$15m horticultural project launches to help supply chain

A $15 million project has been launched that will help agricultural growers manage supply chain risks and minimise product loss.

The 3.5-year program is being delivered by Hort Innovation and led by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Queensland, with financial and research support from various industry partners.

Hort Innovation Chief Executive Brett Fifield said the project was driven by a desire to provide high-quality produce to buyers in the face of previous supply chain disruptions brought about by COVID-19.

“It’s no secret the past two years have been challenging, with COVID hindering all stages of the supply chain from farm to retail,” Fifield said.

“What this project will do is draw on some of the best research talents in the country, as well as the knowledge and networks of key industry partners, to make the business of getting quality horticultural products to market, domestically and overseas, that little bit easier.”

The project will concentrate on current and emerging export cultivars of avocado, mango, nectarine, peach, plum, strawberry and vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery and lettuce.

There will also be support from research and extension specialists, who will develop and subsequently promote cultivar-specific decision-aid tools, based on shelf life prediction models.

These tools will factor in regional variability, harvest maturity, postharvest treatments and cooling procedures across different modes of transport.

According to Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner, the decision-aid tools will be using data from real-time consignment monitoring that will help with strategies and making commercial decisions when ideal supply chain conditions haven’t yet been met.

The research will provide horticultural producers with information and skills such that they will be able to identify, assess and manage supply chain risks.

DAF will be working with researchers and technical staff from Agriculture Victoria, the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.

Co-investment in the project will also come from leading mango grower and marketer Piñata Farms plus AUSVEG and Summerfruit Australia through an Agriculture Victoria grant, as well as berry and avocado growers through levies.

AUSVEG Chief Executive Michael Coote said: “This project will deliver grower-friendly resources with clear, concise advice confirming pathways for vegetable crops to different markets. It complements other vegetable export development initiatives and is an opportunity for growers to secure outcomes as part of a broader industry supply chain improvement approach.”

Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade spokesperson Muhammad Sohail Mazhar said the project would help producers deliver high-quality fruit and vegetables to buyers.

“Australia has a reputation for producing safe and nutritious premium fresh produce. Consistently delivering high-quality fruit and vegetables is vital to productive trade relationships,” Mazhar said.

Summerfruit Australia Chief Executive Trevor Ranford said: “This project will evaluate nectarine, peach and plum cultivar performance and determine their suitability to air and sea freight supply chains by considering environment, management and postharvest factors that influence product quality. This will deliver them a competitive edge when dealing with trade partners and support Australia’s already strong reputation for providing premium produce.”

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia Senior Research Scientist Dario Stefanelli said: “The research is very innovative. It will involve completing a series of time-by-temperature simulation trials and monitoring of commercial consignments to characterise fruit and vegetable quality responses and cultivar performance.”

Piñata Farms Managing Director Gavin Scurr said: “This is a good opportunity to gain greater knowledge of the impacts of different production environments and handling practices on ‘Honey Gold’ mango fruit quality and shelf life. The shelf life modelling will potentially allow us to predict the saleable life for each fruit and tailor marketing to move away from the generic first-in, first-out system.”

The project is being delivered through the Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative.

Image credit: iStock.com/mgstudyo