Hort Innovation

🚀 Gaining Momentum: Australia's $130M Horticulture Export Push Powers Ahead 🌱 Australia’s $130 million Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) initiative is celebrating its first anniversary with major strides toward protecting and expanding the nation’s horticulture exports. Led by Hort Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, this groundbreaking eight-year program is on a mission to fortify Australia's position in global markets by pioneering over 50 initiatives focused on advanced pest management and trade security. 🛡️ With a united team of more than 80 collaborators, including industry groups, commercial operators, and researchers, FASTA is developing cutting-edge strategies and technologies focused on advanced pest management techniques and trade security – all with the long-term goal to bolster Australian exports. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g7Bja_Be Brett Fifield Karina Keisler Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland) Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (Western Australia) QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (Victoria) Western Sydney University Department of Tourism, Industry and Trade, Northern Territory Australian Blueberry Growers Association James Cook University Department of Primary Industries and Regions (South Australia) GreenSkin Avocados

National Biosecurity Week highlights the essential role biosecurity plays in safeguarding our agricultural industries. 🌿🛡 At Hort Innovation, we're committed to helping growers protect their crops through key initiatives, including the VegWatch program. Led by AUSVEG, this national program is designed to prepare the vegetable industry for the unexpected. By equipping growers with cutting-edge tools, skills, and data-driven insights, the program ensures early detection, effective monitoring, and a swift, risk-based response to high-priority exotic pests. Through the initiatives like this, Hort Innovation works to ensure a resilient, future-ready vegetable industry. 🌱 Learn more about VegWatch: https://lnkd.in/gmC-rn4W Plant Health Australia AUSVEG Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Mila Bristow Gregory Chandler Jo Luck Araz Solomon Claud Warren #HortInnovation #horticulture #NationalBiosecurityWeek #BioWeekAU #biosecurity #agriculture #sustainability #Aussievegetables #Aussiegrowers

Growers and plant scientists are working together on a new $41M tree crop program to fast-track the development of almond, apple, citrus, macadamia and mango varieties for consumers in Australia and abroad. 🍎🥭 Delivered through Hort Innovation’s Frontiers investment program, this initiative aims to create smaller, high-density orchards with higher yields, supported by automation to tackle pressures caused by labour shortages. Equipping plant breeders with the tools to develop the next generation of orchards prepares tree crop industries for a more productive and profitable future, ensuring the long-term viability of Australian-grown fruit and nuts on the global stage. 🌏 Led by top Australian universities and research institutions, this project focuses on developing fruit and nut varieties with superior traits like enhanced storage, better quality, higher nutritional content, and climate resilience. 🌳 Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/g9UUvASB QUT (Queensland University of Technology) The University of Queensland Western Sydney University Anthony Kachenko Peter Prentis Rajeev Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland) Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (WA) Tourism NT The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited University of Adelaide The University of Western Australia AbacusBio Almond Board of Australia Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) Citrus Australia Australian Macadamias Australian Mangoes (Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA)) #HortInnovation #horticulture #innovation #agriculture #automation #sustainability #Australianagriculture #Aussiegrowers #treecrops #fruit #nuts

Did you know that just three sun-exposed mushrooms, four times a week, can meet your daily vitamin D needs? 🍄☀️ Research through Hort Innovation in partnership with the Australian Mushroom Growers' Association and FOODiQ Global reveals that these nutrient-packed mushrooms are a game-changer for tackling Australia’s widespread vitamin D deficiency. As a natural, tasty source of vitamin D, they offer unparalleled health benefits, from bone strength to immune support. Mushrooms are grown sustainably, indoors, and year-round, making them a versatile and accessible food solution. Consider adding these superfoods to your diet this week to help bridge the vitamin D gap in Australia. 💪 Is there anything this little fungi can't do? 🍄 Learn more about Aussie mushrooms here https://lnkd.in/gcCDNfve Dumisani (Dumi) M. Karina Keisler Monique Emmi Leah Bramich Australian Mushrooms #HortInnovation #horticulture #Aussiemushrooms #Aussiegrowers #mushrooms #health #nutrition

Meet Susanna Truasheim, our Event Manager with a passion for creating impactful experiences that connect people and ideas, sparking engagement and driving positive change! 🚀 With a diverse background across technology, social purpose, and experiential marketing, Susanna has honed her ability to craft events that resonate with attendees. At Hort Innovation, Susanna has been at the forefront of events that reflect our core values, from supporting growers with essential research to promoting sustainable practices, her work is all about making a positive difference in the industry. 🌟 “It’s incredibly rewarding to see how these initiatives strengthen industry connections and inspire future careers in horticulture”. Some of Susanna’s most fulfilling moments at Hort Innovation include connecting with growers at the Gatton AgTech field day, where she witnessed the industry’s enthusiasm for automation, and supporting flagship events like the Custard Apples R&D Conference through the sponsorship program, where she plays a pivotal role in making industry events possible. Susanna’s work at Hort Connections earlier this year, leading activations that drove collaboration between various industries to create memorable experiences, stands out as a significant achievement. 🍎 Susanna enjoys combining her passion for Australian horticulture with international opportunities, reinforcing Aussie fruit and veg’s reputation for quality and innovation on the global stage. Committed to making horticultural events more impactful, Susanna believes that environmental sustainability is vital to our land and growers. 🌏 She’s also dedicated to closing the gap for students and young growers entering the industry, seeing an opportunity to create initiatives that bridge this gap and inspire the next generation. 🌱 If you share Susanna’s passion for horticulture or want to connect, she’s always happy to chat! #HortInnovation #horticulture #agriculture #innovation #leadership #WeMakeAPositiveDifference #OneTeam

Venus Citrus is one of a host of Aussie horticulture producers getting set to attend ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA in September. 🍊 This year marks a significant milestone for Venus Citrus as they secure their first independent stand at AFL. This opportunity will enable them to strengthen existing partnerships, explore new markets, and showcase their commitment to quality and innovation. David Flack from Venus International shared, “We are looking to further expand our export footprint in both existing and new markets." 🌏 AFL provides Aussie growers a unique platform to connect with global buyers and stay ahead of industry trends. We’re excited to be joining them with the ‘Grown In Good Nature’, Australia pavilion, where Hort Innovation will be supporting a large contingent to showcase Aussie produce to potential buyers from across Asia at the industry’s flagship tradeshow. 🌱 Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Venus Citrus Citrus Australia Mila Bristow Jade Archibald (née Curley) Mimi D. Karina Keisler Susanna Truasheim #GrowninGoodNatureAtAFL #HortInnovation #horticulture #AsiaFruitLogistica2024 #AusTrade #export #trade #Aussiegrowers #Aussiecitrus #citrus

We’re celebrating Aussie Oranges, packed full of Vitamin C, it’s the natural way to boost your immunity, this winter! 🍊💪  As part of our ongoing collaboration with Thinkerbell, we’ve developed a marketing campaign to boost household penetration, position Aussie Oranges as the top choice for immune health, and ultimately drive sales. The campaign includes social and retail media, along with earned. It aims to enhance brand recognition and make Aussie Oranges the preferred choice for winter immunity. 🍊 Lynda Pallone Joanna Krol-Slocombe Citrus Australia #HortInnovation #horticulture #marketing #Aussieoranges #citrus #immuneboost #winterwellness #vitaminc

We're thrilled to share that our recent Avocados Australia Limited campaign to call out the chip industry on the structural integrity of their corn chips has been a huge hit! 🥑🎉 Delivered through our partnership with Thinkerbell, the campaign has potentially reached more than five million Aussies, and the Press Ad has been recognised as a great ad by Best Ads on TV. This success showcases the power of creative collaboration and the impact of clever marketing in highlighting the amazing Aussie avo! Karina Keisler Emma Day Victoria Zourkas John Tyas #HortInnovation #horticulture #Aussieavos #AustralianAvocados #Aussiegrowers #avocados #marketing

It’s a ‘stella’ day for strawberry growers and lovers with a new high-yielding, disease-resistant and sweet-flavoured strawberry hitting the nations’ retail shelves after years of development by Aussie growers and plant breeding experts 🍓 Perfected through trials on strawberry growers’ farms in Queensland, the new ‘Stella’ variety offers consumers a consistently sweet flavour, aroma, mouthfeel and bright red appearance. Stella is one of 17 new varieties that have been delivered over the past decade through Hort Innovation’s partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland) using grower levies and funds from the Australian Government. The breeding program accounts for more than 50 per cent of the varieties now grown nationally! Julie Bird Brett Fifield Anthony Kachenko Andrew Francey Kathryn Young Adrian Englefield Julie Collins Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Mark Furner Berries Australia Rachel Mackenzie Jodi Neal

Meet Dumisani (Dumi) M., our Industry Service & Delivery Manager for cherries, mushrooms and summerfruits! 🍒🍄🌞 With a 30-year career spanning across the globe, Dumi brings a wealth of experience and passion to Hort Innovation. He has over 20 years of experience working in production on corporate farms across several horticulture crops and holds a Masters in Agribusiness from the University of Melbourne. Every day, Dumi makes a tangible difference in the horticulture industry by offering impactful and innovative advice to growers, drawing from his extensive experience in the field. 🌱 “Having walked in their shoes before, I can relate to their challenges and needs, which allows me to offer tailored advice and solutions.” The collaborative nature of his work, which involves bringing together diverse stakeholders to work cohesively, is both challenging and invigorating. Some highlights from Dumi's time at Hort Innovation include successfully bridging gaps in relationships between Hort Innovation and the industry, gaining a comprehensive understanding of various levy-paying industries, and involvement in significant investments across the 14 industries he has worked with. “Being part of a team that is dedicated to fostering growth and innovation in horticulture makes my role not just a job, but a passion.” For Dumi, being involved in the PIPS (Productivity, Irrigation, Pests, and Soils) program for the apple and pear industry has been hugely rewarding. He enjoys being part of the team driving significant advancements and investments in the area. 🍏🍐 Dumi's dedication and passion for fostering growth and innovation in horticulture make him an invaluable asset to the industry. His extensive experiences have not only been professionally rewarding but have also significantly contributed to progress and innovation within the horticulture sector. 🌿 Dumi is always happy to chat and encourages anyone interested in his portfolio to get in touch. #HortInnovation #horticulture #agriculture #innovation #leadership #Agribusiness #growers #IndustryExpert #WeMakeAPositiveDifference #OneTeam