Completed project
Building capacity in irradiation – pathways for export (AM19002)
Publication date: August 11, 2021
Delivery Partner: Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
Phytosanitary irradiation is a sterilising treatment that uses wavelengths of energy including X-ray and gamma ray to kill or sterilise pests that are considered a biosecurity threat. Australia is a world leader in the commercial use of phytosanitary irradiation and the development of phytosanitary trade protocols and irradiation facilities. Australia engages in some of the most diverse domestic and international trade of irradiated fresh produce in the world, yet these volumes are relatively small in comparison to other phytosanitary treatments. Importantly, phytosanitary irradiation addresses many of the weaknesses associated with other phytosanitary treatments, assisting horticulture supply chains to meet increasing expectations around product quality, biosecurity, food safety, sustainability and climate change.
It has taken over two decades for Australia to reach this position, and many lessons have been learned along the way. With rapid growth in the use of phytosanitary irradiation in Australia, there remain opportunities to refine our domestic trade pathway and to seek improved export market access for irradiated fresh produce.
This project was established to improve the acceptance and adoption of phytosanitary irradiation through:
Importantly, the project has developed a roadmap to address barriers to the acceptance and adoption of phytosanitary irradiation. The roadmpa summarises the regulatory environment, major barriers and opportunities for irradiated fresh produce within domestic and international markets. The roadmap also presents recommendations to inform government and horticulture sector efforts to overcome barriers to domestic and international trade of irradiated fresh produce.
This Roadmap has been developed with the support of an international research consortium comprising Australian, New Zealand and French research collaborators. Extensive reviews were conducted to identify and evaluate the impact of regulatory, cultural and commercial barriers on the adoption of phytosanitary irradiation by Australia and its international trading partners. Domestic and international workshops were held to test and validate the findings of this research with government, peak industry bodies, supply and retail chains.
Access the final report produced by the project here.
Access additional documents produced by the project:
This project was funded through Hort Innovation's Frontiers program
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