Grower-owned industry body Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) has secured more than A$1.2m in agriculture research grants.
The 26 grants were part of the Australian government’s agriculture and veterinary (Agvet) chemical programme, which will allow Hort Innovation to collate data on insecticides, fungicides and more to have them approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).
“Pleasingly, this round of chemical research grants stands to benefit a broad range of producers from nut, citrus, berry, tropical fruit and vegetable growers to nursery product producers,” John Lloyd, Hort Innovation CEO, said in a statement released 2 February.
“The costs for generating and collating the information required to meet regulatory standards are high and unfortunately many horticultural crops are too small individually for chemical manufacturers to bear the cost of registering products for use.
“This Agvet grant funding will open up more opportunities for growers to better manage pests, weeds and disease, ensuring the sustainability and profitability of the industry, and quality products for consumers.”
Hort Innovation said just some of the sectors that will benefit from the grants include tropical fruit growers, with research into insecticide for the control of numerous bugs, hoppers and scales as well as brassica and leafy vegetable growers with research into a fungicide for the control of downy mildew.
