The project VG15704 ‘Grower Study Tour of New Zealand: precision vegetable production’ aimed to provide vegetable producers the opportunity to travel and learn from each other while visiting precision horticultural farms and research sites across New Zealand’s north island.

Through shared learning and interaction with producers and researchers, this project sought to initiate a ‘community of practice’ (CoP) approach in precision vegetable production. Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact both during and following the event.

The main objectives of VG15704 were to:

• Introduce participants to new knowledge and ideas which can then be implemented on their own farms or to provide support for those wishing to undertake similar precision approaches.
• Reinforce precision concepts and approaches applicable to vegetable systems.
• Introduce a group of Australian vegetable producers to progressive producers, practices and researchers in the New Zealand vegetable industry.
• Inspire and challenge Australian vegetable producer’s to adopt or progress the adoption of precision practices.
• Help overcome adoption barriers by encouraging producers to self-organise so they can assist each other outside of organised projects and programs.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Vegetable Fund