THE NATION'S horticulture Research and Development Corporation, Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation), today established two new panels to help promote and boost Australian exports overseas.

The panels – a Trade Assessments Panel and an industry Trade Advisory Panel - are tasked with advising the Corporation’s Trade Unit which works to assure the health and longevity of Australia’s horticulture export industry.

Hort Innovation Chief Executive Officer John Lloyd said the move marks a historical step.

“The Australian horticulture industry is in a healthy position with $2.1 billion in produce exported to destinations all over the world each year,” he said.

“Hort Innovation, with the support of these panels, will strengthen Australian horticulture trade by building upon the country’s reputation for delivering safe, quality food that has gone through rigorous standards across all stages of the supply chain.”

The Trade Assessments Panel is charged with impartially assessing and applying commercially relevant scrutiny to applications for technical market access and improvement.

The Assessments panel will comprise five experts, and be chaired by Peter Wauchope, a carrot grower and exporter from Western Australia and a Director on the Hort Innovation Board.

The panel will also include WA industry specialist with more than 25 years’ experience in agricultural management, research and development, Gavin Foord, and Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry Market Development Officer Michael Daysh.

Horticultural statistics specialist Wayne Prowse and National Farmers’ Federation Deputy CEO Tony Mahar complete the panel.

A broad cross-section of specialist representatives will also sit on the Trade Advisory Panel. Initially made up of 14 people – including growers, exporters, and State Government and industry experts – the panel will meet on an as-needed basis when trade issues arise.

Mr Lloyd said recruitment was conducted via a public expression of interest process, and there is scope to expand panel membership into specialist commodity areas as required.

“Hort Innovation is confident it has formed the most effective, diverse, transparent and experienced advisory and assessment panels possible in the interest of supporting Australia’s bright future in horticulture exports.”

For more details on the panels, go to the Hort Innovation's Trade and market access web page.