What is the vegetable levy?
The grower-raised statutory vegetable R&D levy is set at 0.485 per cent of the sale value.
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 levy together with Australian Government funds into strategic R&D initiatives.
You can find full details on the levy rate, plus information on how to lodge a return and make a payment with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, on the government website here.
Where do investment ideas come from?
Great investments start with great ideas, so Hort Innovation encourages all growers, industry participants and the research community to share their thoughts and recommendations through the upcoming Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) consultation process. During the year, issues may emerge that haven’t been captured from the extensive SIP development process so there will still be opportunities to submit ideas for investments.
These opportunities are:
- Growers are invited to submit their ideas any time at Hort Innovation’s investment idea form or by contacting a Hort Innovation employee directly.
- Industry participants and delivery partners can contact a Hort Innovation employee directly if they have an idea outside of the SIP consultation process.
Any submission or suggestion will be reviewed by Hort Innovation to ensure it aligns with industry needs as identified in the SIP.
How are levy decisions made?
Investments specific to the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund are guided by the industry’s SIP. In 2021 a new SIP is being produced for each levy-paying industry. The new SIP will have a five-year life span (FY 2021/22 -FY 2025/26) and is being developed through close consultation with growers, industry participants and the research community. It will outline key industry priorities for investment.
When the new SIP is finalised, an Annual Investment Plan (AIP) will be developed and reviewed annually for the remaining years of the SIP – this will be approved by Hort Innovation with valuable input from the Strategic Investment Advisory Panels (SIAPs), industry bodies and key stakeholders before prioritisation.
The SIP and AIP documents will be used like a ‘roadmap’ by the Almond SIAP, which is made up of growers and other industry representatives and plays a key role in prioritising necessary investments.
Using the SIP as a guide, the SIAP will prioritise AIP investments and ideas submitted by growers, industry participants and delivery partners during prioritisation meetings. Details of the SIAP panelists and the current AIP can be found further down this page.
What happens next?
The SIAPs recommendations will be used by Hort Innovation to work suitable ideas into project proposals. The proposals are then made public for potential delivery partners to submit responses. Current opportunities are always listed on the Partnership opportunities, in the delivery partners section of this website.
At the end of the process, the responses are assessed, often with the assistance of industry (Evaluation Panel process), and the best delivery partner for the work is chosen. A contract is then issued, and the work begins.
How can I keep track of investments?
Investments in the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund are detailed in the Your investments page of this Vegetable 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.
The levy-funded communications program, run through the investment National vegetable industry communications program (VG18000), also provides regular information on levy-funded activity.
Financial documents
Vegetable Fund consultation
See below a list of SIAP meetings with summaries and the panelists.
Panel meetings and summaries
Meeting |
Date |
Location |
Summary |
1 (MVCD) |
November 23, 2016 |
Sydney, NSW |
|
2 (FPRUM) |
November 22, 2016 |
Melbourne, VIC |
|
3 (FPRUM) |
March 15 and 16, 2017 |
Ipswich, QLD |
|
4 (FPRUM) |
May 17, 2017 |
Adelaide, SA |
|
5 (CA) |
May 17, 2017 |
Adelaide, SA |
|
6 (MVCD) |
May 17, 2017 |
Adelaide, SA |
|
7 (CA) |
August 22, 2017 |
Gold Coast, QLD |
|
8 (FPRUM) |
August 24, 2017 |
Melbourne, VIC |
|
9 (MVCD) |
October 23, 2017 |
Perth, WA |
|
10 (FPRUM) |
March 1, 2018 |
Devonport, TAS |
|
11 (CA) |
April 18, 2018 |
Sydney, NSW |
|
12 (FPRUM) |
May 3, 2018 |
Sydney, NSW |
|
13 (MVCD) |
May 23, 2018 |
Sydney, NSW |
|
15 (PFRUM) |
September 17, 2018 |
Melbourne, VIC |
|
16 (Joint) |
November 26, 2019 |
Teleconference |
|
17 (Joint) |
December 19, 2019 |
Melbourne, VIC |
|
19 (Joint) |
February 6, 2020 |
Teleconference |
The panels
Pre-farm gate
Name |
Organisation |
Location |
Bill Bulmer |
Bulmer Farms |
VIC |
Andrew Craigie |
Craigie Bros |
TAS |
Anthony De Ieso |
Thorndon Park Produce |
SA |
Mitchell East |
Colignan Producers Company |
WA |
Edward Fagan |
Mulyan |
NSW |
Zarmeen Hassan |
AUSVEG |
VIC |
Rachel Lancaster |
Environmental and Agriculture Testing Services |
WA |
Ian Layden |
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries |
QLD |
Michael Radcliff |
Rhebanvale |
TAS |
Angus Galloway |
Simplot Australia |
TAS |
Sharron Windolf |
Windolf Farms |
QLD |
Bob Granger |
Chair |
Post-farm gate
Name |
Organisation |
Location |
Michael Coote |
AUSVEG |
VIC |
Trent De Paoli |
AustChilli |
QLD |
Nathan Free |
Duralgai Horticultural |
VIC |
Jason McNeill |
Premium Fresh Tasmania |
TAS |
Andrew Moon |
Moonrocks |
QLD |
Greg Owens |
NT Farmers |
NT |
Shane Quinn |
Mulgowie Farming Company |
QLD |
Scott Samwell |
Samwell & Sons |
SA |
Kingsley Songer |
4 Ways Fresh Produce |
SA |
Lynley Van Lathum |
Rugby Farms |
QLD |
Kees Versteeg |
Qualipac |
QLD |
Bob Granger |
Chair |