Australian grower-owned body Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) has announced its new 'Leadership Fund'.
The initiative is its larges industry recruitment and leadership project to-date, with Hort Innovation partnership with a range of research institutions, government agencies and commercial enterprises to develop the fund.
“This new Leadership Fund will provide opportunities for horticulture professionals, at all stages of their careers, to propel themselves up on leadership ladder. It will also provide significant resources to spruik to the nation that horticulture is a rewarding and creative industry to join,” said John Lloyd, CEO of Hort Innovation.
With an ageing population of growers and plenty of opportunities for innovation, Lloyd said Hort Innovation wanted to attract more young people to the industry.
“Never before have we seen this level of innovation in the horticulture industry – we are using drones and robotic technology to increase farm efficiencies, we are combating pests with groundbreaking science and we are breeding world-first produce varieties,” Lloyd said.
“We want to attract the best and the brightest people from a range of disciplines to careers in horticulture. However with increasing urbanisation, young people do not always view horticulture as a viable career option because they are not exposed to it – and they are missing out.
“This Leadership Fund will give emerging generations of growers and agri-scientists the resources to realise their ideas for the benefit of the industry, and all Australians.”
Hort Innovation will announce a series of projects under the Leadership Fund in coming weeks.
