Hort Innovation has contracted Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to lead a new Australia-wide carrot Research and Development (R&D) project. The Maximising carrot packout project (VG24007) will run for three years and includes collaborators from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the Queensland DPI.

This project aims to maximise the packout of high-quality carrots by improving production and handling practices. Carrots that do not meet market specifications have a major impact on farm profitability. This project seeks to deliver practical solutions to help growers reduce losses, improve crop quality, and meet the demands of both domestic and export markets.

Anthony Kachenko, General Manager of Sustainability and Production R&D at Hort Innovation, said the project was an investment for the future of Australia’s carrot industry: “This project is about giving growers the tools and knowledge they need to deliver top-quality carrots to market, improving profitability and strengthening the supply chain. By focusing on practical solutions and industry collaboration, we’re helping growers overcome production challenges, reduce losses, and ultimately achieve better returns for their hard work.”

The first phase of the project commenced in December 2025. Researchers are working with growers and other stakeholders to identify research gaps and prioritise key R&D needs for maximising carrot packout.

Grower interviews are already underway across the country and will provide information on the current management of carrot crops. Interviews will be complemented by on-farm monitoring of crops during the 2026 growing seasons to collect baseline data. This will include information on soil and plant nutrition, disease pressures and post-harvest management.

A literature review on factors affecting carrot packout will synthesise current knowledge of carrot defects. A grower workshop will be held for the industry in February 2026 to develop a ‘Carrot R&D plan’ which will be used to determine R&D for Stages 2 and 3.

In Stage 2, targeted research will be conducted to answer key production causes of carrot defects. Although organisations involved will work collaboratively across all areas, each will focus on a specific part of the research to then share and learn from. Research will likely focus on crop production issues, carrot diseases, and post-harvest aspects, and will be conducted at research stations and on commercial farms. Following this, the impact of new management approaches on both crop quality and farm profitability will be assessed, ensuring recommendations are practical and economically sound.

A strong focus on industry engagement and knowledge transfer will underpin the final Stage 3. Direct engagement with growers and industry bodies, publications, videos, webinars, presentations and grower demonstrations will be utilised to deliver the results of the project. The extension program will provide growers with the tools and information needed to adopt proven practices and drive continuous improvement across the sector, to achieve a higher percentage of carrots meeting market specifications.

Neil Lantzke at DPIRD said: “By working hand-in-hand with growers and focusing our research on the root causes of the packout issues being experienced by the industry, we’re confident this project will deliver practical strategies that make a real difference on-farm. The collaborative approach means we can adapt and respond to the industry’s evolving needs as the project progresses.”

Vincent Tana, Managing Director at Sumich, a Western Australian and Tasmanian carrot grower, said: “Packout rates have a direct impact on profitability, so finding ways to reduce losses is a priority for all of us in the industry. This project is exciting because it focuses on practical, research-driven solutions that can be applied on-farm to improve quality and deliver better returns.”

DPIRD staff working on the project include Neil Lantzke (Project manager), Falko Mathes (Research Scientist) and a Technical Officer (to be appointed). The SARDI team consists of Michael Rettke and Cathryn Todd, and the QDPI team consists of Roberto Marques and Leisa Bradburn.

This project will help Australian carrot growers improve quality, reduce losses, and boost returns across domestic and export markets by addressing current production and postharvest challenges.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Neil Lantzke, DPIRD, 0429 990 439 | Neil.lantzke@dpird.wa.gov.au