What was it all about?

During 2019/20, 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 2018/19 financial year, plus a specific look at the impact of work within the Hort Innovation Almond, Banana, Citrus and Onion Funds, with a focus on projects completed within the five years to 30 June 2019, 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 (MT19012) can be found below. MT19012 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 Almond Fund impact assessment

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

In summary, a random sample of nine projects was assessed, with an aggregated weighted average BCR of 3.6 to 1. These projects are expected to deliver some $50.54 million in additional value to the industry and community over the next 30 years.

To explore the full details of the impact assessments for each of the nine Apple and Pear Fund projects assessed, you can download the full impact assessment reports below:

• Full impact assessment report: Food safety in almonds - Stage 2 (AL11009)
• Full impact assessment report: Australian almond industry - liaison and extension project (AL12000)
• Full impact assessment report: Research and education of health professionals relating to the health benefits of almond consumption (AL12001)
• Full impact assessment report: Advanced processing of Almonds (AL12003)
• Full impact assessment report: Managing carob moth in almonds (AL12004)
• Full impact assessment report: Almond international networking (AL12701)
• Full impact assessment report: Managing almond production in a variable and changing climate (AL14006)
• Full impact assessment report: Development of high health status mother plantings for new Australian almond varieties (AL16004)
• Full impact assessment report: Protecting pollination for the Australian horticultural industry Stage 3 (MT13002)

Results from the Hort Innovation Banana Fund impact assessment

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

In summary, a random sample of eight projects was assessed, with an aggregated weighted average BCR of 3.6 to 1. These projects are expected to deliver some $31.54 million in additional value to the industry and community over the next 30 years.

To explore the full details of the impact assessments for each of the eight Banana Fund projects assessed, you can download the full impact assessment reports below:

• Full impact assessment report: Integrated management of yellow sigatoka and other banana diseases in Far North Qld (BA12007)
• Full impact assessment report: Capacity building in bananas (BA12703)
• Full impact assessment report: National banana development and extension project (BA13004)
• Full impact assessment report: The cause and management of crown rot of banana (BA13011)
• Full impact assessment report: Coordination of banana industry R&D (Panama TR4) (BA14012)
• Full impact assessment report: Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 - biosecurity and sustainable solutions (BA14013)
• Full impact assessment report: National banana bunchy top virus program - Phase 3 - QLD (BA15006)
• Full impact assessment report: Banana bunchy top virus control data (BA17001)

Results from the Hort Innovation Citrus Fund impact assessment

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

In summary, a random sample of eight projects was assessed, with an aggregated weighted average BCR of 3.4 to 1. These projects are expected to deliver some $29.15 million in additional value to the industry and community over the next 30 years.

To explore the full details of the impact assessments for each of the eight Citrus Fund projects assessed, you can download the full impact assessment reports below:

• Full impact assessment report: Increasing market access, profitability and sustainability through integrated approaches to fungal disease control (CT13020)
• Full impact assessment report: Driving citrus industry success through a coordinated market development program - Stage 2 (CT13022)
• Full impact assessment report: Development of national strategies to manage citrus gall wasp (CT15006)
• Full impact assessment report: Citrus industry communications (CT15009)
• Full impact assessment report: Data packages to support market access for additional citrus varieties to Japan (CT15011)
• Full impact assessment report: Australian citrus industry innovation and market development program (CT15012)
• Full impact assessment report: Citrus Quality Standards (Stage 3) (CT15013)
• Full impact assessment report: Consumer research in key export markets for the citrus industry (CT17005)

Results from the Hort Innovation Onion Fund impact assessment

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

In summary, a random sample of four projects was assessed, with an aggregated weighted average BCR of 2.3 to 1. These projects are expected to deliver some $11.99 million in additional value to the industry and community over the next 30 years.

To explore the full details of the impact assessments for each of the four Onion Fund projects assessed, you can download the full impact assessment reports below:

• Full impact assessment report: New onion protocols to assure viability of European exports (VN10001)
• Full impact assessment report: Detection and management of bacterial diseases in Australian allium crops (VN13005)
• Full impact assessment report: Managing soil-borne diseases of onions (VN13003)
• Full impact assessment report: Communications plan for the Australian onion industry project extension (VN12003)