What was it all about?

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.

 

Results from the Hort Innovation Apple and Pear Fund impact assessment

Download this short fact sheet for growers describing how the Apple and Pear Fund assessments were made and what they found.

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:

• Full impact assessment report: Extension AP05002 – Alternaria fruit spot new directions (AP06007)
• Full impact assessment report: Development of new pome fruit products (AP09035)
• Full impact assessment report: Apple and pear technical manager (AP11014)
• Full impact assessment report: Apple and pear industry Asian export market development (AP11023)
• Full impact assessment report: Profitable Pears: Maximising productivity and quality of new pear varieties (AP12002)
• Full impact assessment report: Understanding apple and pear production systems in a changing environment (AP12029)
• Full impact assessment report: Apple and pear leadership initiative (AP12034 and AP15015)
• Full impact assessment report: Apple and pear industry development initiative (AP12037)
• Full impact assessment report: Development of mass-trapping methods for codling moth females in disrupted orchards (MT12000)

 

Results from the Hort Innovation Avocado Fund impact assessment

Download this short fact sheet for growers describing how the Avocado Fund assessments were made and what they found.

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:

• Full impact assessment report: Mechanisms of cultivar- and race-based disease resistance in avocado (AV09024)
• Full impact assessment report: Reducing flesh bruising and skin spotting in Hass avocado (AV10019)
• Full impact assessment report: An analysis of fruit spotting bug activity in avocado crops from fruit-set to harvest (AV11021)
• Full impact assessment report: Data collection to facilitate supply chain transparency (AV12007)
• Full impact assessment report: Health professional education and research program (AV13010)
• Full impact assessment report: Achieving more consistent yields of quality fruit in the Australian avocado industry (AV14000)
• Full impact assessment report: Supply chain quality improvement - cool chain best practice guidelines (AV15010)

 

Results from the Hort Innovation Mushroom Fund impact assessment

Download this short fact sheet for growers describing how the Mushroom Fund assessments were made and what they found.

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:

• Full impact assessment report: Mushroom industry communication plan (MU08010)
• Full impact assessment report: International mushroom industry collaboration (MU09003)
• Full impact assessment report: Analytics for mushrooms (MU12005)
• Full impact assessment report: Communication and education of mushroom nutrition research to health professionals (phase 2) (MU14000)

 

Results from the Hort Innovation Table Grape Fund impact assessment

Download this short fact sheet for growers describing how the Table Grape assessments were made and what they found.

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:

• Full impact assessment report: Undertaking industry activity to support the implementation of regulated quality standards (TG09011)
• Full impact assessment report: Communicating with the Australian table grape industry (TG11000)
• Full impact assessment report: Biosecurity establishment for the table grape industry (TG11001)
• Full impact assessment report: Table grape export market access and maintenance (TG11007)
• Full impact assessment report: Export market access, maintenance, biosecurity and developing export markets for the Australian table grape industry (TG14000)
• Full impact assessment report: Co-management of the Greater Sunraysia Pest-Free Area for market access (MT12052)