outcome 4: Business insights

Field-based testing for fall armyworm (MT19014)

This short investment conducted research to foster national collaboration in monitoring the movement of fall armyworm

1 June 2022

• Completed project
• R&D
• Outcome 1: Industry supply, productivity and sustai
• Outcome 2: Industry supply, productivity and sustainability

Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2021-22 to 2023-24 (MT21006)

This whole-of-horticulture investment is responsible for producing Hort Innovation’s annual Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook

11 May 2022

• Ongoing project