Protecting Australian horticulture from crop protectant vulnerabilities – Phase 1 (HA25002)

This project aims to modernise how Australian horticulture assesses and manages vulnerabilities in crop protection active ingredients and products. The initiative will develop a Vulnerability of Loss Rating System (VoLRS), drawing on international best practice and stakeholder insights, to provide industry stakeholders with near real-time intelligence on risks to crop protection tools.  

The project will deliver a technical blueprint for a digital intelligence tool that enables proactive planning and informed R&D investment decisions. The approach considers both regulatory (“public licence”) and market/social (“social licence”) pressures that affect growers’ access to crop protection products.  

Key activities include expert interviews, rapid international reviews, co-design workshops, and technical architecture development. The final outputs will include a modernised vulnerability rating framework, a comprehensive design for the digital tool, a consolidated list of relevant crop protection products, and a whole-of-horticulture chemical vulnerability report. The project will also engage industry stakeholders through workshops to build confidence and guide future R&D priorities, supporting a more resilient and sustainable horticulture sector.