In January 98 a project was commissioned by AUSVEG, HRDC, and RIRDC to consider the issue of the issue of approvals for the use of pesticides on so called minor crops. Minor crops is a term which relates to the economics of pesticide registration. In most instances where the use pattern of a pesticide does not generate sales which exceed the cost of registering the product, then the chemical companies choose not to register the product for this purpose. This is referred to as a minor use. For smaller plant industries, particularly horticulture , the lack of suitable pesticides causes significant problems for growers when a pest occurs in the crop for which there is no suitable approved chemical treatment. Secondly if non approved chemicals are used then growers run the risk of failing the audit process under QA and usually cannot trade in that market.

In recognition of these problems this project aimed to develop better ways of approving the use of pesticide on minor crop.

It comprised three phases:

1. The commissioning of a limited survey of vegetable growers to demonstrate the extent of the minor use problem
2. The organisation of a national workshop of stakeholders to seek solutions to the minor use problem
3. The development of recommendations for the establishment of a national minor use program