Amid workforce challenges, the horticulture sector is poised to adopt the latest in automation technology for pollinating, spraying, harvesting and packing to boost productivity, with estimated labour savings on the table of up to 90 per cent.
Driven by industry, delivered through Hort Innovation and led by Applied Horticultural Research, the $52M program will help protected cropping growers maintain their profitability by advancing the industry’s approach towards sustainability, agronomy, automation, energy, employee skills and management.
Hort Innovation chief executive Brett Fifield said the program was designed by growers, for growers.
Mr Fifield said “With more than $20M invested directly from growers in this program, this industry-driven initiative holds immense potential for advancing the protected cropping sector in Australia”.
“By embracing automation and technological advancements, growers can achieve greater sustainability, improve crop quality, and enhance profitability, paving the way for a more efficient and competitive future.”
Applied Horticultural Research managing director Dr Gordon Rogers said the program had been developed in close consultation with industry.
Dr Rogers said “Designing this program has been a collaborative process with input from major growers, researchers and technology providers to ensure it is fit-for-purpose”.
Protected cropping Australia executive officer Julie Krieger said the program focuses on key priorities identified in the Australian Protected Cropping Strategy 2021-2030.
Mrs Krieger said “We set a vision for a thriving Australian protected cropping industry, which is positioned for growth, sustainability, prosperity and international competitiveness”.
“As part of the Strategy, industry identified optimising fit-for-purpose, cost-effective technologies as a priority, as well as increasing knowledge, capacity and practice change, which this program will address.”
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