New edition of InfoVeg Radio podcast released

A new edition of InfoVeg Radio, the R&D podcast for the vegetable industry, has been released. This edition focuses on levy-funded research projects that are looking to encourage consumers to increase their vegetable consumption. The episode features two interviewees:

  • Martin Kneebone, Managing Director of Freshlogic, who undertook market research around the opportunity to create more vegetable snacking options to quantify market size.
  • Mike Feely, from Horizon Research Corporation, who undertook market research that investigated opportunities for more vegetable meal occasions. The study aimed to identify new occasions, seasons, or ways to consume vegetables that have the most potential to increase demand.

To listen to this edition of the podcast, please click here.

InfoVeg Radio is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Growers to benefit from further extension of potato industry R&D
In the coming months, potato growers will be able to benefit from, and better understand the value of, potato industry R&D projects.

Over the next three years, the Potato Industry Extension Program (PT15002) will be run by Arris Pty Ltd, and will work with stakeholders to develop extension activities that best meet industry needs. Not only will the program allow potato growers to become more involved in extension activities, but it will allow them to learn and understand the results and benefits of previously undertaken research projects.

The program will use the inputs and expertise of an industry-focused Program Reference Group to assist the development of activities.

In addition, two web-based registers have been established to assist Arris in capturing the extension ideas from industry and to identify potential extension service providers for the project.
These registers can be accessed at the links below:

A detailed article on the Potato Industry Extension Program can be found on page 10 of the latest edition of Potatoes Australia magazine. Click here to read the magazine online.

This communication was funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Potato Levies and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Vegetable Strategic Investment Plan: Complete the survey for a chance to win a $350 R.M. Williams voucher

As part of the process for producing a new Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) for the vegetable industry, Horticulture Innovation Australia has engaged specialist consulting firm Consulting & Implementation Services (CIS). As part of this process, CIS will seek industry feedback to ensure the SIP accurately reflects how to best spend the Vegetable R&D levy to maximise the industry’s funding priorities for the next five years, estimated to be worth over $100 million.

CIS has developed a short online survey for growers and industry members to provide feedback on what they think the opportunities are for the vegetable industry in the next five years (it only takes about 10 minutes to complete).

Just by filling out the survey you go into the draw to win a $350 R.M. Williams voucher.

It is important that we get as many growers providing feedback as we can, so please complete this survey and have your say on the industry’s funding priorities for the R&D levy.

To complete this survey and have your say on the future of investment in the vegetable industry please click here.

This consultation is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Webinar: Biofumigation cover crops in vegetable production

Cover crops are being rediscovered by vegetable growers as practical ways of improving soil productivity and health. However, while cover cropping is a simple concept, it can be complex to implement in today’s intensive production systems.

Growers can join Julie Finnigan, technical Agronomist with Serve-Ag in Tasmania, for a webinar update on using biofumigant cover crops in vegetable production, coordinated by the Soil Wealth team.

This follows an earlier webinar that looked at making sure there is a clear objective for the cover crop, identifying what cover crop to use to achieve this objective and how to integrate cover crops into vegetable production.

Date: Tuesday 31 January 2017
Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm AEDT

To register for the webinar click here.

For more information on Soil Wealth and ICP projects, you can visit the website, or join the Community of Practice online. You can also follow Soil Wealth and Protecting Crops on Twitter.

Soil Wealth is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Integrated Weed Management in vegetables PhD scholarship

The Weed Science Research team is a diverse and active research group in the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England (UNE). The research team focuses on understanding invasive plant biology and ecology to design appropriate and effective weed management strategies which place less reliance on herbicides. Research projects are spread across the horticulture, grains, cotton and pastoral industries throughout Australia and South-East Asia.

The team has an exciting PhD opportunity for a high-calibre, dedicated research student. Having just commenced a large national project funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd, the team are seeking an enthusiastic PhD student to carry out critical research on key aspects of weed biology, ecology and management in vegetable production. This project offers a unique chance to collaborate with vegetable growers and key industry networks across Australia and contribute to improving the profitability and sustainability of vegetable production in Australia.

This scholarship is open to both international and domestic applicants. The scholarship will provide a stipend of AUD$26,682 per annum (please note: for international students this does not include tuition fees or Overseas Health Cover). Please see the Scholarship Terms and Conditions for further details.

Applications are due by 5.00 pm 10 February 2017. For more information, please see the University of New England’s website.

The IWM PhD Scholarship is part of a research project funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Women in horticulture scholarships

Women in the horticulture industry will soon have access to a range of scholarships, thanks to Horticulture Innovation Australia and Women & Leadership Australia (WLA).

Announced last week, the program will see the introduction of 20 targeted industry scholarships per year for the next five years, and will provide women with access to women’s-only development programs, enabling them to expand both their knowledge and networks.

The scholarships will be divided into three categories: emerging women leaders (10 scholarships available), women working in mid-level management (five available) and women working at a senior and executive level (five available).

The scholarships will reduce the cost of participating in programs by around 60 per cent. For more information, or to apply for a scholarship, please visit the Women & Leadership Australia website. Applications close 10 March 2017.

This project is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Sponsored: Bayer launches new fungicide for the vegetable industry

AUSVEG Lead Strategic Partner Bayer is pleased to announce the registration of Infinito® SC Fungicide, which introduces a new level of disease control to the horticultural sector through new chemistry that was not previously available to growers.

The launch of Infinito marks the introduction of two new fungicide modes of action into the Australian vegetable foliar fungicide market, Group 28 and 43, and provides growers with a much-needed alternative to control Downy mildew and Late blight, along with other significant product advantages.

For more information on Infinito, please contact your local Bayer Crop Science representative or visit the website.

 

2017 Foodex Applications now open

Levy-paying growers who are currently exporting are invited to attend and exhibit at the Foodex trade show in Japan. Funded attendance will give growers the chance to participate in the largest food trade show in Japan, gain an understanding of the Japanese market and establish new business contacts in North-East Asian markets.

The Foodex trade show will be held from 7 – 10 March 2017, with anticipated travel dates for participants of 5 – 11 March 2017. To download the application form, please click here. This form can be returned to AUSVEG at export@ausveg.com.au or via fax on 03 9882 6722.

Participation in the 2017 Foodex trade show is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Export Project Reference Committee: Expressions of interest now open

Expressions of interest to participate in Project Reference Committee – Export Development of Australian Vegetables to Japan (VG15074) are now open.

This project will involve consumer research, competitor analysis and development and implementation of a market development strategy for Australian vegetables in Japan. The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is the project leader and is working in collaboration with Trade and Investment Queensland (Japan Office), The Agri Business and Western Australia Department of Premier and Cabinet (Japan Office) to deliver this project.

Growers either exporting to Japan or interested in exporting to this market, or individuals with specialist expertise related to exporting horticulture products to Japan, are invited to submit an expression of interest to participate in the reference committee. The key purpose of the reference committee is to provide commercially focused advice and input to the project team to ensure the project is commercially relevant and achieves sustainable trade outcomes. Click here to see the Terms of Reference for the committee.

The committee will meet around six times during the course of the project in various locations around Australia. Committee members’ travel costs will be met by the project. It is anticipated that between 1-2 days will be required to attend each meeting, including travel time. Committee members will also be required to provide professional input and advice to the project leader during the course of the project, which will commence January 2017 and finish June 2018. This is a great opportunity to take a leading role in the development and implementation of a market development strategy for Australian vegetables to Japan.

If you are interested, please contact Bronwyn Warfield, Queensland DAF on 0418 783 404 or bronwyn.warfield@daf.qld.gov.au for further information on how to apply to become a member of the Reference Committee on this exciting project.

VG15074 Export Development of Australian Vegetables to Japan is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

Label Registration: Revus

The following permit PER14837 will now be surrendered due to the recently approved label extension by the APVMA.

Permit ID Description Date Issued Expiry Date Permit Holder
PER14837 Mandipropamid (Revus fungicide)/Leafy vegetables including: head and leafy lettuce, rocket, silverbeet (chard), endive, spinach, Asian leafy vegetables/Downy mildew 24-May-2015 31-Mar-2018 Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited

The new Syngenta “Revus Fungicide” (Mandipropamid) Label can be found here.

All efforts have been made to provide the most current, complete and accurate information on permits. However, AUSVEG recommends that you confirm the details of any permits at the APVMA website.

This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy and funds from the Australian Government.

 

AUSVEG in the media

AUSVEG National Manager – Communications Shaun Lindhe appeared in print media this week discussing consumer research from Project Harvest. Mr Lindhe noted that consumers tend to buy capsicums to ‘add colour to a meal’, and that this is generally a big draw point for consumers.

Communication of levy funded R&D activities is funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia using the National Vegetable Levy, National Potato Levy and funds from the Australian Government.