Australian horticulture growers engage with industry development
Hort Innovation is actively working with its delivery partners to achieve outcomes for growers from a portfolio of over 40 investments dedicated to industry development. In 2022, Hort Innovation will invest over $50,000,000 (life of projects) in Industry Development projects. Through these projects and associated communication projects, they reach over 7000 (total estimate) growers.
The industry development projects particularly focus on close engagement with growers. Project activities typically include frequent interactive group events, farm walks, training, and one-on-one discussions, in contrast to one-way information flow activities in other projects. The increased level of interaction accelerates the adoption of improved practices that benefit businesses and the industry.
The increased level of interaction in these projects also provides opportunities for growers to communicate priorities within the industries to Hort Innovation These projects also provide a direct and coordinated link to the R&D investments that address industry priorities.
For example, a research project investigated and demonstrated the potential benefits of On-farm quality testing utilising near-infrared technology (MG17002). The project Building best management practice capacity for the Australian mango industry (MG17000) subsequently drove the adoption of in-field dry-matter assessment of fruit maturity using NIR technology by 71 per cent of the industry (by volume). Having recognised the value of the technology, businesses have begun investing in their own testing machines and Woolworths have now incorporated minimum dry matter standards into its specifications.
Photo: Avocado growers at an Avoskills course on pests and diseases
Many of the broader research investments by Hort Innovation also include extension activities that engage growers to provide practical feedback on trial design and results.
Delivery partners leading these projects include industry organisations, private companies, and government agencies.
To learn more about the industry-specific industry development projects, please see the links below:
- Almond: Almond industry innovation and adoption program (AL19001)
- Avocado: Avocado industry development and extension (AV17005)
- Banana: National banana development and extension program (BA19004) and Biosecurity and sustainability in the banana industry (BA19005)
- Berry: Facilitating the development of the Australian berry industries (MT18020)
- Dried grape: Dried grape production innovation and adoption program 2021-2026 (DG21000)
- Lychee: Scale and mealybug management options for lychee growers – an extension toolkit (LY20001)
- Macadamia: Australian macadamia industry innovation and adoption program (MC15004)
- Mushroom: Extension and adoption for food safety, quality and risk management (MU20000) and Mushroom industry crisis and reputation risk management (MU20006)
- Onion: Risk and crisis management planning for the onion industry (VN20001)
- Papaya:Papaya industry extension and communications program (PP20000)
- Pineapple: Pineapple integrated crop protection program (PI17001)
- Pistachio: Supporting the adoption of best management practices for pistachio growers through on-farm demonstrations and regional discussion groups (PS20000)
- Potato: Australian potato industry communication and extension project (PT20000) and The Australian potato grower’s manual (PT19003)
- Processing tomato: Processing tomato industry development and extension (TM20000)
- Sweetpotato: Risk and crisis management planning for the sweetpotato industry (PW20002)
- Table grape: Extension of technologies and best management practices to the Australian table grape industry (TG19000)
- Turf: National market development program for the Australian turf industry (TU16002)
- Vegetable