Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) has established two new panels to help boost Australia’s A$2.1bn horticultural export sector.
A trade assessments panel will be charged with impartially assessing applications for technical market access and protocol improvements, while a trade advisory panel will meet on an as-needed basis when trade issues arise.
The new groups will report to Hort Innovation’s Corporation’s Trade Unit, which works to bolster Australia’s horticulture exports.
“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,” said Hort Innovation chief executive John Lloyd.
The assessments panel will be chaired by Peter Wauchope, a carrot grower and exporter from Western Australia and a director on the Hort Innovation board. Joining Wauchope on the panel will be horticultural statistics specialist Wayne Prowse and National Farmers’ Federation deputy chief executive Tony Mahar. Industry veteran Gavin Foord and Michael Daysh of the Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry complete the panel.
A broad cross-section of specialist representatives will sit on the advisory panel, which will initially be made up of 14 members, including growers, exporters, and State Government representatives.
“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,” explained Lloyd.
