Grower-owned research and development body Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) has announced a A$160,000 investment over three years to support development in Australia’s banana industry.
The investment will support the Nuffield Australia Scholarship programme, which identifies futures leaders and provides them with the opportunity to study international best-practice research, development and management techniques across the globe.
Far North Queensland organic banana grower Matthew Abbott has been named the 2016 Nuffield scholar, and will study organic farming techniques and disease management, with a focus on sustainable growing and strategies for marketing bananas and category management, as well as developing export markets.
Abbott will also participate in the six-week Global Focus Programme that includes a study tour across Asia, Europe and the Americas before returning to Australia to report on different banana varieties and systems to manage the Fusarium wilt (TR4) disease, also known as Panama disease.
“Organic banana production makes up about 1–2 per cent of the totalAustralian banana market, but there is opportunity for a lot more growth,”Abbott said.“I would like to see how the big businesses overseas, both conventionaland organic, operate from paddock to plate and bring this knowledge backto the Australian industry.
“I would like us to be exporting organic bananas by 2020, with strongdemand driving our increased production.”
Hort Innovation CEO John Lloyd said it was important for Australia’s banana industry to maintain consistent quality and supply, with the banana industry one of Australia’s largest fruit growing sectors.
“Through investment in the Nuffield Australia Scholarship program, Hort Innovation will help to support the Australian banana industry by identifying future leaders and providing them with the opportunity to identify world best-practice research, development and management techniques, with the view of applying them here in Australia,” Lloyd said.
A further two Nuffield scholars will be named in 2017 and 2018, with Hort Innovation supporting Nuffield scholars across a range of horticulture sectors.
