What is the pyrethrum voluntary levy?
The voluntary pyrethrum R&D levy was established for investment through the pyrethrum collective industry fund (CIF), now known as the Hort Innovation Pyrethrum Fund. It is currently set at 2.5 per cent of crop payment.
This levy is collected by the Australian Government and then entrusted to Hort Innovation. It is then Hort Innovation’s responsibility to work with industry to invest the levies – together with Australian Government funds in the case of R&D – into strategic R&D initiatives.
How are levy investment decisions made?
To gain industry insights for strategic levy investments in the Pyrethrum Fund, Hort Innovation consults with key stakeholders in the pyrethrum industry.
Hort Innovation develops draft investment recommendations based on investment ideas that are aligned to the pyrethrum SIP. Each recommendation includes high-level information on the aims of the project, outcomes, deliverables and budget.
How are investments progressed?
After the investment has been prioritised, it’s then up to Hort Innovation to get the project up and running. This involves a tender process where the best delivery partner is chosen to undertake the project. Each delivery partner needs to submit regular milestones that report on their progress and at the end of each investment, a final report is produced that is made available to industry on what the project has achieved.
How to keep track of investments
Investments in the Hort Innovation Pyrethrum Fund are detailed in the Your investments page of this Pyrethrum Fund section of Hort Innovation’s website. Resources that are produced by the projects – such as fact sheets and guides – are also available through the Research reports and more page.
Hort Innovation also sends alerts about project updates to its members. Paying a levy doesn’t automatically make you a Hort Innovation member, but signing up is free here.
