Completed project
Ex-post impact assessment – industry specific (MT18009)
Publication date: October 22, 2019
Delivery Partner: AgEconPlus
During 2018/19, Hort Innovation engaged independent consultants to evaluate the impact of our R&D investments. This included looking across a random sample of all Hort Innovation R&D projects completed in the 2017/18 financial year, plus a specific look at the impact of work within the Hort Innovation Apple and Pear, Avocado, Mushroom and Table Grape Funds, with a focus on projects completed within the five years to 30 June 2018, aligned to the current industry Strategic Investment Plans.
The assessments revealed a range of economic, social and environmental impacts being generated for growers, supply chain participants and the community at large. The results also highlighted the value of these benefits in monetary terms.
Results and information on the whole-of-R&D impact assessment, facilitated through the project Ex-post impact assessment (MT18011), can be found here.
Meanwhile, the industry-specific information from the project Ex-post impact assessment – industry specific (MT18009) can be found below. MT18009 was a one-year project, with Hort Innovation committing to future iterations each year to progress impact assessments through the various industry funds.
In summary, a random sample of nine projects was assessed, with an upper-bound benefit-cost estimated at 5.1 to one. These projects are expected to deliver some $28.9 million in additional value to the industry and community over the next 30 years. Specific impacts identified ranged from increased yield and fruit quality for the industry and enhanced market access, through to flow-on effects for communities in apple and pear growing regions.
To explore the full details of the impact assessments for each of the nine Apple and Pear Fund projects assessed, you can download the research provider’s reports below:
In short, a random sample of seven projects was assessed, with an upper-bound benefit-cost ratio estimated at 3.78 to one. These projects are expected to deliver some $8.39 million in additional value to the industry and community over the next 30 years. Specific impacts that have been identified range from additional profitability due to improved fruit quality through to increased knowledge relating to pests and flow-on effects for communities in avocado growing regions
Full details of the impact assessments for each of the seven Avocado Fund projects are available in the research provider’s project-specific reports below:
In summary, a random sample of five projects was assessed, with their benefit-cost ratio estimated at 2.22 to one, with some $3.41 million in additional value expected to be delivered to the industry and community over the next 30 years. Specific impacts ranged from the adoption of best practices to gain efficiencies in cost of production, through to improved health outcome for the community with increased mushroom consumption.
Technical details and results of the impact assessments for four of the Mushroom Fund projects are available in the research provider’s reports below:
In a nutshell, a random sample of six projects was assessed, with their benefit-cost ratio estimated at nearly three to one. Together, they are expected to deliver some $10.63 million in additional value to the industry and community over the next 30 years. Specific impacts identified ranged from a lower cost of production for table grape growers through to flow-on effects supporting community wellbeing in table grape growing areas.
If you’d like to delve into the full assessments for each of the six table grape projects assessed, you can download the research provider’s reports below:
This multi-industry project was a strategic levy investment in multiple Hort Innovation Funds
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